He drops his head into his hand and sighs. “Okay, let’s take this slow. I’m going to hold your hand and guide you in here, okay?”
“Colt—”
“He’s not going to hurt you, Tansy.” He steps out of the paddock and holds a hand out to me. “C’mon, I promise.”
I eye the huge animal staring at me. Then my eyes slide to Colt’s strong-looking, outstretched hand.
Screw it.
I reach out and take his hand. I tremble when it closes around mine. He guides me in, next to the horse. My anxiety is pounding in my head, and I’m convinced the horse is going to suddenly break free and crush me to death or something. But then Colt takes my hand again. I gasp as he pulls it forward and places my palm on Chance’s side.
“Wait, Colt—”
“Just be still,” he says gently. “Listen to him. Feel him breath under your hand. He might be a big animal, but I swear, you can feel the gentle in him.” He turns to eye me. “Just feel it, Tansy. You don’t need to be scared of a big pussy like Chance here.”
The horse neighs softly, and I smile nervously. But I keep my hand on his side, feeling the warmth and the softness. The horse breathes in and out, flexing his ribs against my palm.
“See? You’re not wrong, actually. They’re just big goofy dogs.”
I giggle. But damned if my anxiety isn’t melting away. Five minutes later, I’m feeling normal. Ten minutes later, I feel totally at ease with Chance.
After a pretty thorough check-up though, at least with the limited instruments Colt has on hand, I’m kind of at a loss.
“So he won’t mount the mares, or just can’t ever get erect?”
“Both. The first probably because of the second.”
I frown. There’re no immediately obvious stressors out here on the ranch—I’ve seen animals who live close to highways or in loud environments develop anxiety issues. But it’s a horse’s dream out here.
“Any change to his diet?”
Colt shakes his head. “Nope. Same feed he’s been eating since I bought the place.” He nods at a few bags of horse feed on the far wall that are labeled “Mare-Mate.”
“What’s Mare-Mate?”
“Horse feed chemically designed to help mares conceive and viably carry foals.”
I nod. “Wow, bet that made someone a nice chunk of cash.”
“Sure did.”
When I turn back to him, Colt’s got a smug grin on his face.
“Hang on, you?!”
“Before I was the ruggedly charming prick who stands before you, I had—still have, actually—a degree in chemistry.”
My jaw drops. “Colt, that’s incredible!”
He shrugs. “Satan took the company in the divorce. But I keep a pretty big stake stock-wise.”
I smirk. “Satan, huh?”
He winks.
“Is it commonly used?”
“Oh, deficiently. It’s the number two horse feed in the US right now, number three in Latin America, and number one Dubai.”
“Holy shit!”
He shrugs. “It keeps the lights on.”
I giggle. “Yeah, I bet it…” I frown suddenly and turn back to the stack of bags. “Wait, Chance eats that too?”
“Yeah, but it’s completely safe for stallions. That’s part of the molecular structure. The additive is encased in an enzyme that only mares can digest.”
“You’re sure about that?”
“Positive. I mean, I made it.”
I frown, tapping my finger against my chin. “Hmm.”
Harley starts barking outside. I glance up through the big doors and see a big white SUV barreling down the driveway. Beside me, Colt groans under his breath.
“What is it?”
He sighs heavily. “Are you religious?”
“Not really?”
“Good, maybe the hellfire will leave you alone.”
“Huh?”
“That,” he grunts, jabbing a finger at the SUV as it comes to a stop outside the stable. “Is Satan.”
That same mad jealousy from the bar comes welling up inside of me. I glare at the SUV, instantly hating the woman inside of it. But then I catch myself and try and shake the feeling away.
No, I am not jealous of Colt’s ex-wife. Because I don’t like or want or feel anything for Colt. Right?
But the self-affirmation feels empty, even when I say it a second time to myself.
“Let me go deal with this shit,” he grunts. “You might want to stay here.”
I nod, still seething with that jealous feeling. Colt slips past me and walks out of the stable towards the car. I pat Chance gently and then slip out of the paddock. I edge along the walls until I’m basically hiding behind the doorframe.
I mean, like hell am I not going to eavesdrop on this.
The passenger door swings open, and a glittery, strappy-sandaled foot steps out. The woman that follows almost makes me laugh out loud.
There’s a saying people have that money can’t buy class. And Colt’s ex, Deirdre, looks like the living definition of that. She’s dressed like Shakira, if Shakira was on safari and had a thing for diamond-studded clothing.
Her face is the tight, gaunt look of someone who likes botox and not eating as much as they should. She’s buried in makeup and her hair barely moves even when the wind blows a little. And she looks utterly disgusted to even be here.
A douchey looking guy steps out of the driver’s side in a suit and alligator shoes. When he spots Colt, he seems to shrink a little.
“Little early in the day for Armageddon, isn’t it, Satan?” Colt grins.
Deirdre rolls her eyes. “I’m just here to try and imagine what my new golf course and condos will look like, Colt. Go back to your horsies.”
I frown. Golf course and condos?
Colt’s mouth thins. But he just shrugs and turns to the guy. “How’s it hangin’, Baby Dick?”
The man scowls. “Listen, Colt. There’s no need we can’t all be adults here. I mean it’s been five years—”
“I’m not mad at you, Lorne,” Colt shrugs. “I just can’t get over how fuckin’ tiny that dick of yours is!” He grins. “I mean shit, man, do you pee sitting down?”
Lorne turns a dark shade of red. He sputters angrily as he glares at Colt, while I do my best not to laugh.
“That was five fucking years ago, Colt! And while I regret what you walked in on—”
“Your
