“Yeah. And honestly? He creeped me out. So-o-o smarmy.” The phone rang, and Andie automatically reached for it. “Give me a minute, then send him in,” she said. Liv headed for the door. She didn’t like this one bit, even though it was so not her business what Matt Montoya did to himself.
“Hey,” Andie called and Liv turned back. “Can I bum a ride to practice tonight? My trailer has a flat.”
“I’ll pick you up at six.”
“Thanks.”
* * *
DON’T DO THIS.
After a near paralyzing moment of indecision, Liv blew off her cautious inner voice and, instead of turning right at the Y, turned left and began traveling toward where Matt’s place should be. He’d said he was only two miles away and surely she’d be able to see his truck—unless, of course, he parked it in a garage.
He didn’t. She’d traveled for less than a mile when she spotted the silver-and-black truck near a house that was dwarfed by the indoor arena next to it. Liv slowed as she regarded the canvas-covered building.
An arena of his own.
Apparently, world titles paid well.
There was a white utility truck parked next to Matt’s Dodge, and as Liv slowed to pull into the driveway, her heart beating harder than it should have been, Matt and another man came out of the barn followed by a teenage kid.
She hadn’t planned on a crowd. Definitely bad timing on her part, but it was too late to drive on—especially since all three of them were now staring at her.
She parked on the opposite side of Matt’s Dodge and got out of the car as if stopping by his house were the most natural thing in the world.
“Liv,” Matt said as she approached, his expression less than welcoming. “This is a surprise.”
“Matt.”
The guy standing beside Matt had to be a vet, judging from the bright yellow Betadine stains on his shirt and the kit in his hand.
“Dr. Hoss,” Matt nodded at the vet. “Liv Bailey, Tim’s daughter.”
The vet stuck out his free hand, which was only slightly bloody. Liv took it. “Good to meet you,” he said as her fingers were swallowed up in his large hand.
“Are you a horse vet?” she asked.
“Hoss for hosses. That’s me.” The vet smiled congenially, released her hand, then turned back to Matt. “Everything should be fine, but give me a call if there’re any problems. I’ve got another call, so...”
“Yeah, well, thanks for coming.” Matt walked the vet to his truck, the two of them continuing to talk in low voices, the kid, who Matt had never introduced, trailing along behind them. Liv shoved her hands in her back pockets, feeling awkward. This time her cautious voice had been correct. In a few seconds they were going to be alone and some of the steam had gone out of her—the steam that was supposed to get her through this before sanity set in.
Dr. Hoss opened the truck door and got inside. Liv waited for the teen to jump in the passenger side, but instead he continued to stand beside Matt. The truck started up, and with a quick wave, the vet pulled away.
Yeah. Definitely a bad time for a semiprofessional visit.
“This is Willa’s boy, Craig,” Matt said after the vet’s truck crossed the culvert on the other side of the house. “You remember Willa, right?”
Who could forget the girl who’d beaten up the freshman quarterback when he’d teased her about her name? “Uh, yes. I do,” Liv said. “I can see the resemblance.” Craig did have his mother’s piercing blue eyes, but their similarities ended there. Willa’s hair was pale blond and Craig’s was reddish-brown, her face round and his narrow and angular.
Craig gave her a candid once-over. “You and my mom must have gotten along okay,” he said.
“I think so,” she said cautiously, cutting a quick look at Matt, who was studying her intently, his expression hard and unwelcoming. Why? Because she’d dared to tread on his turf? Because he knew why she was there and didn’t want to hear her lecture him?
“Just saying, because sometimes people get this weird look when they find out who my mom is.” He smiled as if quite comfortable with that circumstance, perhaps even a little proud.
“We didn’t know each other well, but yes, we got along okay.”
“Glad to hear it,” Craig said. He bounced a look between Matt and Liv then said, “I have a computer game I need to get back to.”
“Nice meeting you,” Liv called. Craig lifted a hand in acknowledgment