9. Hailey

NINE

It was just after five-thirty when I hopped into my Durango that Friday evening.

A sigh of contentment fluttered past my lips as I turned over the ignition.

It was hard to believe I'd already been working at Cambrey Pines for two weeks. Those two weeks had been productive. Both exciting and terrifying, the hope of freedom whispering around me while a piece of my spirit still toiled and warred.

Seized by the dread of the choice I had made, constantly worrying I had done this all wrong, the rubbing at my soul urging that I was taking the easy way out. Guilt clotting the flickers of joy I'd already found here.

But I hadn't heard a word from Pruitt, not since my father had mentioned him, and I was standing on that.

I just had to make sure my daughter was safe first, then I would make the choice of how to proceed, how to handle the burden of this knowledge.

As if I didn't have enough to fret over, I'd spent an inordinate amount of time trying to ignore the presence of my new neighbor that seemed to follow me everywhere, both at my house and at work, the man's aura so distinct that I swore I could sense his footsteps wherever he went.

He was always tossing out easy hellos. Texting me to ask if I was okay and if I needed a hand. Acting like we were long lost BFFs and he owed me the time and the effort.

It would be a whole lot easier to dismiss the man if I wasn't subject to the energy he emitted whenever he was in his house, this magnetism that'd had me peeking out my window too many times to count, then feeling guilty the second I'd give in.

The way my eyes couldn't help but search him out whenever I roamed the grounds of the resort, drawn to an entity that would destroy.

Cody Cooper was nothing but a black hole.

A stupidly hot black hole that threatened to suck me in.

Shaking it off, I backed out of my parking space and took off down the long drive that wound out of the resort.

A ton of cars passed me coming in. The resort was booked to capacity for the weekend, which was typical since people flocked here for weekend getaways.

I was halfway down the drive when my phone rang from my Bluetooth speakers. A surprised smile stretched across my face when I saw the name on the screen.

Eagerly, I touched the button on the dash to accept the call, my voice full of wonder, "Oh, my goodness, if it isn't Paisley Dae."

She shrieked from the opposite end of the line. "Tell me it's true, and your gorgeous ass is back in Colorado."

Warmth flooded my chest. "I'm here!"

I made it to the end of the drive and carefully made a left, Paisley's excitement in my ear. "Oh my God! I can't believe you're actually back. I heard some murmurings going around town, but I had to call to find out for myself."

"The rumors are all true." I grinned.

"Huh, who'd have known that rumors could be good?" she teased.

A tiny sliver of laughter rumbled out.

"And you're back in town, too?" I asked.

The last I'd talked to her, she was moving to Arizona with her boyfriend. That was years ago, and we'd lost touch after that.

Honestly, I hadn't known her all that well, the two of us more acquaintances than friends, though that's what I really had considered her.

A friend.

Someone who shared my same interests when my best friend had been terrified of horses.

My spirit clutched with the errant thought of Brooke. A sheering of sadness. I squeezed my eyes closed for a beat to block the vision that tried to take possession of my mind.

I forced myself to listen to what Paisley was saying, refusing the way my thoughts kept threatening to spiral.

"I've been for almost two years now. Back home and engaged to the love of my life," she said.

"Jeremy?" I hoped she couldn't hear the way I cringed when I asked it. I'd only met the guy once, but I couldn't be considered a fan.

Paisley exaggerated a gag. "God, no. My fiancé's name is Caleb and he's the hottest man alive. Wait until you see him. But don't look too close because that man is mine."

Mirth covered every word, and there was no stopping my giggle. Paisley Dae had a way of spreading joy wherever she went.

I'd met her on my father's ranch when she'd come to purchase a couple of his horses when she'd been starting her own training facility in Time River. I'd only been sixteen at the time, and she was a couple years older than me. She'd strutted in, wearing cutoffs and boots and a cowgirl hat, so confident and wild and free that I couldn't help but want to be just like her.

"Don't worry, I won't look too close," I ribbed, then sobered. "It's so good to hear you're doing well and are happy."

"What's good to hear is your voice. I'm sorry it's been so long." I could almost see her pout from across the line.

"Don't even apologize," I told her. "Life has a way of doing that, and I'm sorry we lost touch, too. But I am back and living in Hendrickson with my little girl and my grandmother."

