“Are you sure it’s okay? I just came down here to sleep mostly. Check out the spa. I do not want to intrude on family time again.”

“I promise. It’s fine. And Vega will be there too. My grandmother loves a full house,” Sam said.

“Right, your grandmother. Thee Leona Lovell. You want me to just walk up into her house, last minute, for a family brunch.”

Sam reached down and took both her hands. “I am not saying this as some corny bullshit to convince you to come along just because I want you there. My grandmother is going to love you. There is a chance by the end of the day she may love you more than me.”

“Are you the favorite?” she asked with that megawatt smile.

“Depends. I’m my mom’s favorite for sure. My grandmother sometimes favors Jesse, but then Lilah moved in, took everyone’s fucking shine.”

“Poor baby.”

“Come on.”

“Wait. You also didn’t mention that Evie freaking Buchanan was your sister-in-law.”

“Soon-to-be, though most everyone here acts like they are already married. I didn’t know to mention it.”

“Are you related to any other super famous, amazing Black women?”

“My mom is a former Miss California, but she won’t be at brunch. That’s all I got.”

Sam laughed as soon as Amanda sucked her teeth. “Let’s head back to the house.”

She glanced over her shoulder, back toward the pasture. “Wait one sec.”

“Sure, what—” He looked over as Bam Bam came over to the fence. Amanda dropped his hand and went back over to greet the young colt.

“Hey, bud. I saw you over there, but I wanted to give you your space. You’re special, aren’t you? A little shy maybe, but everyone loves you ’cause you’re so handsome.”

“You should take Bam Bam out on the trails, Amanda. He’s been great to ride,” Evie called back. Amanda gave him a parting stroke of his nose, then jogged back to catch up with them.

“Maybe if I come back again. Still a little nervous about the whole getting-on-the-horse part.”

“After what I just witnessed that makes not a lick of sense, but whatever you want,” Evie laughed.

They made their way back to Zach’s truck, hand in hand. As they walked Sam wondered whether he should broach the subject of Valentine’s Day and see if Amanda wanted to make something official happen between them that night. Like another romp between the sheets or a proper date. Before he could convince himself, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

He pulled it out and frowned at the notification on the screen.

Dru Anastasia’s assistant just tracked me down and asked me for your number.

Sam stopped and read the text more closely, just to see if he had read it wrong.

“Everything okay?” Amanda asked.