“Thank you for the ride. Now hit the button on the coffee and get the cups. It’s all ready to go.”
He does it as I slip off the counter and start cooking something simple. Clay’s eyes are on me the whole time, watching everything that I do. You’d think I was the most fascinating creature in the world. Maybe to him I am.
His phone starts to ring, and he answers it. “Where?” he asks, and he’s on his feet. “Yes, call them both. Fuck. I’ve been saying we need a full-time vet here.” His body is tight, and I know something’s really wrong. I rush over to the coffee pot and put the rest into the travel mug.
When I turn around, he’s hanging up the phone. “Is everyone okay?”
“One of the hands was checking the fence line and a snake spooked the horse. He threw John and the horse didn't regain his footing and fell too.” That didn't sound too bad. “Into a barbed wire fence.”
I cringe. “Go.” I hand him the cup. “You want to take the toast or bacon?”
He shakes his head, and I want to tell him he should eat something.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be back around lunch to check on you. You can feed me then.” He wraps his arm around me and presses his mouth hard against mine before he heads out the door. But not before he tells me to keep my ass inside the house.
I spend an hour or so keeping myself busy, but each minute feels longer than the last. When I’m washing dishes I hear the front door and I spin around to see a woman standing there. She’s in jean shorts and cowboy boots with a white shirt tied in the front showing off her midriff. I’ve never seen her before. I haven't seen another woman around here besides myself.
“Who the hell are you?” she asks, walking toward me, her boots clicking loudly with each step. When she makes it over to the other side of the counter, I see how beautiful she is. She’s tall, too, and has legs for days.
“I think I should be asking you that,” I say to her.
“Did he bring home a one-night stand?” She slaps her hand down on the counter.
“I'm not a one-night stand.”
She rolls her eyes and starts laughing. “I got a call that Clay needed me. He always needs me.” She smirks. “Why don’t you go get your stuff together so this isn't more awkward later when Clay brings me back tonight?”
I swallow the knot forming in my throat, unsure of what to say to her. What if Clay has someone he hasn’t told me about? To be fair, I haven’t exactly explained my fiancé. Could he be hiding his own arrangement?
She lifts her hands. “I mean, really.” She motions to me and then herself. “Don’t embarrass yourself more.”
I ignore her jab. I don’t know if she’s hurting and lashing out or if she’s really just a bitch. “Why aren’t you mad?” I blurt out, and she shrugs.
“He’s playing dirty. He’s still mad I went home with the cowboy from the rodeo show in town a couple months ago. He was ignoring me, but that got his attention. I think you're his payback, and I’m not mad because now he can’t throw it in my face. We can finally move on to marriage and babies and all that. Get it?”
No, I’m not sure I get it at all, but I nod because I want her to leave.
“Good. Now, I'll go check on Clay.” She strolls out the door and slams it behind her.
I walk over to one of the chairs and sit down, feeling numb. I don’t know what to believe. I decide to wait and not let myself get worked up. Clay should be here in an hour or so.
He’s not.
It’s almost four o’clock when he walks in and pulls his Stetson off. He sets it by the front door and takes off his boots.
“Everyone okay?” I ask, and he nods.
“Yeah.” He walks over to me, pulling me into his arms. He holds me tight, and I rest my head on his chest. My stomach drops when the familiar smell of the woman's perfume from earlier hits my nose.
Clay kisses the top of my head. “I’m beat, I’m going to go shower.”
“Want me to join you?”
“No, I’m going to be quick. Why don’t you get dinner going for us?”
I nod, watching him go. When I hear the bathroom door close, I leave out the front, having no idea what I’m doing, but I need air. The house is massive, but I need a deep breath of the cool fall air to clear my head because right now, I’m at a loss.
When I step onto the wraparound porch, to my utter surprise I see my sister getting out of some fancy car I’ve never seen in my life.