Page 53 of Second Chance Saloon

Something primal stirred deep inside his gut.

Her coquettish grin pushed dimples into her cheeks. “Coconut is really underrated.” She dabbed her lip, brushing away a stray coconut shaving.

Mitch’s mind leaped back in time to some other things Jackie declared underrated, specifically having sex in the water …

Apparently, that was all it took for his cock to turn to wood. Fuck.

Stop thinking with your dick. You just got dumped at the altar. This is so inappropriate.

But this wasn’t just any woman—it was Jackie, and his imagination didn’t need to stretch far to remember everything about her, the noises she made when she came, the way her body stretched against his …

Her elbow brushed his and he jerked away, swallowing. “I’ll take your word for it.” Mitch coughed, forcing himself to think about something else. “What did Estrella mean by Bruno having a bad day?”

“Bruno has Parkinson’s. His meds keep it at bay, but he has better and worse days. Estrella worries about him walking down the stairs on the bad days.” Her gaze slipped away and rested on Gus and Lina. “How long do we need to stay here?”

A low chuckle rumbled deep in his chest. “Impatient much?”

“Just saying what I’m sure you’re thinking, too.” Blowing a breath, she shifted and stretched her legs. “You were amazing.”

“You said that already.”

“I know. But you were. I don’t think it truly hit me before that you’re a real vet. We talked about it so much. I know how much of a dream it was for you. I’m so happy you achieved it. I’d say I’m proud of you, but I don’t want to sound patronizing.”

“You wouldn’t,” he uttered, his throat dry.

“Then I’m proud of you. You worked so hard for it.” She cocked her head. “You said you stopped swimming after college. How did you fund vet school? Did your father eventually come to his senses?”

He sighed. He was hoping they would avoid this topic. “Kind of. People started asking about my plans and he didn’t want his son telling anyone he was a prick, who refused to pay for a grad school unless it was law.”

The muscles in her cheeks contracted as she ground her teeth. “I’m sorry your relationship didn’t improve over the years.”

“I don’t think there’s a relationship to improve anymore.” He raked his hand through his hair. “Even at my wedding, he couldn’t make it about me and show me he cared. He didn’t, what a surprise.”

Mitch should’ve realized that would never happen. He might’ve won a Noble Prize or achieved world peace, but it’d never be enough for Judge Craigton. Not since Mitch had given up his promising swimming career ten years ago. That used to be something Tanner had been very invested in. But in the past ten years, he had lost all interest in Mitch’s life.

He felt the weight of Jackie’s eyes on him, but he didn’t dare look up. He didn’t trust himself not to tear up on the spot if he saw the familiar concern written all over her face.

“Your father never deserved you, Mitch,” Jackie said slowly. “It was never your fault. It’s always been on him.”

He frowned, dejected. “I know.”

And he did, truly; but it didn’t make it any better.

They were both silent for a beat, watching the newly delivered foal and his mom. Gus pranced around the stall on shaky, thin legs. He swished his tail, wobbled over to Lina and started nursing.

Mitch smiled, relief washing over him. Despite what he’d told Jackie, he wasn’t sure Gus would be all right. Without any veterinary equipment and no way of administering oxygen if the need arose, he’d felt helpless. Worst-case scenarios which he’d either witnessed first-hand or heard from other vets or at school had swum in his mind.

If someone looked at the mare and her foal now, not knowing what had happened a mere two hours earlier, they’d have thought it was an uncomplicated birth.

Mitch pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking about Lina. He’d triple-checked that the placenta she’d delivered was whole, worried that it might’ve torn due to the stress her body had been under during labor. Even the smallest piece left behind could cause an infection. He would tell Estrella and Bruno to call their own vet in the morning and ask if someone from her surgery could prescribe and bring round standard prophylactic antibiotics.

“Would you mind driving me back here in a day or two? I’d like to check on them,” he said.

“Of course.” Jackie’s voice wobbled.

Lina neighed and their heads snapped in her direction. Gus was still attached to her, nursing away, his stance sturdier by the minute. Or maybe it was what Mitch wanted to see.

Jackie brought her knees up to her chest, winding her arms tightly around them and staring at Lina and Gus. Color leached from her cheeks, a faraway expression settling in her face. She looked like she’d seen a ghost. Or like she was about to pass out.