“Sure. Come here, boy.” Steve stepped back over the fence and waited patiently while Amanda stroked the side of his large head.
“Hey, sweet boy. Aren’t you the sweetest?” she said quietly, like she only meant for Steve to hear.
“Oh, watch out. Here she comes,” Evie said as Majesty nudged her way into the party. Steve backed up, giving her room to shove her face under Amanda’s hand.
“I—” Sam started to . . . he didn’t know what. Maybe he was trying to save Amanda from Majesty’s proven track record of being somewhat of an asshole. But to everyone’s surprise all Majesty seemed to want was Amanda’s attention.
“Well hello, pretty girl.” Amanda lightly stroked her mane. Sam looked over at Evie, who was also watching this exchange in silent awe. Zach just looked confused as hell, his left eyebrow almost touching the brim of his Stetson. The three of them stopped breathing as Majesty came closer and rested her chin on Amanda’s shoulder. Amanda leaned into the whole wild spectacle, stroking Majesty’s face while she whispered in her ear. After a few long moments, she leaned back and gave Majesty a nod, like whatever business they had with each other was now concluded. Majesty turned and went to sniff around the pasture. Amanda hopped off the fence railing and wiped her hands on her jeans.
“What in hell was that?” Zach laughed.
“Animals just like me,” she said with a shrug.
“What did you say to her?” Evie asked.
“I told her that you guys don’t appreciate her beauty and see her for what she really is.”
“And what’s that?” Sam said.
“America’s next top model. This horse is all ego. You’re a Hollywood man. You should know. You just gotta make her feel appreciated instead of like a problem. Then she’ll come around.”
“I mean, she has a point,” Evie added.
“Maybe I don’t need to ride a horse. Maybe I just needed to befriend one and I think Majesty and I are working on something good.”
“Well then,” Sam said with a chuckle. His laughter died though as soon as Amanda came back to his side and took his hand. The warmth of her fingers sent a tingle up his arms and across his chest. He knew things were fresher than fresh between them, but he also knew how easy it would be for him to be with her like this.
Evie glanced down at their hands, then smiled at Sam. “Are you joining us for brunch? I’ve put together a pretty bomb-ass menu.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Am I?” Amanda asked Sam cautiously.
“You’re more than welcome to.”
“Oh no, I mean, if you’re cooking I don’t want to just—”
“I’m already cooking for, like, fifteen if you include what I have to make to get Jesse to four thirty this afternoon,” Evie said. “You’ve met Jesse?”
“I have. And I saw him eat a whole tub of cheeseballs by himself last night.”
“See? One more mouth won’t matter. Trust me. Plus, Sam gave me his version of how you two got together. I want the deets from you, the legit horse whisperer. ’Cause I think you might have literally bewitched him and he just doesn’t know it.”
“Evie, please,” Amanda hissed. “You’re spilling all my secrets.”
“Oh yeah, you’re coming. Let’s go.” Evie grabbed Zach and they started back toward the lodge. Sam turned to follow but Amanda held him back.
“Are you sure it’s okay? I just came down here to sleep mostly. Check out the spa. I do not want to intrude on family time again.”
“I promise. It’s fine. And Vega will be there too. My grandmother loves a full house,” Sam said.
“Right, your grandmother. Thee Leona Lovell. You want me to just walk up into her house, last minute, for a family brunch.”
Sam reached down and took both her hands. “I am not saying this as some corny bullshit to convince you to come along just because I want you there. My grandmother is going to love you. There is a chance by the end of the day she may love you more than me.”
“Are you the favorite?” she asked with that megawatt smile.
“Depends. I’m my mom’s favorite for sure. My grandmother sometimes favors Jesse, but then Lilah moved in, took everyone’s fucking shine.”
“Poor baby.”
“Come on.”
“Wait. You also didn’t mention that Evie freaking Buchanan was your sister-in-law.”
“Soon-to-be, though most everyone here acts like they are already married. I didn’t know to mention it.”
“Are you related to any other super famous, amazing Black women?”
“My mom is a former Miss California, but she won’t be at brunch. That’s all I got.”
Sam laughed as soon as Amanda sucked her teeth. “Let’s head back to the house.”
She glanced over her shoulder, back toward the pasture. “Wait one sec.”
“Sure, what—” He looked over as Bam Bam came over to the fence. Amanda dropped his hand and went back over to greet the young colt.
“Hey, bud. I saw you over there, but I wanted to give you your space. You’re special, aren’t you? A little shy maybe, but everyone loves you ’cause you’re so handsome.”
“You should take Bam Bam out on the trails, Amanda. He’s been great to ride,” Evie called back. Amanda gave him a parting stroke of his nose, then jogged back to catch up with them.
“Maybe if I come back again. Still a little nervous about the whole getting-on-the-horse part.”
“After what I just witnessed that makes not a lick of sense, but whatever you want,” Evie laughed.
They made their way back to Zach’s truck, hand in hand. As they walked Sam wondered whether he should broach the subject of Valentine’s Day and see if Amanda wanted to make something official happen between them that night. Like another romp between the sheets or a proper date. Before he could convince himself, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
He pulled it out and frowned at the notification on the screen.
Dru Anastasia’s assistant just tracked me down and asked me for your number.
Sam stopped and read the text more closely, just to see if he had
