Page 22 of One Wild Chance

“Oh, I really shouldn’t stay,” Summer says.

“Sure you should, honey,” Ada Mae says. “Eat something before you head home. I know you won’t have the energy to cook anything decent tonight.”

Ada Mae appears with Summer right behind her, still in her work clothes—light-wash jeans and a tank top. The little straps show off her tan shoulders, and the cotton fabric clings to her body in a way I shouldn’t be noticing.

She stops when she sees us sitting around the table, and her eyes land on me.

“Oh. I didn’t know you were all still eating. I’ll come back later.”

“Sit down,” Wyatt invites. “No need to leave.” He motions toward a chair, right next to me.

Her gaze cuts to the chair, then me. “No, I’m interrupting your family time.”

“We were just talking about you, actually.” Grady stands and pulls out the chair for her, like a Southern gentleman. It’s irritating the way my brothers are falling all over themselves for Summer’s sake.

“You were?” she asks.

Heat pricks the back of my neck.

“How valuable you are to the farm.” Grady catches my eye, like he’s up to something. “Jaxon’s going to need your help now that he’s running the place.”

I clench my teeth.

“Is that so?” she asks as Ada Mae sets a plate in front of her. “He doesn’t act like he wants my help.”

“Most women would beg to be in your boots, working for me.” As soon as it slips out, I wish I could take it back.

“Well, I’m not most women,” she says coolly.

“I don’t think you have a choice. We need everyone on board.” Then I turn to face her fully. “That is, if you think you can take direction from me.”

She eyes me warily. “The question is whether you’re willing to take direction from me. I’m the one who knows the operation.”

The stare she gives me sends heat through me. We glare at each other for a moment, like we’re waiting to see who will back down first. And the longer I stare, the more that attraction spreads, even though I know she can’t stand being around me. But I need her if we’re going to save Lucky Chance—which means I’m going to be spending every waking hour with her from now on.

My throat suddenly goes dry, and I grab my glass, draining it in one gulp.

Wyatt laughs. “Good luck getting him to take direction from anybody.”

“I can take direction,” I fire back, setting my glass on the table a little too hard. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

She arches a brow, and I already know that I’m going to regret agreeing to this.

“Great,” she says with a smirk that’s almost dangerous. “I’ve been waiting fourteen years to boss you around on this farm.”

I lean back in my chair and cross my arms. “Wouldn’t dream of taking that away from you, Daniels.” Then I lean toward her, just enough to catch the flare in her eyes. “Besides, I love a bossy woman.”

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow before sunrise.” She picks up her fork. “Don’t make me wait.”

Chapter 8

Summer

I don’t know why it should surprise me that Jaxon says he’s staying. Maybe because he hasn’t stuck around in Golden Springs longer than a weekend in fourteen years. Our little backwater town doesn’t have much to offer a man who’s used to arenas and cities that stay awake past nine p.m.

But on the farm, horses don’t care about your career stats. They don’t know how my mom stopped recognizing me last spring or what the memory care unit at Golden Haven costs. They don’t understand how desperately I need my flower business to work, so I can stop feeling like I’m one bad month away from losing everything.

Horses just need water, feed, clean stalls, and someone who loves them. That I can do. What I’m less sure about is whether I can teach Jaxon if he’s not willing to learn. Especially when he treats me like I’m hired help who forgot her place on this farm.