“When do I get my own horse?” Luke eyes the group of youngsters in the holding pen, glancing at the round pen where a cowboy sits on a horse doing its best to buck him off.

“When you actually take an interest in learning about them. They’re a serious commitment, and the only thing you’re committed to right now is dinosaurs.”

“I want Willa to give me riding lessons, not you,” Luke announces, hands on his hips.

Cade looks at me, rolling his eyes playfully. Is Luke a smidgen obsessed with me? Possibly.

“Hi, Red.”

I startle as the cowboy behind him gets turfed onto the metal fence panel. Other men sitting around have a good laugh at the guy, who spits on the ground and shakes his head. “Goddamn fucking asshole!” he exclaims.

“Gotta be smarter than the horse, Lee,” Cade calls. “And watch your fucking mouth. There’s a child and a city girl in our midst.”

“Sorry, boss.”

Luke giggles at the f-bombs flying left and right. And I feel it then. All eyes swivel in my direction, the men straightening or clearing their throats, like I’ve never heard a swear word in my life. Leave it to Cade to make me seem like some fragile princess.

I wave in their general direction and offer a friendly smile as I drawl, “Nice to fuckin’ meet y’all.”

Luke barks out a laugh. He’s so good for my confidence, always approving of my jokes. “Bad word, Willa!”

A couple of the guys press their lips together, trying not to show their amusement. Because if I can feel Cade’s scowl, no doubt, so can they.

“Nice to meet ya, city girl!” one guy calls from where he’s seated atop a fence, waving one dusty hand in my direction.

When one domino falls, so do the rest. Within seconds most of the guys are laughing and Cade is shaking his head at me.

He does that a lot where I’m concerned.

I wink at him. “Thank you for the coffee. I’m ready for you to break my back.”

His face pales, like he realizes how I could have interpreted his note. “I meant you could ride if you wanted to.”

“Oh, I want to.”

Heat flares on his cheeks. I shouldn’t prod the bear like this, but it’s just who I am. I like to watch him squirm.

“A horse. You can take mine.” He hikes a thumb over his shoulder.

“Nah, I think I’ll take one of the young ones.”

“No chance.” His jaw hardens.

“Why not?” I quirk a brow.

“I don’t want you to get hurt.” He says it so simply, like it should be obvious to me.

“But I thought that’s what the note meant? Unless the note really meant . . .” I trail off and waggle my eyebrows at him.

“You’re insane.”