Page 67 of The Lucky Heart (Jamison Valley 3)
The red numbers on the electronic board flashed 21.3 seconds, the fastest time we’d seen in any of the practice rounds.
We all shot off the bench seat and cheered, hooting and hollering as Nick walked back through the arena gates with Silas following on Courage.
God, he was sexy.
He leaned forward in his saddle, confident and comfortable. The grin on his face was contagious and I smiled like a fool for the rest of the day, enjoying the time with my friends as we watched the competition. Silas and Nick ended up in second place overall, having lost to none other than Tina the waitress’s team.
“Nice work,” I told Silas when we all met him and Nick back at the horse trailer.
He smiled and draped his silver medal over my head. “Thanks. I won this just for you.”
I fanned my face, feigning dramatics. “I’ll wear it always.” With a yank on my arm, the girls literally pulled me into their huddle to discuss dinner plans.
“How about the café?” Gigi asked.
“I ate there yesterday,” Maisy said.
“Chinese?” Emmeline suggested.
“I could eat an egg roll or twelve.” The hot dog and popcorn I’d had for lunch had long since burned away and I was famished.
“Chinese,” Gigi said. “And break.”
Maisy and Gigi left to collect Jess while Emmeline waddled to Nick’s side. While we stood waiting for Silas to stow away Courage, I started people watching.
One group of men were fishing beers out of a cooler and settling into camp chairs for what appeared to be a long evening of drinking in the cold. At first, I didn’t recognize anyone in their group but then my eyes zeroed in on a familiar face.
Derrick Olson was sprawled out in a faded blue camp chair.
“Maisy? Isn’t that Derrick Olson?” I asked, pointing to Khloe’s husband.
She glanced over her shoulder and nodded. “Yeah. Why?”
“Oh, no reason,” I lied. “I knew him in high school but he’s changed so I wasn’t sure.”
That last part was true. Derrick had filled out his once-lanky frame with beefy muscle. His hair was much longer than it had been in high school and was styled heavily toward the front, likely to hide the beginnings of a receding hair line.
When a woman walked past their group, his eyes locked on her breasts. When she passed his chair, he reached out a hand and “accidentally” brushed her ass.
Pig.
Derrick hadn’t changed a bit since high school.
I scanned the crowd, looking for Khloe, but couldn’t find her. If Derrick had left her at home alone, could this be my chance to break through with her? Maybe with him away she’d be more willing to open up to me.
“Are you okay?” Silas stepped up to my side.
“Yeah!” I said a little too loudly. “Sounds like we’re all going to the Chinese restaurant. I just need to run a quick errand first. Meet you there?”
His eyes narrowed. He knew I was up to something but he didn’t push.
“Great job today,” I said. “I had fun.”
“Yeah, good times. Thanks for coming. Nick has convinced me to build a course out on the ranch so we can practice. Next year, that trophy will be mine.”
I winked good-bye and snuck away from the group, hustling to my car.
Speeding through town, I followed my GPS to the Olsons’, a newer home built in a small development next to the river.
