Kenzie pulled up to the start line, and when Hector called time she kicked her horse into a gallop and raced around the barrels. Her time was terrible, but she enjoyed herself and knew she’d never be a pro.
After the lesson, Maya and Kenzie walked their horses back to Maya’s home.
“I can’t wait for my baby brother to be born,” Maya said.
“I’m sure your mother feels the same way,” Kenzie replied with a laugh. “She’s getting kind of tired being pregnant.”
“She told me once the baby is born the hard work starts.”
Kenzie had absolutely no experience with babies. “When they’re first born they just eat, sleep and poop.”
“Ick.” Maya turned into the driveway leading up to her house. Her dog, asleep on the front porch, came to her feet and trotted down the driveway to greet them.
Kenzie enjoyed Maya’s company. In fact, until Maya had come into her life Kenzie had never been around children.
They walked their horses to the barn and dismounted.
“I want Mom and Dad to name the baby Sylvester,” Maya said as she unsaddled her horse, draped the saddle over a saddle tree and reached for a brush to groom her horse.
“Sylvester! Sweetie, I don’t think that’s going to happen.” Kenzie unsaddled her horse and started to groom it. “Where did you get a name like Sylvester?”
“In a book. I like the name. I think it sounds noble.”
Kenzie shook her head as she groomed her horse. Dust billowed up with each stroke of her brush. The animal’s tail swept back and forth and its eyes closed as it relaxed.
“Sylvester is better than plain old Christian.” Maya lifted a front hoof and slid a pick under the shoe, cleaning the dirt and mud out. She had to learn to take care of her horse as part of the price of ownership.
“I think Christian sounds like a wonderful name.”
Maya simply frowned.
They put the horses away in their stalls, made sure they had plenty of fresh water and alfalfa hay in the manger, and headed to the house.
Lydia lay on the sofa in the family room while Hunter puttered about the kitchen grilling chicken. Seeing Hunter so domestic amused Kenzie no end. He’d always been the first one to dare everyone to climb a tree, to vault over a fence or to jump off the roof into the pool. Lydia had tamed him. Kenzie had never seen him so happy.
“Need some help?” she asked.
“Toss the salad,” he ordered, pointing at a bottle of dressing.
She did as instructed. He whistled as he brushed a final layer of flavoring on the chicken legs with the special marinade made from their chef brother Donovan’s secret recipe. The rising scents of the marinade and the cooked chicken made Kenzie’s mouth water. She’d eaten in five-star restaurants all over the world, but they didn’t even begin to compare with Donovan’s cooking. His fiancé, Hendrix, made such mouth-watering desserts that the hotel couldn’t keep anything in stock in the diner and the main restaurant.
“Any signs of a baby yet?” Kenzie put the salad on the dinner table.
Lydia pushed herself to her feet and waddled across the family room to the dining table. “I’m so ready. I don’t think I have another three weeks in me.”
Hunter laughed. Maya pulled out a chair for her mother. Lydia sat down heavily with a faint groan.
“I hear you met Reed Watson today.” Hunter set the platter of chicken in the center of the table and sat down. He forked a chicken leg onto Lydia’s plate and then another one onto his. He slid the platter closer to Maya who used her fingers to grab a leg. Lydia frowned, but said nothing.
“He’s going to do his magic on my laptop.” Kenzie reached for the grilled broccoli and a baked potato.
“He’s one of the foremost specialists on internet security in the country. I heard he was asked to lecture at the War College in Rhode Island.”
“Miss E. told me that. He’s kind of cute, too.” Kenzie filled her salad bowl. Heat curled up inside her at the memory of his warm hands and blue eyes. She’d so wanted to push the tangle of blond hair off his forehead she’d had to clasp her hands behind her back.
“And he’s single,” Lydia put in with an arch look at Kenzie.
“Just because you two lovebirds are still in the throes of marital bliss doesn’t mean I have to be, too. I don’t have time for the love mojo. Besides, Scott and Nina are next up in the marriage queue.” And then probably Donovan and Hendrix. That was enough marriage for her. She wasn’t looking for that special someone in her life. Not after Sam. He’d burned her. He’d hurt her in a way she didn’t like to think about. Though the image of Reed hunched over her laptop almost made her sigh.
“I know that face,” Hunter said.
“What face?” Kenzie worked to relax the frown.
“The ‘I hate dudes’ face.”
“I don’t hate men,” Kenzie said. “I just don’t like men who think a woman’s career is less important than theirs.” Or who took credit for ideas not their own. The first time Sam had stolen one of her ideas, he’d been so apologetic she’d forgiven him on the spot. She’d tried to tell herself she loved him and he loved her, but still it seemed that every time she came up with something interesting, somehow it would end up being his idea. Until their last fateful argument.
“You sound like someone hurt you,” Lydia said.
Kenzie had confided in Nina, but had not felt as if she’d known Lydia enough to tell her. Now that she’d learned Lydia was a kind, nurturing person who wanted others to be happy Kenzie wanted to unburden her soul, but not now with Maya in the room. Maybe later.
“I was. Now I’m just angry.” Kenzie finished her salad and sipped iced tea. She refused to dwell on Sam’s betrayal.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Hunter asked curiously.
Kenzie shook her head. “Talking isn’t going to do anything.”
“It might make you feel a little better.”
Kenzie didn’t want to feel better. She wanted to feel angry. Anger motivated her. She would show Sam she would be okay.
Later, on her way out to her car, she received a text from Reed. Have some ideas I want to run past you. How about dinner?
She texted back, Just had dinner. How about a drink?
He responded. Eight in the bar.
She agreed. She would have time to shower and change into something else. She enjoyed being a cowgirl, but she didn’t want to look like one all the time. And the boots made her feet hot and sweaty. She drove back her thoughts on what she would wear that would made Reed Watson’s eyes shine with approval.
* * *
Reed waited in the bar, anxious for Kenzie to arrive. He noticed his palms were sweating. It had been a long time since a woman made him sweat. The feeling was exciting as well as disarming. A lot like Kenzie herself. A waitress appeared with a glass of wine. She set a napkin down on the table and then the glass on top of it. The stylized logo of the Casa de Mariposa decorated the center of the napkin. For a moment, he could only stare at it. He owned a casino. He wanted to pinch himself. How had this happened?
A glance around showed the bar was almost full. The chiming of the slot machines outside gave him a thrill. He owned slot machines, a roulette table, a bunch of blackjack tables, and God knew how odd that felt.
He’d met Miss E. when she’d taught a poker class in Las Vegas. He’d been fascinated by her lecture. He’d gone back several times trying to figure out the different