Page 15 of Stirring Up Trouble (Saddle Up #1)

Thirteen

Robin

Seeing Griffin's name on my phone was startling. I wondered if maybe something had gone wrong at the clinic or if he needed me to come back early. There could have been any number of reasons why he was calling me.

None of the scenarios that ran through my mind were about the fact that the men of the Coleman Ranch had gathered to watch the rodeo and saw me riding. Then again, I had a feeling part of the reason that they saw anything at all was thanks to Bobby Allen tipping them off.

"Tell me again how you knew," I said to Griffin as I tried to speak over all of the men wanting to talk all at once.

He chuckled. "You know exactly how. Bobby Allen was beside himself knowing that you were going to be riding. He said that there was some type of show we should watch so we all piled up in Atticus and Sean's living room to watch it.”

"Could have knocked me right over when I saw you on that big beast." Atticus said.

"Be nice to May," I replied. “She's a sweetheart.”

There was silence, and then the sound of laughter echoed over the line.

“I don't believe for one second that that horse is nice. The commentators even said that she was a pain in the ass,” Beau stated.

"Language," Jackson said, as Dakota said, at the same time, "Swear jar!

" I had no doubt that Dakota's swear jar fund would likely put him through college with the way Beau sometimes went off on a tangent.

I myself had to be careful whenever I visited the ranch because the little bugger had ears everywhere and always knew when to catch someone.

"Well, I'm glad you all got to watch the show, I guess,” I told them, my voice full of sarcasm.

“It was a good performance,” Sean added. “And I think we're all just a bit shocked to see you look the way you did.”

"The way I did?"

"Yeah, all bada— You know what. Like you were the cowboy to beat. I've never seen you so self-assured," Griffin told me.

I frowned at the thought. "It was just riding. May did most of the work."

Corey chimed in that time saying, "We all know enough about ranching to know that that wasn't just the horse. Yeah, she had the speed, but the way you roped that calf was beautiful."

I fought the blush that wanted to come at the praise. I watched Blaze clean the dishes at the sink, his eyes trained on his task. I couldn't tell if he was listening or not, and I didn't want to say anything that would implicate us if he wasn't ready for that.

Sure, he told Connie, who I believed was as much family as anyone else to him, but until I knew that he didn't mind the Coleman Ranch guys knowing about us too, I wouldn't say a word.

“I'm not sure what y’all want me to say. Yes, it was a good run, and I had fun. I dressed the part since I'm helping work the rodeo. Whatever you're seeing isn't there.”

There were some protests, and then Griffin said, "Hey guys, I'm gonna take this for just a second. I gotta talk some business stuff with him."

The others told me good night as I heard Griffin move through the house. He was likely stepping out onto the porch. The man loved to pace when he had something to say. I could only imagine what he needed to tell me now.

For some reason, I doubted it was business related at all.

There was something about the way he spoke, the way he wanted to single himself out.

We talked about the veterinary clinic in front of other people all the time.

There wasn't anything he would need to say to me that he couldn't say in front of them, which meant this wasn't about the clinic at all.

"Tell me what's going on," Griffin said.

"What do you mean? What do you think is going on?"

My reply made him groan. I could hear the steps from his boots on the wood planks. I was right about him pacing.

"You know what I'm talking about Robin. That horse. Your outfit. The man who was waiting for you afterwards.”

His words shocked me. “What man? What are you talking about?"

The sound of his pacing stopped as Griffin sighed.

"Look, I know that most of the guys aren't into the social media stuff, but I keep up with it for the sake of the clinic.

And when I went to look up this rodeo just to see what they were all about, there were videos where it was tagged of you riding straight towards another man.

A man who was looking at you like Atticus looks at Sean. "

Panic swept through me. This was it. I was going to have to confess or lie. And I really fucking hated lying.

Griffin was my friend. My best friend really. Ever since my brother moved to the city and ironically ended up with Gerald, a man who used to work at the Coleman Ranch, I had felt a bit unmoored. Add in my previous libido issues, and I was practically losing it.

I knew I had to tell him the truth. "Can you hold on for a second, Griffin? I need to check something."

I didn't wait for him to respond as I muted the call, then I glanced around the room one last time to make sure no one else was lurking around. Then I said the word I knew would get Blaze’s attention.

"Daddy," I called.

His eyes whipped to me. "Yes, baby," he said, quickly moving around the counter.

I held up my hand to stop him before he could crowd too close. His hands moved to pin me in where I was sitting as he hovered, looking me up and down like he expected to find something wrong.

I giggled. “I'm not hurt, Daddy. I want to tell Griffin about us. Is that ok?”

He leaned down closer, his gaze locking on mine. "What part about us do you want to tell him?"

I swallowed thickly. “Just the together part. I know he would be fine with the Daddy stuff because he practices it with his partner, but…”

Blaze's eyes lit up. “But you want to keep the fact that you’re my boy between us for now, don't you?”

I mumbled, “Yes, Daddy.”

He leaned down kissing my lips soundly. “You can tell him whatever you wish. I wouldn't be bothered even if you did admit the Daddy aspect. We're still navigating things so just make sure he knows we're not sending out wedding invitations yet.”

