Page 49 of Saddle Storm

I knew he’d be a good kisser.

Just knew it. I couldn’t just believe it and move on. No—I had to go and find out. Had to listen to Rose.

I press my lips together, like that might do something about it.

What it does is bring it all back. The look right before. The words right after. The ones that landed low in my stomach.

I drag in a breath and let it out slow, grounding myself in it.

I’ve gone years without letting Silas Thorne take up space in my life like that. In my head. Not about to start now because of one impulsive moment in a barn.

I circle around to the back porch, where I know Willow’s been sitting with Emmit to watch the sunset each night. Willow smiles at me—warm, welcome, friendly—completely oblivious to the chaos in my mind. And it’s perfect.

Just what I need.

“’Bout time you made it out here. Do I need to tell Wilder to work me into your schedule?” she teases.

I climb up the steps and give her a quick squeeze. “You’re not a chore. And I promise, one of these days, I’m going to get a sitter for Max and we’re going to go out on the town and drink like grown-ups. None of this mocktail business after you’re done breastfeedin’.”

She laughs, setting her month-old baby down in his bassinet.

“He’s so precious.”

“Thank you. Tell ya, if you told me this time last year, I’d be holding a baby—much less my own—I’d have told you your crystal ball’s broken.”

I laugh. “Yeah, I know the feeling.”

She watches me. “I’m sorry. I know it’s not exactly the same with Max.”

Willow and I haven’t spoken a lot, just a quick catch-up occasionally. Same with Rose. They both know Max was unplanned and straight out of high school. But I’ve left it at that. Neither of us were ready. He left and I chose to be a mother.

“Not really, but I guess it can be strange at any age once you have your first.”

She smiles down at Emmit.

“Are you excited for the wedding?”

“I was happy with the first one,” she mutters.

“You mean the fake one?”

Willow looks up like she’s considering it, her deep red hair shining in the sun. “The complicated one.” Her smile grows deeper. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, it was the best night of my life. The night we conceived this little guy. But I guess we owe it to ourselves and everyone we know to have a big ’ol party with horses, champagne, and no other reason to get married than wanting to spend the rest of our lives together.”

I give a small smile.

And then I remember that not much gets past this city girl. “You’re not a big romantic, are you?” Willow asks.

I hesitate. “No, I guess I’m not.”

She shifts on the porch swing. “Here. Come sit with me. I need more friends. Never get to gossip anymore.”

I laugh and sit next to her. “All right but just for a few minutes. I’m still on the clock.”

“I won’t tell if you won’t.”

“I haven’t had the best experience with men. The first guy I had a real crush on ghosted me in high school. The first man I slept with knocked me up and paid me to keep quiet.”

“Take it the payout wasn’t enough to last eighteen years?”