Page 85 of Wild and Wanted

‘Your mother is here?’ he whispered.

Shushing him, Stevie pushed him outside, stepping out with him and closing the door behind them, Electra showing them cursory interest only.

His hands slid to her arms, his eyes roving over her face. ‘Is everything okay?’

‘No.’ Everything was not okay. ‘Not really.’

‘Is it your grandmother?’

Stevie shook her head, touched by his consideration. ‘She’s fine. It’s not that.’

‘Good,’ he said, pulling her in for a hug, which Stevie sunk gratefully into, revelling in the big solid wall of him.

Inhaling, she drew his scent of horse and sunshine deep into her lungs, realising how very familiar it was to her now as he held her tight. He didn’t probe, just stood with her like he had all the time in the world, the steady pull of his breathing the kind of calm she needed.

‘My mother noticed I wasn’t wearing my ring,’ she said eventually.

He didn’t say anything for a beat and when he did it was a simple, ‘Ah.’

‘Yup.’

Pulling back a little from the hug, his gaze sought hers. ‘She didn’t take it well?’

‘No.’

‘Did you tell her why you’d taken it off?’

‘She’s a pretty good guesser. I didn’t have to.’

‘She knows it’s me?’

Stevie gave a mirthless half laugh. ‘She does now.’

‘Okay.’ His palms ironed up and down her arms in a soothing stroke. ‘That’s fine. Let’s go in and talk to her. I’m great with mothers.’

Laughing for real this time, Stevie quirked an eyebrow. ‘Oh really?’ She’d bet her last cent Mister-Girl-In-Every-Town had never met a mother in his life.

‘Sure. My mother thinks I’m awesome.’

Stevie rolled her eyes, the remnants of her laughter still ghosting her mouth. ‘I don’t think an endorsement from one mom, your own at that, really cuts it.’

He smiled, his hand cupping her cheek. ‘I’m sure I’ll figure it out.’

‘No.’ Stevie shook her head, sliding her hand over the top of his. ‘She’s processing a lot at the moment. Plus… you haven’t done anything wrong. You don’t have anything to answer for. We’re not teenagers. And this isn’t something for you to fix. This is just part of the baggage we navigate around every day.’

‘Stevie…’ He shook his head as his thumb stroked her cheekbone. ‘Maybe it’s time you stopped going around it and busted through it?’

‘Yeah. Maybe.’ Clay was probably right but if she could just get through this tour then maybe that would be enough for her mom. ‘But not today. Not now. Please, just go. I’ll come up later for a bit but I have to deal with this now.’

For a moment, Stevie thought he might press some more but thankfully he didn’t. ‘Okay, sure.’ He smiled as he dropped a soft kiss on her mouth. ‘I’ll see you later.’

Stevie watched him go, lingering a little to collect herself before heading inside. Her mother was sitting on the couch when she re-entered, her eyes even puffier, her nose redder if that was possible, numerous scrunched-up tissues in her lap.

‘I think we should leave tomorrow,’ her mother announced as Stevie lowered herself in the armchair opposite.

‘What?’ Stevie gaped at her mom. ‘Why?’

‘You’ve achieved what the record label sent you here to do. From all our conversations and the pictures and videos you’ve sent, I know you can ride quite well. I can see how comfortable you are around horses and stables, and you have all the ranching lingo. There’s no need to stay longer.’