Page 110 of Touch the Sky

“It is just an idea, of course,” I add. “We were just talking, but my mom says if you want to, you could be a partner in the business.”

She jerks her head around so fast I’m surprised she doesn’t get whiplash. I’m also surprised we don’t go crashing into the ditch.

“A partner?” she squeaks.

She sounds just like me whenMamanbrought it up.

“Yeah, like, not just an employee,” I explain. “We wouldn’t want you to workforus. More likewithus.”

She’s watching the road again, but she doesn’t say anything.

“I just thought it might help with your schedule and being around when Shel gets home from school and stuff like that,” I babble to fill the silence. “You’re great with the horses, and you know your stuff around the farm. You already know it better than anyone else we could find, and we…we wouldn’t want just anyone, you know? We’d want someone special.”

I wince as the word slips out.

This was supposed to be a business proposal. This was supposed to be about the facts.

“Jacinthe.” Her whole body is tense now. Even her voice sounds tight. “This is a lot.”

A jolt of anxiety zings through me, making my stomach churn.

I’m fucking this all up.

“I know. I know.” I drop my head into my hands. “Fuck. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“It’s not that.”

I risk peeking at her through my fingers.

“It’s just…” She taps her fingers against the wheel for a moment. “I’m just honored you’d ask me to do that. I know it’s not easy for you to have anyone else involved with the farm.”

My breath whooshes out of me.

“And you’re right,” she says. “It could help my schedule a lot. I thought I’d have more control running my own business, but I didn’t realize just how much time I’d spend driving around out here. If I could be sure I’d have my late afternoons free, at least most days, that would be so much better for Shel.”

Relief has me slouching in my seat.

“So you think it’s a good idea?”

“As a business, yes. I actually think it’s a great idea.”

A few pinpricks of nerves start poking at the back of my neck again.

“But?” I ask.

She glances over at me, first at my eyes and then my mouth.

All it takes is that tiny flick of her gaze to make my throat go dry.

“But we….”

She lifts one of her hands off the wheel to gesture between us. She doesn’t have to say anything else.

“Yeah,” I agree. “We.”

She laughs, but there’s no joy to the sound.

“Shit just keeps getting more complicated for us, doesn’t it?” She shakes her head. “How did we ever think this could be simple?”