a man that just might like being roped,
tied, and saddled.”
Trinity
turned to find Cody entering the barn aisle. He paused to peek over a stall
door, then slowly ambled their direction.
“He’s
worth being a bed post notch,” Lacey whispered.
Maybe.
“Lacey.
Trinity.” Cody tipped his Stetson cowboy hat in their direction.
“Cody.”
Lacey offered up a smile. “Back again?”
“Like a
bad penny.” The corners of his lips tilted up.
The
relaxation on his face combined with the bit of humor in his eyes cranked up
the handsome meter in Trinity’s opinion. Her heart skipped a beat.
Stop pining after Cody like a
long lost pup. Sure, he’s easy on the eyes, but that’s where it stops. Friends.
Period . She
chastised herself, but couldn’t help the small spark of happiness at his
appearance.
“Busy
day?” Trinity asked
“A
little. Got to make the rounds, check all of the livestock before everything
gets started tonight. First day is always the craziest.”
“No
rest for the wicked?” Lacey inquired, tongue-in-cheek.
He
grinned. “Something like that.” Glancing up, he peered into the stalls, looked
the animals over, then turned back to Trinity. “Need anything from me?”
A kiss. A romp in the hay. A
promise of undying love. Any and all of the above.
She
shook her head. “I think we’re fine. Thanks, though.” Digging through her
cooler, she pulled out a couple of bottles of cold water. “Here.”
Cody
took the offered drink. “Thanks.” Opening the top, he took a long swallow.
“Same
for me. Candy’s fit as a fiddle.”
“Then I
better get going. There’s a pen full of calves with my name on them.” Cody
tipped his head, turned, and strode away, his long legs eating up the distance,
and soon disappearing from sight.
“I
still say he’s got the best ass around.”
Trinity
didn’t argue.
“The
way he looks at you. Muy caliente .”
Lacey fanned herself.
“Drink
more water. You’re starting to hallucinate from the heat.” Trinity tossed a
bottle at Lacey.
Lacey
caught it with ease, unscrewed the lid, and sipped. “Why aren’t you tossing
your hat in Cody’s ring? Every other woman is.”
“I’m
here to race. Nothing else. Besides, loose sex isn’t my thing. I’ve seen the
consequences.”
She
didn’t blame her mother. After all, accidents occurred on a daily basis. People
fell, cars wrecked, and women got impregnated from one-night stands. Shit
happens. Although, this mistake changed her mother’s life in a big way. She
quit barrel racing and threw herself into a college degree, becoming a teacher.
Picking up roots, she moved her and Trinity to Kentucky, far away from the hotbed
of rodeo. Like that alone would ensure her only child would grow up otherwise
inclined. Instead, it fostered Trinity’s love of the sport, naturally wanting
to follow in her mother’s footsteps. And, in the end, the trials, the move, the
tough times didn’t stop. They just became harder to swallow.
Lacey’s
lips turned down into a frown. “Old news. Water under the bridge. Time to let
that go, Trin.” She took another drink. “The way I see it, you’re trying to
make up for your mother’s indiscretion. But, you’re forgetting one thing.”
Not
offended in the least, Trinity turned her full attention on Lacey. “What’s
that?”
“You’re
the outcome and never once did your mother regret having you. So, seems to me,
it’s time to quit trying to make up for her perceived faux pas and live your
own life.” With those words, she set her water aside, stood, and walked toward
the bathrooms at the far corner of the barn.
Touché.
Chapter Six
“You
sure you don’t want to come?” Lacey asked as she set Candy’s full feed bucket
on the ground in the stall.
“Positive,
but thanks for inviting me.” Trinity rubbed the soft cloth over Legacy’s hide,
making his coat shine in the light. She’d fed him a bit earlier, then groomed
him out of habit more than anything.
tied, and saddled.”
Trinity
turned to find Cody entering the barn aisle. He paused to peek over a stall
door, then slowly ambled their direction.
“He’s
worth being a bed post notch,” Lacey whispered.
Maybe.
“Lacey.
Trinity.” Cody tipped his Stetson cowboy hat in their direction.
“Cody.”
Lacey offered up a smile. “Back again?”
“Like a
bad penny.” The corners of his lips tilted up.
The
relaxation on his face combined with the bit of humor in his eyes cranked up
the handsome meter in Trinity’s opinion. Her heart skipped a beat.
Stop pining after Cody like a
long lost pup. Sure, he’s easy on the eyes, but that’s where it stops. Friends.
Period . She
chastised herself, but couldn’t help the small spark of happiness at his
appearance.
“Busy
day?” Trinity asked
“A
little. Got to make the rounds, check all of the livestock before everything
gets started tonight. First day is always the craziest.”
“No
rest for the wicked?” Lacey inquired, tongue-in-cheek.
He
grinned. “Something like that.” Glancing up, he peered into the stalls, looked
the animals over, then turned back to Trinity. “Need anything from me?”
A kiss. A romp in the hay. A
promise of undying love. Any and all of the above.
She
shook her head. “I think we’re fine. Thanks, though.” Digging through her
cooler, she pulled out a couple of bottles of cold water. “Here.”
Cody
took the offered drink. “Thanks.” Opening the top, he took a long swallow.
“Same
for me. Candy’s fit as a fiddle.”
“Then I
better get going. There’s a pen full of calves with my name on them.” Cody
tipped his head, turned, and strode away, his long legs eating up the distance,
and soon disappearing from sight.
“I
still say he’s got the best ass around.”
Trinity
didn’t argue.
“The
way he looks at you. Muy caliente .”
Lacey fanned herself.
“Drink
more water. You’re starting to hallucinate from the heat.” Trinity tossed a
bottle at Lacey.
Lacey
caught it with ease, unscrewed the lid, and sipped. “Why aren’t you tossing
your hat in Cody’s ring? Every other woman is.”
“I’m
here to race. Nothing else. Besides, loose sex isn’t my thing. I’ve seen the
consequences.”
She
didn’t blame her mother. After all, accidents occurred on a daily basis. People
fell, cars wrecked, and women got impregnated from one-night stands. Shit
happens. Although, this mistake changed her mother’s life in a big way. She
quit barrel racing and threw herself into a college degree, becoming a teacher.
Picking up roots, she moved her and Trinity to Kentucky, far away from the hotbed
of rodeo. Like that alone would ensure her only child would grow up otherwise
inclined. Instead, it fostered Trinity’s love of the sport, naturally wanting
to follow in her mother’s footsteps. And, in the end, the trials, the move, the
tough times didn’t stop. They just became harder to swallow.
Lacey’s
lips turned down into a frown. “Old news. Water under the bridge. Time to let
that go, Trin.” She took another drink. “The way I see it, you’re trying to
make up for your mother’s indiscretion. But, you’re forgetting one thing.”
Not
offended in the least, Trinity turned her full attention on Lacey. “What’s
that?”
“You’re
the outcome and never once did your mother regret having you. So, seems to me,
it’s time to quit trying to make up for her perceived faux pas and live your
own life.” With those words, she set her water aside, stood, and walked toward
the bathrooms at the far corner of the barn.
Touché.
Chapter Six
“You
sure you don’t want to come?” Lacey asked as she set Candy’s full feed bucket
on the ground in the stall.
“Positive,
but thanks for inviting me.” Trinity rubbed the soft cloth over Legacy’s hide,
making his coat shine in the light. She’d fed him a bit earlier, then groomed
him out of habit more than anything.
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