Page 37 of Here With Me

Instead of continuing to stand like a shell-shocked idiot, I retrieve the shoe that’s plenty cooled down and finish the job. I make sure it fits properly and then hammer in the four nails. After that, I place his hoof back on the stand and do one final filing with my rasp.

Once that’s completed, I set it down and then watch Buttercup stomp a few times to ensure it looks right.

“When did ya realize?” I finally ask her, moving my tool kit to the horse’s other front hoof. I drag my hand over his back and down his leg so he doesn’t get spooked.

“When I saw your ID,” she says, standing next to Buttercup and rubbing her palm over his nose to keep him calm. “There aren’t many Underwoods in Sugarland Creek. I figured with your ages that you were probably related. The more I thought about it, the more similarities I saw between y’all. Then I remembered you talkin’ about how often you used to travel, and it just made sense from what Jase had told me.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me? It woulda been a much nicer blow to my ego if I’d known the truth.” Though it wouldn’t have made it any easier knowing the one woman I wanted was strictly off-limits.

“I never expected to see you again, so what was the point in tellin’ ya?”

“You didn’t think we’d run into each other with me livin’ in Sugarland Creek?”

“I figured it was a possibility, but it didn’t mean anythin’ would happen. Had I known you worked here, I woulda handled this differently. But I was embarrassed about the whole thing.”

“About what?”

“About havin’ a one-night stand with my ex’s dad. I’d never even had one before and when I actually do, it’s with the one man I shouldn’t have slept with in the first place. Also, I was nervous you’d tell Jase. He’d never forgive me if he found out.”

“So he doesn’t know?”

She shakes her head. “No, we’ve remained friends, but I haven’t talked to him in a few weeks. I was surprised to find out you were here because I thought for sure he woulda told me.”

Damn, that hurts.

It also makes me wonder how close they’ve remained if she’s concerned this secret getting back to him would ruin their friendship. Most exes don’t stay friends. But I don’t know enough about my son’s past to even have an opinion on how he is with other people. He’s quiet with me but could be different around those who didn’t abandon him.

“Yeah, we’ve had a rocky relationship, so I’m not surprised he hasn’t told anyone about me. That’s my fault, not his.”

“He’s told me,” she admits. “Well, his side of the story anyway.”

Sadly, his sideisthe only truth he knows. I never told him what I tried to make Damien do, and I hope he’ll never find out.

“I’d really appreciate it if you wouldn’t tell him, Noah. I’m here to rebuild my relationship with my son, and it’s still very rocky. I—”

“I wasn’t plannin’ to,” she reassures me. “No one knows except for Magnolia.”

I blow out a breath. “Great.”

She chuckles. “Yeah, I told her while I went home to shower, so don’t plan on it being a secret for long.”

“Any chance I can bribe her to keep her mouth shut?” I ask, half teasing, half serious. If Jase finds out, he’ll never talk to me again. His one- and two-word responses will dwindle to complete silence.

“That’s a good question...” She snorts, then shakes her head. “Nah, she knows whatever secrets I share she takes to the grave.”

I nod in appreciation. I’ve done a lot of shitty things as a father when I was at my lowest point in life, but this would be irreversible. Even if I don’t know a lot about Jase’s high school and post-graduation life, I’m pretty certain hooking up with any of his exes would put me on his permanent shit list.

ChapterNine

Noah

“Heard ya ate shit for lunch. How’d that taste?” Wilder howls in laughter before I get the chance to respond or flip him off.

“Jen was at your house last night, so why don’t you tell me?” I ask, lunging Millie in the corral before I take her into the training center.

“Nice one, sis!” Waylon gives me an air high five as he makes his way into the barn.

It only took a couple of hours for the news of my embarrassment to get around the ranch. Surprised it took that long, honestly. But two can play that game. Everyone knows Wilder has a hookup routine and no one likes Jen—for good reason—but that’s never stopped him.