Page 104 of Lost Trust

My gaze drifts toward the barn.

Royce is tipping a bottle of water over his head, sending rivulets down his face and neck. Sunlight catches the droplets as he shakes his head and drags his fingers through his damp hair. His bare chest rises and falls with each breath, every hard-earned muscle shifting before disappearing beneath the waistband of his jeans.

I look away.

At least, I try to.

Because the truth is, I don’t know if I’m ready to risk letting another man in who might eventually do the same.

But lately, there’s one particular cowboy who seems determined to challenge every bit of resolve I have left.

Royce

The dining hall is already noisy when I walk in, filled with the usual morning racket—forks scraping plates, chairs sliding across the floor, and some teenager being way too chipper and laughing too damn loud for this time of day.

I grab a plate and find Cabe, Micah, and Jovie already settled at one of the long tables.

I drop into the empty seat beside Cabe. “Morning.”

“Look who decided to show up,” Micah says. “Thought you might’ve slept in.”

“Thought about it,” I say.

I start digging into my plate while Cabe finishes off a stack of pancakes.

“We’re leaving in about twenty,” Cabe says. “Dad wants us at the corral by seven thirty.”

I nod. It’s not like I can complain. I’m the one who talked them all into starting the vaccinations this morning.

I glance at him. “Thanks for agreeing to start the process early, by the way.”

He shrugs. “Didn’t make any difference to me. I’m up at four every morning anyway,” he says. “Why the hell did you want to get up so early though?”

“Might as well get it over with,” I say.

Jovie snorts and gives me a look over the rim of her coffee mug.

Cabe looks at her. “What?”

Jovie sets her coffee down. “He wants to spend the afternoon with Marina,” she says matter-of-factly. “That’s the only reason I agreed to let him skip therapy this morning.”

Cabe’s eyebrows shoot up.

Micah starts laughing.

“Is that right?” Cabe says. “Finally grow the balls to shoot your shot?”

I point my fork at him. “Fuck you.” I swing it over to Micah. “Both of you.”

Micah leans back in his chair, grinning. “I can’t believe you’re letting him skip physical therapy for a woman, Jo.”

Jovie shrugs. “I’m a romantic nowadays.”

Cabe looks at her, and his face tightens before he can hide it. I clear my throat to draw attention to myself so no one else notices.

“I’m not skipping it. I’m moving it,” I say.

“After your date,” Micah quips.