She rolls her eyes at that, but she’s grinning, so I take it as a good sign.
“Why didn’t you learn when you were younger?” I ask. She frowns, leaning back in her chair.
“We couldn’t really afford them,” she admits. “Plus, my dad liked to remind me I’d probably hurt any horse I sat on with all my extra weight.”
“Excuse me,what?” I nearly growl.
“It’s fine,” Monty answers, waving off my concern. I’m about to launch into a monologue about how every single thing about her is ethereal and perfect, but my girl gives me a subtle shake of her head, letting me know to drop it.
“I’m sorry. I know you don’t like talking about them, but you have to know that’s bullshit. I can’t wait to prove your old man wrong.”
Monty blushes, but the smirk on her lips is clear as day. “Sounds fun.”
I nod, satisfied at having a plan in place for a future date. I’m getting a better picture of my Monty and why she keeps her heart locked up so tight.
“Tell me about Tilly,” I say, trying to change the subject.
“She’s the best. She was the cool older sister who always looked out for me. Tilly was popular in high school even though we didn’t have anything fancy like nice clothes or a fast car. She was popular because she was just so damn nice to everyone.”
“She sounds amazing.”
“She is,” she says with a smile. “What about your brothers?”
“They’re cool too,” I tell her, and she rolls her eyes.
“Go on.”
“I’m also the baby of the family.”
“Did you look up to them when you were younger?”
“Oh yeah. Especially Remy. He was this tough bull rider who wasn’t afraid of anything. He’s still like that, but he doesn’t ride bulls anymore,” I admit.
“What else?”
“Kai has always been able to be everyone’s friend. I wish that I was more like that.”
“You are,” she tells me.
“Not quite,” I say. “Then there’s Wyatt. He’s always known what he wanted to do with his life and he’s still like that. He picks something and goes after it until it’s his. He’s got this single-minded determination.”
Our waiter comes back with our wine, and I pause to let him fill our glasses.
“I meant to ask,” I start. “Is your friend Gwen working on the farm right now?”
“Yeah, why?” she asks as she takes a sip of her wine.
“Remy mentioned a Gwen and the name sounded familiar.”
“Yeah, I keep meaning to go see her, but I wasn’t sure which house was his, and I didn’t want to just go wandering around the place.”
“I’ll show you around tomorrow,” I promise her.
“I’d like that,” she says with a soft smile.
I see it in her eyes. That spark of hope. The tentative trust she wants to give.
She’s starting to fall for me too, and not a moment too soon.