Page 24 of Another Man’s Treasure

Lemon returns to her catalog. “Not a horse, but yeah.” She smirks.

Bluebell chuckles. “Hells yeah. If Hadrian was into sharing, I might ask Wilder to come over.” She winks at Lemon. “You’re a vampire; that’s more likely at your house.”

“Not so much,” Lemon says. “Furyon keeps me plenty busy.”

“You know what?” I muse as Bluebell helps me button the shirt over my shoulders. “You’re right. Wilder’s pretty cute.”

“Pretty cute?” Bluebell scoffs. “Why are you acting coy about this?”

I’m not even sure.

“Just keep helping me sell it.” I admire my reflection in the mirror. The pale blue is a damn hit, if I do say so myself. “You can’t tell him I told you,” I remind the girls. “As far as you both know, it’s relatively new, but I’m madly in love, and you’re happy for me.”

Bluebell unbuttons the shirt from my shoulders and heads for the checkout counter. “You need a few of these, and I’m gonna throw in a couple thick sweaters too. You need something sweat-wicking for the riding, breathable yet warm. Trust me on this.”

“I know how to ride a horse.” I pull my heart sweater back on.

“I think it’s cute how his sister got you matching sweaters,” Lemon offers. “And even cuter that he wore it.”

“He looked darling too,” I whisper, turning to her as I hop off the platform in front of the mirrors.

“You know she got them here,” Lemon whispers back.

Above us, the Buxom Bodice’s rafters groan happily, the building agreeing with Lemon. I thumb the sweater’s soft fabric, admiring how beautifully it’s made. Not the right outerwear for two days out on the range, but perfect for a Fuck You Ride.

Bluebell returns with my things in a bag, then hands it to me. “And you know how to ride a horse for real?”

I scratch at the length of my right horn, thinking about my childhood.

“Yeah. My grandparents had a hobby farm in upstate New York and a few horses. I used to help my granny exercise them, so I’ve been riding my whole life. Of course, I haven’t done much of it since I moved to Pine Gulch, but prior to that? Yeah…”

“I can’t wait to hear how this goes,” Lemon says with a delighted-sounding laugh. “Just you, your fake boyfriend, your ex-boyfriend, and a surveyor out on the range all by yourselves for two days…what could go wrong?”

“I’m gonna miss a Sweetheart Ball planning meeting though…” I muse. “Don’t want to leave the final deets to y’all to tackle.”

Bluebell shakes her head. “Now that Merit and Bryony aren’t part of the organizing committee anymore, and it’s just us, it’s soooo much easier. They get more time to focus on gossip, and we get to actually be efficient. We’re in a good spot. All you need to do is worry about getting auctioned off like the hottie you are.”

I waggle my brows at the compliment.

Don’t mind if I do.

* * *

“Well, this looks like fun.” Saint glares at the surveyor as we stand beside a horse trailer, in front of four saddled horses and two pack mules.

Wilder glances at me, but I’m perfectly warm in my multiple layers and leather gloves. I might look like I have a killer skincare routine, but my granny taught me to rough it, and honestly? I’m really fucking good at it.

The minotaur surveyor spits onto the ground as he points at the big black mare closest to Saint. “This here mare is bombproof. Every one of my kids have rode her, and I’ve never seen her do more than a fast trot in her entire life. You’ll be fine, Mister Ashbourne.”

Saint looks from the surveyor, Erek Alsop, to me and back again. “Dandy.”

Erek steps forward, bending over and cupping his hands together.

Saint stares down at him. “The fuck are you doing?”

Erek sighs as he straightens. “Givin’ you a leg up, Ashbourne, as it’s clear you’ve never ridden a horse before. Tell me I’m wrong, please, or this is gonna be a long-ass two-day ride. You can stay here, you know.”

Saint hisses, baring his fangs at the big gray minotaur. “I have a duty to my client. I’ve got to go.”