Heartless (Chestnut Springs, #2)(37)

And a Post-it note addressed to Red.

Maybe I’m an idiot but it feels sweet. Coming from Cade, it is sweet.

The morning passes calmly until Lukeasaurus Rex wakes up and makes me run away from him like I’m terrified.

I feed him a suitable dinosaur breakfast, and then we head down to the barn to see what starting a two-year-old horse is like.

Or in my case, to check out Daddy Cowboy.

I park my Jeep near the main barn, and we follow the sounds of hooting and hollering to the other side, walking hand in hand.

“There he is!” Luke shouts, pointing at his dad.

My mouth dries out on the spot. I do show jumping—fancy white pants and horses imported from Europe—so while I know horses, cowboys are still a new ball game for me.

But goddamn. What a ballgame it is.

Cade sits on a dark horse, speckled with gray—a beautiful blue roan color with black mane and tail—which perfectly matches his black cowboy hat, signature bicep-hugging black T-shirt, and black leather chaps over worn jeans.

He’s seated comfortably in the saddle. Leather-gloved hands on the horn of his saddle, hip popped comfortably, with a toothpick hanging out the side of his mouth and an amused smirk on his lips.

He’s so fucking hot.

He’s always been hot, but I wasn’t so sold on his personality. A shit personality can really ruin an otherwise hot dude, but there isn’t anything wrong with Cade’s personality. He’s just slow to warm up. A little chilly.

But I’m finding I like a lot about him. I’m finding he doesn’t make me feel chilly at all. He makes me feel hot and bothered.

“Dad!” Luke rushes forward, and Cade’s head flicks in his direction, that smirk morphing into a full-blown smile.

One that makes my heart stutter-step.

“Hey, bud.” He swings a leg over his horse and slides down just in time to catch Luke in his arms. The same greeting they do every night.

“When do I get my own horse?” Luke eyes the group of youngsters in the holding pen, glancing at the round pen where a cowboy sits on a horse doing its best to buck him off.

“When you actually take an interest in learning about them. They’re a serious commitment, and the only thing you’re committed to right now is dinosaurs.”

“I want Willa to give me riding lessons, not you,” Luke announces, hands on his hips.

Cade looks at me, rolling his eyes playfully. Is Luke a smidgen obsessed with me? Possibly.

“Hi, Red.”

I startle as the cowboy behind him gets turfed onto the metal fence panel. Other men sitting around have a good laugh at the guy, who spits on the ground and shakes his head. “Goddamn fucking asshole!” he exclaims.

“Gotta be smarter than the horse, Lee,” Cade calls. “And watch your fucking mouth. There’s a child and a city girl in our midst.”

“Sorry, boss.”

Luke giggles at the f-bombs flying left and right. And I feel it then. All eyes swivel in my direction, the men straightening or clearing their throats, like I’ve never heard a swear word in my life. Leave it to Cade to make me seem like some fragile princess.

I wave in their general direction and offer a friendly smile as I drawl, “Nice to fuckin’ meet y’all.”

Luke barks out a laugh. He’s so good for my confidence, always approving of my jokes. “Bad word, Willa!”

A couple of the guys press their lips together, trying not to show their amusement. Because if I can feel Cade’s scowl, no doubt, so can they.

“Nice to meet ya, city girl!” one guy calls from where he’s seated atop a fence, waving one dusty hand in my direction.

When one domino falls, so do the rest. Within seconds most of the guys are laughing and Cade is shaking his head at me.

He does that a lot where I’m concerned.

I wink at him. “Thank you for the coffee. I’m ready for you to break my back.”

His face pales, like he realizes how I could have interpreted his note. “I meant you could ride if you wanted to.”

“Oh, I want to.”

Heat flares on his cheeks. I shouldn’t prod the bear like this, but it’s just who I am. I like to watch him squirm.

“A horse. You can take mine.” He hikes a thumb over his shoulder.

“Nah, I think I’ll take one of the young ones.”

“No chance.” His jaw hardens.

“Why not?” I quirk a brow.

“I don’t want you to get hurt.” He says it so simply, like it should be obvious to me.

“But I thought that’s what the note meant? Unless the note really meant . . .” I trail off and waggle my eyebrows at him.

“You’re insane.”

“I know,” I smile back brightly. “I’m a redhead. No takesies backsies, Eaton. A couple of hours ago you were fine with me getting on a youngster and now you’re not?”

“I changed my mind. My ranch. My rules. It’s possible you don’t ride all that well anyway. Plus, you need to be in one piece to take Luke to that kid’s birthday party today.”

I quirk a brow at him. Dick. Is he trying to bring out my competitive side? Leaning close, I whisper in his ear, “I dare you to let me sit on that one.” I point at the leggy youngster standing in the middle of the round pen, giving the foul-mouthed cowboy total stink eye.