“How long have you been in America?” She accepted the glass Audrey handed her and took a sip of the cold wine. “When did you get in?”
“Well, I arrived in LA a couple of weeks ago. Now isn’t that a busy little place? I had plenty to see. Got myself a little job in fact.” He took the whisky and saluted Audrey. Sassie noticed the way her friend’s cheeks flushed. Well, well. She found him attractive. Not that Sassie blamed her. He was okay looking and had a way with the ladies. So long as he didn’t hurt Audrey, she wouldn’t interfere.
“A job. Doing what?”
“Have you been to Wyoming, Sassie? The place is just amazing, I tell you.” He shook his head in wonder. “The rush that went through my blood when I attended my first stock horse sale was the highlight.” He swirled the whiskey in the glass. “I’d stayed for hours watching the horses prancing around the ring, taking note where I saw potential, and hanging around the stables afterwards making friends. I picked up ideas as I went. You know how much I like the nags, Sassie. I was in my element, that I tell you.” He finished the drink and slammed the glass on the table before he gave the ladies a dazzling smile. Finn could always garner the attention of the ladies with a smile. Luckily, she was immune to his charms.
“So many fine horses they have there. Anyways, I got talking with a couple of fellows. Spinning a yarn, if you will. Now we both know I have a way with the horses, and they must have noticed. Heard I was heading up this way to visit you and before you know what happened, they asked me if I could drive a truck. I had myself a job just like that.” He smiled at the ladies hanging onto every word. “Pretty soon I’m told I’d be heading to Colorado to make a delivery of two beautiful nags, and here I am.”
Audrey sat up. “Two quarter horses, you mean?”
“Aye, I do.”
“From Winston stables? Gerry Winston in Wyoming?”
“That’ll be the man. Do you know him, Audrey?” He glanced down her body and she blushed under his gaze, giggling more than Sassie had ever seen her do before.
Audrey wiped her hand over her hair, patting it into some sense of order. “You could say that. I’ve been negotiating with the owners to buy some of their stock. He said he’d let me know when they were coming. Guess he forgot.”
“Well, there you go then. It really is a small world. I’ve got them at the showground already bedded down for the night. I was going to ask for directions in the morning. Seems like you can direct me yourself.”
“You have to stay with me, Finn. Don’t even think of going anywhere else or sleeping in your truck.” Sassie slipped her arm through his and leaned against his chest. He was comfort and home. The last few months had stretched her nerves much tighter than she’d thought. Moving away from LA and her cheating boyfriend, buying her own home and turning it into a business. To say nothing of the man who now graced her bed. Sassie had done more in the last year than she’d done in the five years previously.
“How are the boys? Are they doing all right on their own?”
Finn laughed, the sound enveloping her in warmth she hadn’t realized was missing.
“Those boys, I tell you. They’re men, darling. You spoiled them, for sure. Best thing you did was coming here and leaving them to fend for themselves. My mam had to send them away more than once when they thought they could get one over her.” He shook his head. “Ah, girl, they’re fine. Really, they’re coping by themselves, but I’m sure if you asked, they wouldn’t admit to it.”
“I’ve been too scared to phone.”
Lara walked in and called out, “Evening all,” with Grady and Riley on her heels. Fortunately, the guys veered left toward the bar.
“Sorry,” Lara almost whispered to their table. “They insisted on coming down but said they wouldn’t crowd us tonight since it’s girls’ night out.” Lara raised her eyebrows at Finn, and Sassie introduced them.
“Nice to meet you, Finn. We could bend this ‘girls only’ rule for you.”
He stood and held out his hand. “No, the pleasure is all mine, I assure you.” Even newly married Lara wasn’t immune to some Irish charm.
But Riley was watching from the bar with a frown on his face. Sassie smiled and wiggled her fingers at him, but he turned away, his lips tight.
Well, feck me, what the heck's up his butt? She sipped her wine and tried to concentrate on the conversation around her but kept glancing back toward the bar. They’d had the best sex this afternoon, and she thought things were going great between them.
“What’s the frown for, love?” Finn leaned down and asked.
“Nothing. Forget it.”
He sighed. “You should know me better than that by now. I want you to spill it. What is making you so sad?” He slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his chest. “Tell Finn.”
“I don’t know what’s wrong. He looks mad at me.” She peeked over Finn’s shoulder and then dipped her head. “I don’t understand what I did to annoy him.”
She ignored the look of pain that flashed across Finn’s eyes. “You wouldn’t be talking about the cowboy who seems intent on getting drunk at the bar, would you?”
“Yeah. That’s Riley, the guy I’ve been seeing. I thought we had a good thing going, but I must have missed something.”
“Oh, girl, don’t fash yourself. Have you not noticed whose arms you’re in?” He laughed and stroked her hair. “Just the
