“Don’t ‘Kate’ me, Skyler. I made it perfectly clear that Jessica wasn’t up for grabs. I trusted you to train her as a rider and condition her horse. You repaid me by violating that trust. Don’t you have any control over yourself or was our friendship just not special enough for you to keep your promise?”
Skyler hung her head, but Jessica’s eyes blazed as she stepped between them. “Kate Parker, you’ve been a second mother to me since I was a baby, but even my own mother hasn’t had a say in my love interests since I started high school. As much as I value your opinion, my love life isn’t your place to decide. And I really don’t appreciate you talking to Skyler like I’m not even here or don’t have a will of my own.”
“This is about a promise Skyler made to me before you got here,” Kate yelled. “It’s about violating a trust between friends.” She turned to Skyler. “Didn’t I stand beside you when nobody else would give you a job? Haven’t I looked the other way when you bedded half the female clients of this farm?”
Skyler dug the toe of her boot in the dirt as Kate’s tirade continued.
“I don’t intend to see you use Jess right under my nose like you do all the other women you sleep with.”
Jessica’s temper unfurled even further. Stepping within inches of Kate’s face, she said, “If I want to sleep with Skyler, then I will. If you want me to leave the farm, I will. But I won’t stop seeing Skyler.”
“Just wait a minute here.” Skyler grabbed Jessica’s shoulders and pulled her away from Kate. “Now you guys are talking about me like I’m not here. I’m not going to be the one who comes between you. You mean too much to each other. You both mean too much to me.”
“Looks like you thought of that too late, Skyler,” Kate spat.
Skyler decided it was time to take her chances. Things couldn’t go much worse than the way they were heading now. “You’re wrong about this, Kate. I mean, you’re not wrong about me breaking my promise to you. I deeply apologize for that. But I won’t apologize for being with Jess. This is different.” A hot blush flooded her face. “I love… I’m in love with her.”
“Love?” Kate scowled. “Give me a break.”
Skyler stood her ground. “It’s true, Kate. I never thought I could lose my heart again after Sarah, but Jess is different. If you hate me for this, then I’ll be very sad to have lost my best friend.” Skyler took Jessica’s hand and pulled her in close. “But if you make me choose between our friendship and what I feel for Jess, I’ll have to choose Jess.”
Kate’s brow knit together as she pressed her lips in a tight frown, considering Skyler’s words as if really hearing them for the first time. “How can you know that? You couldn’t have been sleeping together long. I would have known it. You can’t know you’re in love, just like that.”
“That’s where you are wrong again,” Jessica said. “I mean, you’re right that we haven’t been sleeping together, but Sky and I have just spent months getting to know each other. I think that’s what people should do before they form a lasting relationship, don’t you?”
Kate turned a skeptical eye toward Skyler, but she seemed to be softening.
“Kate, I need… we need you to believe in us,” Skyler begged.
Kate stared at her for a long time. “I never thought I’d hear those words coming out of your mouth again after Sarah tore your heart out, Sky.” Then she raised her voice and jabbed her index finger in the air under Skyler’s nose. “But if you hurt Jessica, I’m going to personally kick your butt from here to California. Is that clear?”
The new couple released simultaneous sighs of relief, and Skyler looked down at Jessica with unguarded adoration. “No chance of that. No chance of that at all.”
Chapter Twelve
Jessica was working on her last set on the thigh machine when she heard the gymnasium door open and close behind her. Her smile grew as quiet footsteps came closer. It was always hard to rise for her early workouts, but pulling herself away from Sky’s warm embrace every morning was even tougher. She’d thought Sky would sleep longer for sure. Couldn’t stay away, huh? Maybe I’ll get you naked in the whirlpool with me.