Paisley squealed, her words a ramble that flew out of her. "Oh my God, you're a mom? I'm a mom, too! I mean, my fiancé has a little girl, too, and she's absolutely mine in my heart, if you know what I mean? How did I not know this about you?"

"Oh, I don't know, probably since we haven't talked to each other in like six years?" I said, completely droll.

She laughed. "Well, that is never going to happen again, Hails Bells."

A soft chuckle rolled out of me at the old nickname she'd given me. "Oh God, I haven't heard that one in a long time."

"Well, get used to it because you're going to be hearing it a lot. Are you married?"

I tamped down the agitation that wanted to rise, and I somehow managed to keep my voice even when I said, "I'm in the middle of a divorce."

I just wished it was that simple. Something that could be stamped and stowed away, a mistake that never had to be thought of again.

"Oh, no, I'm so sorry." She paused for only a second before she rushed, "Come out with me and my friends tomorrow night. We obviously have a ton to catch up on."

"I'm not sure?—"

"Don't even try to say no. We're going out to celebrate my bestie's brother getting a big job, and it's the perfect chance for you to meet everyone. Then another time we can get our girls together."

She stated it like it was already done.

"I…" I hesitated.

In my pause, she demanded, "Say yes!"

Honestly, I could use it.

A distraction.

A night out.

Fun.

Friends, even.

My chest tightened. I'd thought I'd never want to have them again. Had thought it would hurt too bad to even think about putting my heart on the line that way. I'd isolated myself for years.

I imagined that was part of the reason I'd been so blinded by Pruitt. Needing a connection while denying the type that had caused so much pain.

So lost in my own world that I hadn't realized what was happening right in front of me.

But I'd come back to Colorado to make a change. To reclaim who I was or maybe discover who I wanted to be.

Hiding out in my house wasn't going to help that.

"Fine. I'll come as long as my grandmother doesn't mind watching Maddie for a little while."

"Heck, yes, baby! This is going to be a blast. I can't wait to see you. We're going to Mack's in Time River. Be there at seven."

Hesitation suddenly bubbled up, and I bit down on my bottom lip. "Are you sure your friends won't mind?"

I didn't know much about Paisley's personal life since our topics of conversation had always centered around horses. Our experiences. Different training techniques. Our dreams surrounding them and our goals for the future.

"Are you kidding me? They will love you. Believe me. Just come."

Where I thought I might feel reservations, I felt…excitement. There was something about being here that felt…healing.

"Okay, I'll be there."

A squeal reverberated through the line and basically shook the cab of my SUV. "Wear your dancing boots, Hails Bells. We're about to get our party on."

Oh lord, what did I get myself into?

"I'll see if I can find them in the mountain of boxes I still need to unpack."

"Just look at it as motivation to get through a few of them," she drawled, her voice sly.

There was no containing my grin. "That'll probably do the trick."

"Good! Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. Be prepared for the best night of your life!" she sang before the line went dead.

I laughed out loud at the whirlwind that was Paisley Dae.

She was someone I hadn't even expected might come back into my life. Anticipation thrummed, a gratitude that she'd taken the initiative to reach out, and I thought this might be the start of something great.

Ten minutes later, I pulled my Durango into the angled drive of my little house.

My gaze drifted over our home. It was painted white with blue eaves, and there was a manicured lawn out front in a kidney shape, lined by rocks to give it extra texture and design.

A bed of pink and white flowers ran along the walkway and swinging pots containing the same flowers hung from the porch.

Pride welled in the depths of me, though it thudded with something deeper.

No. It wasn't anything extravagant. Not even close to the type of excess I'd lived in my entire life. Both at my father's ranch and at the estate I'd shared with Pruitt outside Austin.

But it was what this house represented that made it magnificent.

Freedom.

Goodness.

A safe, untainted place for my daughter to learn, live, and grow. A place that would be filled with love and belief and joy.

I sat in the magnitude of it for a few moments, let it enfold me, the determination that I would do whatever it took to give her all those things swilling. Bricks building to conviction.

I would never let my fear sway me.

I would stand.

No matter what that looked like. No matter what it cost.

Resolved, I turned off the ignition and snapped open my door.

A rush of awareness slammed me. Coming at me like a barrage of arrows I had no time to deflect.

No way to divert or dodge the intensity.

It muddled my mind that something so severe and stark still managed to stir the heavens into tranquility.

