Page 30 of Second Chance Saloon

“I enjoyed it.” His lips crinkled in a smile. “Once I stopped being terrified of falling off.”

With a confident hold of the reins, Mitch set off ambling back toward the barn. Diamond’s hooves clip-clopped behind him. “Though, I’m not sure I can manage it again tomorrow.”

Jackie walked beside him, her bare elbow knocking against his every now and then. Whenever their bodies connected, his skin sparked with goosebumps.

“Well, I could tell you that there’s no gain without pain, but I know you’re back in the pool on Monday so it might be best to rest up tomorrow.” She glanced at him sidelong. “We could take Dixie on a walk instead.”

“Dixie?”

“Mimi’s dog. Though I suppose she’s my dog, too. You’ll love her. She’s a giant fluffball.”

Mitch sighed. “I’m allergic to dogs.”

Jackie stopped short. “What?”

“I’m allergic to dogs,” he repeated. “Think I’ve always been—at least, I don’t remember not erupting in hives and getting all sneezy around them.”

“But you want to be a vet.” Frown lines grooved the corners of her lips. “I know you said equine, but you’ll surely have to see dogs during your training.”

Mitch opened his mouth to answer her but closed it again when they walked past the group of ranch hands still loitering by the fence. He blinked, swallowing down the fear of being told how pathetic he was, not knowing how to ride.

Jackie’s frown turned into a smile as she approached a burly older man with an impressive moustache. “Dustin, so good to see you!”

The man let out a raspy chuckle and gathered her into his arms. “My angel, I missed you.”

Mitch’s eyebrows twitched. He held back, unsure if Jackie wanted him to come closer. She hadn’t mentioned Dustin to him. Judging by his white ponytail trailing to his shoulder blades, thick eyebrows to match and heavily wrinkled face, he must’ve been at least in his late sixties, if not older.

The sound of Jackie’s bubbling laughter pulled his attention back to her.

“You know me, trouble always follows. But it seems it hasn’t found me in Austin yet.”

Dustin cackled. “See that you keep yourself right, darlin’. Brenda worries about you more than she lets on.”

Mitch took a step toward them, tilting his head to hear better.

“Mimi’s always worrying. She could have me under lock and key, and she’d still not sleep well at night thinking mountain lions might steal me,” Jackie said.

Mitch gasped. “There are mountain lions in Texas?”

Jackie and Dustin both turned to him, as did the other three people milling around.

With five pairs of eyes on him, Mitch swore at his apparent inability to keep his mouth shut. His insides bunched into a knot and chills iced his spine.

Being the center of attention was not something he’d ever get used to. Which was ironic, given how many weekends he’d spent with hundreds, and sometimes even thousands, of people watching him swim. That’s different, his brain supplied. They watch the race, not you as a person. You’re just a moving body, hidden beneath a swim cap and goggles.

He didn’t notice Jackie appearing by his side until her fingers linked with his.

“Everyone, this is Mitch. My boyfriend.” She squeezed his hand.

A lone whistle pierced through the chorus of whoops.

Mitch’s heart pitter-pattered against his ribs, his stomach turning jittery. An uncomfortable wave of awkwardness almost eclipsed all the joy created by the label Jackie had given him.

Her boyfriend.

He’d never been anyone’s boyfriend before.

He rolled the word on his tongue, tasted it and decided he liked it very much. Crazy to think that two months ago they hadn’t even known each other existed.