He turned around and walked towards the stairs as I sat there slack-jawed from his choice of words. At the last minute, he turned to look over shoulder at me and said, "And don't be long. I'll be naked and waiting for you."

The sound of his laughter came to me as I scrabbled to unmute the phone. I needed to finish this conversation with Griffin as fast as possible.

"Hey Griffin, sorry about that. I just needed to check with Blaze that he was okay with me telling you that we were dating."

Griffin, who had been whistling to himself, stopped abruptly. "You're dating him?"

“Yeah that's what I just said."

"Okay how is that going to work?" Griffin asked. "You live here. He lives there. Are you gonna try long distance?"

"I don't really know. It's new. We just kind of made the decision today. Or maybe last night? It's all a blur."

Griffin hummed. “I mean, that makes sense. You haven't been there that long. Also is it crass of me to ask why you never told me you were bi?"

I snorted. "Could be because I didn't really know. I thought that I was having some ED issue type of stuff when really no one was doing it for me. One look at Blaze and suddenly I was a teenage boy all over again. He feels the same and we're trying it out.”

"Wait a minute,” Griffin said. “So, you're telling me you were both straight and realized you're bi together? Those are some incredible odds."

I nodded even though he couldn't see me. "Yeah, pretty much incredible odds, and it feels like we're up against everything to try and make this work, but I really want to, Griffin. I want to see where this goes. I've never felt this way."

"That's great, Robin! I'm happy for you. You know Harlan was that way for me. Even when I first met him when he was behind bars, it was like seeing a new part of him. Like seeing something I hadn't before. And while it took a while for our time to come, I don’t regret a bit of it.”

"Yes but the time was what you both needed," I reminded him.

"Yes and the timing will be what you need too. Though I would hate to lose you at the practice, I do think that you could do some good in that community as well. Who's to say you won't open your own place?"

I jerked upright at the mention. "You think I should open my own clinic here?"

"Well, yeah," Griffin said. "You're really fucking good at your job. I don't think you should stop. Besides, I know that there isn't any one in the area as skilled as you are. If nothing else, you could go into a partnership with someone else.”

"And what about you?" I asked him.

"What about me? I'm happy here. My family is here.

My friends are here. I've built a life. But you're not tied down. Your brother is in the city. While I do hate that our partnership would have to end, you would still be my best friend. We would still hang out and get together. You’d still come to market days at the ranch and all that stuff.

There's nothing that says that you have to do what you thought you had to do when you arrived there. Things change. People change. Just as your eyes have been opened to the fact that men can be sexy too, you can welcome the idea that maybe your business will change.”

"You've given me something to think about," I told him. "I really don't know what I'll do."

Griffin laughed softly. "I think we both know that's a lie and that's okay.

If you need more time to settle with your thoughts it makes sense.

At the same time, I don't want you to miss out on anything simply because you're worried about how it will affect me.

I'm going to be fine either way. I can get some of the volunteers to fill in while I find someone else. "

“They would love that,” I told him, my voice soft as I thought over all the people I'd made connections with.

“They would. It would give them great service hours. A few of them are nearing the end of school so maybe I can hold out until they're done depending on your timeline. But again, don't let me be the deciding factor. Whatever the two of you want is what you should do.”

"Thanks, Griffin. You're a really great friend. I'm lucky I've had you in my life."

"And you're lucky you'll continue to have me," he said pointedly.

"You're not getting rid of me this easily.

But if you have found someone who makes you feel like I think you do, then you should grab it with both hands and hold on to it.

Embrace the change. Don't run away from it, Robin.

You sound happier than I've ever known you to be. And the video I saw was — woof. Blaze Anders is a hottie.”

"Don't let Harlan hear you say that," I told him.

Griffin made a huffing sound. “Harlan knows he's the only man for me. I'm just saying I totally support you if you want to figure it all out with Blaze.”

“I am trying to figure something out, but I do have to go. There's something I need to do.”

Griffin was silent for a moment before he chuckled. “Sureeeeee. Something and not someone? I know this story, bud. Have fun. I don't need details later. But, um, enjoy yourself. Don't take anything about the rest of us too seriously. We all love and support you no matter what. Understand?”

“I understand.” I hung up the phone feeling a bit lighter.

I hadn't gone into the conversation thinking about talking over the business with Griffin or coming to some kind of decision.

Yet we had. He supported me. He wanted to see me happy.

And honestly, Blaze made me happy. Changing my entire life for a man who I only just met was insane. It felt like a foolish decision.

Or did it? Was I letting other people's opinions lead me?

Because if I thought about it, being with Blaze was good.

I wanted to wake up beside him in bed. I wanted to fall asleep in his arms every night.

I wanted to go out with him to check on the animals and sit in the kitchen with him and Connie talking about meal plans.

I even wanted Leslie to stop by and annoy the hell out of us.

I could see me and him running the rodeo next year together from the start so he wouldn't be so stressed. And I thought about ways the ranch could improve. The visions came one after another, solidifying what I knew to be true.

Blaze Anders was it for me. I was falling in love with him.