Summer Nights (Fool's Gold #8)(60)

Khatar’s ability to escape from nearly any enclosure had been passed on to Reno. Or maybe the pony had shown up with the ability. Shane wasn’t sure, but he didn’t like it. Worse, when Reno got out, he was careful to make sure his girl tagged along. Which meant not only was the small pony loose, but an elephant was now strolling around the property.

“Explain to me why the only one who stays where she’s supposed to is the cat,” Shane muttered, putting down the leather cleaner and staring at the pony.

Reno curled back his lips in what Shane could only assume was silent equine laughter.

“I get it,” Shane said. “You think you’re tough stuff, don’t you. A new girlfriend and an instant cat family. You’re practically the quarterback of the football team.”

Reno butted Shane in response.

“Annoying twit horse,” he muttered, scratching the animal behind the ears.

He got up and walked toward the barn. There was a new shed on the other side. One with a metal door, secured by an industrial strength padlock. It wasn’t kept locked with a key…yet. So far the twisting metal mechanism had proven to be animal secure, but Shane was fully prepared to use a key if necessary.

He went inside and shoved a couple of apples in his pockets, then picked up two watermelons and walked out. Reno trotted right behind him, already sniffing at his jeans.

“Get away,” he grumbled.

Priscilla stopped exploring the flower garden and strolled along, back toward the enclosure. Reno glanced over his shoulder, as if making sure his lady love kept up. They walked back into their home and faced Shane.

“I mean it,” he told them. “This has got to stop. Don’t make me get a more complicated gate and lock. I will if I have to.”

They stared at him with shared amusement. Shane sighed.

“Back in Tennessee all I had to worry about was fifty or so racehorses,” he told them. “That was easy. You guys are hard.”

He lowered the watermelons to the ground, then took out one of the apples and used his pocketknife to slice it and feed it to Reno. While he did that, Priscilla delicately picked up the watermelon and chopped it.

“That’s quite a collection you have there.”

Shane turned toward the voice and saw Lewis approaching. At the sight of Annabelle’s ex, he felt his hackles rise and wished they were keeping something more aggressive than a small pony and a few goats on the grounds. Idly, he wondered if Priscilla was in the mood to charge.

Reno ate the last of the apple. Shane gave him a quick pat, then let himself out and secured the gate.

“Annabelle’s not here,” he told Lewis, leading the way back to the house.

“I know. I saw her earlier. At her place.” Lewis adjusted his sunglasses. “I’m going back to North Carolina.”

“Because the divorce is final?”

Lewis turned away. “Yes. Because the divorce is final.”

Shane could almost feel sorry for the guy. He’d obviously had second thoughts about losing Annabelle. He’d shown up, hoping to win her back. Although from his point of view, Lewis hadn’t done all that much to make himself the good guy in all this. A woman like Annabelle had to be wooed. Made to feel special.

“She wanted me to stay,” Lewis said, glancing back at him.

Shane couldn’t see the other man’s eyes. His sunglasses were in the way. But he would bet a considerable amount of money they were shifting all over the place, proof of the lie.

“Did she?” Shane asked.

“Thought we should get back together. She said she’d regretted the divorce. I considered the offer. I mean, who wouldn’t? She’s an amazing woman. But fool me once and all that. She’s really not…” He looked away again. “I’m done with her. In case you were wondering.”

He wanted to point out Annabelle hadn’t seemed like she was regretting anything except having Lewis show up in the first place, but where was the win in that? Kicking a man who was already down wasn’t his idea of sport.

“She gets under your skin,” Lewis said quietly. “Once she’s there, she’s hard to get rid of.” He cleared his throat. “I won’t say I wasn’t tempted, but this is for the best. That’s what I wanted to tell you.”

“I appreciate the information.”

Lewis gave a brief wave and walked to his car.

Shane watched him go. He wasn’t sure why Lewis had stopped by. It wasn’t to gloat. After all, he hadn’t gotten what he’d come for. Maybe the other man didn’t have any friends and he’d needed to share the loss with someone. Even if the information had been cloaked in lies.

Heidi came out of the back of the house. “Was that Lewis?”

“Yes. He’s heading back to North Carolina.”

“Good,” his future sister-in-law said. “Annabelle wasn’t happy to have him show up. You know that, right?”

“I figured it out.”

“I’m glad he’s gone.”

“Me, too.”

* * *

ANNABELLE SIPPED HER latte. “How many?” she asked.

Nevada rolled her eyes. “Five. Can you believe it? Five puppies. If I didn’t love my sister, I would so be killing her. Do you know how many times a night Tucker and I have to get up to feed them?”