Page 13 of Embers of You (Amity #1)

Sutton

“I really hope I don’t regret this,” I tell Bennet as we drive down the dirt road that supposedly leads to Jameson’s property.

He sent his address and explained how to get to the barn, but I’ve had to talk myself out of canceling no less than five times since I woke up. I don’t know how to groom a horse, and I don’t know how it’s going to be spending time with Jameson.

I drive past a large house, and I’m wondering if it’s where he lives. I continue down the unpaved road until I reach the barn. There’s a couple of horse trailers parked outside of it, so I park near them.

Bennet jumps out of the car after me, sticking to my side like he usually does as I walk inside. I find Jameson standing next to a gorgeous white horse with black spots and a striped mane.

“Hi,” I greet, trying to hide the hesitation in my voice.

“Hey, I’m glad you’re here,” he says easily.

The soft tapping of another dog’s feet on the concrete has me looking over to see Duke coming over to greet us as well. Him and Bennet sniff each other as I watch and wait to see how they’ll react to each other. Luckily, they seem to be immediate friends.

“I think they like each other,” Jameson says, pulling my attention to him.

I give him a close-lipped smile. “Yeah, so who’s this?”

“This is Juniper. She’s really sweet and is really good with getting her body clipped.”

“Hi, Juniper,” I greet, rubbing my hand on her nose. She’s standing in cross ties, which my research just taught me.

“I’ll be doing work around the barn in case you need any help. She’s clean and shouldn’t be a problem.”

I’m acting a lot more confident than I’m feeling as I nod and say, “I shouldn’t.”

I try to remember everything I watched about grooming horses, and it’s not much different than shaving down a large dog.

Just add in a few hundred extra pounds. Before I end up chickening out and leaving, I set my bag down and get my tools out.

I approach Juniper, letting her smell my hand like I would with any other animal before beginning.

While I’m running the clippers over the horse’s soft fur, I think about talking to Jameson. I feel like I should try to make conversation with him in some way since we’re both in here working. Maybe I could get to know him.

But that could lead to him wanting to get to know me and I don’t know what I could share, because telling him why I’m here is off the table.

The weather is great, huh?

That sounds ridiculous, even in my own mind.

I continue to debate on if I should say anything, but nothing manages to come to mind. And Jameson checks in periodically.

“How’re you doing?”

“Good.”

Then he smiles and goes back to whatever he’s doing. I hear him tossing things around when there’s a thump, and I’m sure it’s a hay bale.

I fight the urge to seek him out as I keep my entire focus on the large animal in front of me.

I’m probably more meticulous than I need to be.

I manage to get through grooming Juniper fairly easily.

She does well standing for me, all while Bennet and Duke play through the hall of the barn.

After I’ve finished shaving the extra fur off her, I’m running a brush through her soft mane and Jameson comes around the corner, leaning against the wall.

Sweat is beading his brow, and his dark T-shirt is molded to his body.

“How’s it going?” he asks.

“Good, I’m just about done, I think.”

He steps forward, walking around and examining the horse. “She looks great.”

“Thanks, I guess it’s not too bad for my first time,” I say proudly.

“Glad I can help you expand your resume.” He starts undoing the ties and taking Juniper back to her stall. “Do you want a tour of the property?”

“No, I should head home. I’m sure Bennet is tired.” I look over at the dogs who are currently wrestling and don’t look tired at all.

“I think they’re friends, which means you’re really doing them a disservice, not letting them hang out.”

“Was this your master plan all along?”

“I have no master plan, just a horse that needed grooming and you’re the professional.” He smiles innocently.

“Mhm, right. We really should be going.”

“Jameson,” a female voice calls out, and I furrow my brows at him because if he’s married or lives with a woman then he’s a piece of shit, and I’ve been right about keeping my distance from him.

“In here, Ma!” he calls out, and I don’t even have time to wrap my head around the fact that he said “Ma.”

I want to make a run for it. I shouldn’t be here meeting his parents, but it’s too late when the older woman appears in the entryway of the barn.

She has a scarf around her head and is wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt that looks like it may have fit her previously, but she’s now drowning in the fabric.

“I didn’t know we had a guest. Hello, I’m Emily, Jameson’s mother.”

“Hi, I’m Sutton. It’s so nice to meet you.” I meet her for a handshake and her cool soft hands feel fragile in my own.

“Did you walk all the way down here?” Jameson asks the woman.

She waves her hand at him and rolls her eyes so only I can see, and I hide my light laughter. I may be nervous about meeting her, but I like her already.

“I had to come down and see my favorite child.”

“Aw, you’re not just going to sweet talk me.”

“I wasn’t talking about you; I was talking about Sandy.” Emily walks up to another horse in the first stall, and feeds her a carrot she pulled out from her pocket.

I smile, looking down at my feet, enjoying their banter.

No wonder Jameson always seems like a sweet ray of sunshine whenever he talks to me.

How he isn’t turned off by my refusals, and it doesn’t seem to stop him from continuing to try.

I can’t help but think that has to do with the woman that raised him.

“Where’s Dad?” Jameson asks, his tone of voice clearly devoid of the warmth it just had, and it’s something I recognize all too well. I don’t want to talk to anyone about the betrayal of my own family, but if I did then I would have a tone too.

“He’s up at the house. He doesn’t feel the need to babysit me like my own son does.” She glares playfully at him. “Sutton, why haven’t I seen you before now?”

“Oh, I just moved here not long ago. I’m only here to groom Juniper.”

“Juniper needed to be groomed? Since when?” She turns toward Jameson whose eyes widen just barely as he looks at his mom.

“She was still fuzzy, the weather is getting warmer, I thought it would be a good idea for her to get her body clipped.”

“Hm,” she hums, and I feel like there’s something here I’m not fully understanding.

“I really should head out,” I announce.

“You don’t have to, you could stay for dinner,” Emily offers brightly.

I shake my head. “That’s okay. Maybe another time. It was nice meeting you.”

“I’ll walk you to your car,” Jameson offers.

“You don’t need to do that.” I gesture for Bennet to heel, which he does easily.

“I’m going to, even if I don’t need to.”

He does, walking the short distance to my car with me. I open the door to let Bennet jump in.

“Thank you. Let me know how much I owe you.”

I honestly forgot about the money because I’m so flustered that all I’m focusing on is getting out of here.

“Oh, don’t worry about it.” I climb into my Jeep, but before I’m able to shut the door, Jameson holds it open.

“I can’t let you do work for free.”

“It’s really okay, it was a practice run.”

“Let me do something then. How about I take you to dinner.”

I lift a single brow at him. “What’s with you and food?”

He shrugs, leaning against my door. “I like food, don’t you?”

I sigh, reaching for the door again. “I’ll see you later, Jameson.”

He backs up, letting me close it. “That wasn’t a no.”

I shake my head, closing the car door. He keeps his eyes on me, that soft smile on his lips as he watches me drive away. I keep looking at him in my rearview mirror, worried about how much longer I’ll be able to keep saying no to him.

Or if I even should.