A slow warmth stretching out and wrapping me in a fuzzy embrace.

I looked to the left to find Cody sitting on his front porch. He was rocked back in a chair, his legs kicked up on the railing, one boot crossed over the other at the ankle.

A patter of something I shouldn't entertain skipped through my body. A reckless beat of anticipation.

Steeling myself, I stepped out.

He tipped the neck of the bottle of beer he was nursing in my direction, the sun all around him, bathing him in a golden glow.

"How's it fair one woman could look so damn good after she worked all day in the stables?"

My instinct was to scowl at him. The way he let his attention drift down my body, like he was reveling in the sight of the tight jeans that I wore, the legs flaring out to accommodate my boots. I'd paired it with a black, western sleeveless top, embroidered with turquoise accents with black pearlescent buttons running down the middle.

I had to resist the urge to cross my arms over my chest.

All his cool and casual was back.

That smirk so easy.

No question, it was dangerous to my sanity.

He chuckled low like he found some kind of twisted pleasure in poking at me.

"How has work been treating you?" Those penetrating eyes creased at the edges, like he was trying to peer all the way to the middle of me. Like he might truly care about the answer.

"It is actually…great." I couldn't help but be honest with him.

"That's good to hear," he murmured.

I should have excused myself and hurried inside, but I stood there in my driveway, the breeze rustling through my hair as I stared at this guy I needed to ignore.

Just looking at him conjured a wave of guilt.

Unfortunately, he had this magnetism about him that I found hard to resist. "How are things going for you?"

He grinned, words rolling like seduction from his mouth. "It's going great."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"Yeah, the project is running smooth." Then his head cocked to the side as one of those flirty smiles took to his handsome face. "And you can say my view has gotten really good."

That gaze swept over me again. Devouring me where I stood.

A shiver curled down my spine and my stomach twisted in attraction.

I tried to gather up my defenses, to put up some boundaries, and I lifted my chin as if it could possibly be enough to shield myself from the onslaught of his heat. "You should probably look somewhere else."

"Now why on earth would I want to do that?" He took a lazy pull of his beer, his thick throat bobbing as he swallowed.

He slung a muscled, tattooed arm up so it was hooked behind his head, and he rocked back farther in the chair. So smooth and easy and so damned good to look at that I swayed to the side.

It took me a second to realize I hadn't said anything for at least a minute and was standing there mute, rooted to the spot. Staring through a lulling calm that still thrummed with energy.

He was conflict and peace.

Disorder ushered in by a warm spring breeze.

A paradox.

Clearing my throat, I tightened my hold on the strap of my bag, clinging to it like it might be an anchor. "I should get inside."

He dipped his chin so casually. Like the interaction was trivial when the man was nothing less than an earthquake. "I'm sure I'll see you around, Shortcake."

There was that Shortcake again, and my chest clutched, the memory of him sitting beneath that tree with his boots stretched out in front of him, the man so distraught as we'd shared that cake.

It was the first time he'd allowed me to see him. To see deeper into the intricate layers of his depths. To see more than the careless player I had to believe he was.

Shuttering the thoughts, I hurried up the walkway, put the key into the lock, and swung open the door.

Any tension I'd felt a second ago drained when I stepped inside to find Lolly and Maddie gathered around the coffee table in front of the couch, a game of Candyland spread out between them.

Maddie was on her knees on the floor, and she threw her arms into the air when she saw me. Her plump cheeks dimpled when she gave me that adorable smile that wrecked me every time.

My heart was hardly able to hold the magnitude of my love for her.

"Mommy! You got home so fast. You gotta come play with us. I already beat my Lolly like a hundred times, and she needs your help super bad. She's real terrible at this."

Madison's expression pulled in mortified disappointment.

Lolly chuckled and slanted me a knowing glance. "Little one's too smart for me."

"Well, then I guess Lolly and I are going to have to form a team, aren't we?"

Lolly's smile was soft. "We've always been the best kind of team."

"That's right," I told her, sitting down beside her and squeezing her knee. "The best one there is."

Maddie beamed from across the coffee table, those curls wild and her innocence stark. "Hey, I'm on your team, too. That's gotta mean we all win, right, Mommy?"

I squeezed Lolly's hand.

Yeah, that had to mean we all won. And I was set on the prize being this life.