Page 33 of Saddle Storm

Dallas: I’ll swing by to pick up Ellie.

That makes me laugh and I slip the phone in my back pocket, then catch Storm flicking her gaze back to the kids. Walking backward as she leads them toward her slowly. Then stops and claps her hands. “Great job, you two.”

Winter shuffles, causing the flower petals to fall everywhere.

“Oh, I’m sorry, you four. Great job!” She takes both lead ropes. “Okay, go wash your hands while I get them back into their stalls.”

I turn to Tucker since I’m alone with him now. “Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Probably the same thing she is. Who do you think you are, coming back here and staking claim. Well, let me tell you something buddy—I’ve known her a lot longer than you have.” I hold his reins. “Besides, I didn’t hear her confessing an old crush on you,” I chuckle, stroking his nose. He doesn’t find the humor and he shuffles away.

“Well, look at you,” Dallas calls, hopping off Trouble. He’s carrying a small helmet I assume is for Ellie for when he takes her home. “Talkin’ to your old horse.”

He steps inside the arena. “How’d the training go?”

I release Tucker’s reins. “Couldn’t tell ya, wasn’t watching the kids.”

He grins. “Not surprised. What’s the verdict on tonight?”

“I told you, taking them to dinner.”

He nods, treading carefully as he steps closer. “Silas, she’s got a kid.”

“And I appreciate the heads-up about that,” I say dryly.

He glances behind me. “I’m just saying, you’re not exactly an in-it-for-the-long-haul kind of guy.”

I glare at him.

“Don’t look at me like that. We’ve never seen you with the same girl twice. In other words, you’re . . . always on the next flight out. Storm isn’t a . . . layover kind of girl.”

He’s not wrong about my dating history. Women have always fit neatly into the gaps between seasons and travel games, with the occasional summer fling. I’ve had a few repeats but I’m not a liar, so I never make promises. And relationships require promises I know I’m not good for.

“Dal, it’s dinner with an old friend. That’s all.” As much as I want to believe it, the words don’t sit right with me. Because it’s more than that. I want to fix what I allowed to break when I refused to stand up to someone. I want my best friend back.

And, yeah, maybe selfishly—I want some answers myself.

Dallas nods. “Friend, huh.” He scratches his beard, watching as Storm makes her way back toward us with the kids. “I don’t know, she looks pretty ticked off when you’re around. What do I do if you’re not back by morning?”

I smirk, following his gaze. “Pin my disappearance on the Callahans.”

“Deal.”

After Dallas takes Ellie home, I wait for Storm and Max outside the barn, watching as the sun slowly starts to settle behind the mountains.

“Where’s your jacket?” I hear Storm ask Max as they return from the barn with her things.

“Oh, I left it at The Sha . . .”—he spots me and practically skips—“Silas, you’re still here.”

Storm quietly glares at me as they move closer, noticing the keys she left in her truck between my fingers. It was a good guess she keeps them there since that’s what everyone does around here.

“So he is . . .” She glances at both our cars. “Am I blocking you?” There’s an edge to her voice as she works to keep her tone even.

I push off the truck. “Not at all, actually, thought we’d use your truck when we get dinner tonight.”

Max’s eyes go wide with excitement. “We’re going to dinner with him?”

Storm’s jaw is harder than I’ve ever seen it—but I’m not nervous. Not really.

“We’re not going to dinner,” she says sharply, then smiling and speaking through gritted teeth, she adds, “thought I made that clear earlier.”