“What does Crunch think about it?” I asked.
April exhaled. “He would never say anything bad about the club. And -" She held her hand up. “Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying anything bad about Inferno, either. But he’s talked about me and Mac going somewhere else for a little while.”
I nodded. “I can understand wanting to get away.”
April opened her mouth to say something else, but then I heard MacKenzie squeal.
“Look!” MacKenzie yelled. “Uncle Axe is on a horse!”
I looked up to see Cade riding across the field atop a lathered Bay-colored horse, heading the barn. Sitting tall in the saddle, wearing his cowboy hat and boots, he looked like something out of an old western. Behind him, the setting sun painted the sky and landscape a rainbow of pinks and reds. A memory of us riding together flashed in my mind's eye, and I couldn't shake it, the feeling of deja vu. I felt the familiar feeling of arousal rush through me, just watching him ride.
"Can I ride a horse while I'm here?" MacKenzie asked. Her voice shook me out of my head, and I cleared my throat.
"Of course, honey," I said. "I'm sure Mr. Austin will let you get up on one of the horses." I looked over to where Cade had been, but he was gone, already inside the barn. I turned toward MacKenzie. "You just tell Mr. Austin you want to ride a horse. I think he'll like that."
“He looks real good on the back of that horse, doesn’t he?” April stood beside me, and I could feel her gaze on my face.
“All guys look good on the back of a horse,” I said, shrugging, hoping the answer sounded more casual and non-committal than I felt.
“I don't think so. It’s kind of like a motorcycle,” she said. “Only certain men are meant to ride them.”
I was quiet. I didn’t need to think any more about Cade and what he did or didn't look good riding. A few minutes later, when he came walking across the field, taking it in long strides, I had to remind myself again that he wasn't the kid I used to know, the one who would take me up in the hills riding, away from everyone and everything.
“Evening, ladies,” he said as he walked up the porch steps.
“Uncle Axe!” MacKenzie ran over to him, her blonde pigtails bouncing. “Will you let me ride a horse, just like you?”
Cade bent down. “Sure thing, kiddo. How about tomorrow morning? We’ll get you up in the saddle.”
“Do I get boots and everything?”
“I don’t know about that,” he said. “I think sneakers may have to do for now. We’ll have to look at getting boots for you.”
"Hey MacKenzie," April said, looking at me meaningfully. "I have something inside for you."
"What? Is it a present?" MacKenzie bounced off, trailing behind her mother.
I met Cade's gaze, my heart skipping a beat as I took him in, standing there in his jeans, cowboy hat tilted down over his forehead. He looked so much like how I remembered him. So much like the man I thought he'd become.
"Junebug," he said. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"I didn't expect to come here."
"June, I - " he started. "About the other night, I -"
I shrugged. "You were drunk."
"I was stupid," he said, his voice low. "Coming over there like that. I didn't mean - I didn't think you were going to just - "
"Screw you because you showed up, drunk, on my front porch?"
"Something like that," he said. He grinned wickedly. "I mean, a guy can hope."
I opened my mouth to say something, but Stan appeared in the doorway. "Everything look okay with the cattle?” he asked.
“Yeah, pop,” Cade said. "I noticed a couple of calves that were still slick though, I'll need to head back and separate them to get brands on them."
“Good,” Stan said. “Cade, why don’t you come in and clean up. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.”
Dinner was a rambunctious event, with lots of laughter and joking. After it was finished and MacKenzie was in bed, we sat around the table. I sipped slowly at a glass of wine, my stomach full. Despite my misgivings about coming here, I was glad I came.
April peered closely at the photos hanging on the wall, of Cade during high school. “Look at you, Axe,” she said. “You were a football stud, huh?”
"First Team All-State Linebacker, baby,” he said, grinning. He gulped down his iced tea and looked over at me. “I was hot shit back then, wasn’t I?” he asked, winking at me.
“You were definitely something,” I said. “I don’t know if hot shit is the right term.”
“Whatever,” Cade said. “Captain of the football team? All the ladies wanted me.”
Stan laughed. “Never had a problem with self-esteem, this one,” he said.
“No kidding,” I said. “He was always a cocky little shit.”