STEF*

"What time are you leaving for your book signing?" Running my hand over my wife's hip, I lean in to kiss her bare shoulder. Having published two books in only a short amount of time, her career as a writer has certainly taken off faster than she expected. Originally, she had wanted to write under a pen-name for so many reasons, yet I had managed to talk her into using her real name so she could stay true to herself. Now, her publicist has all but begged for her to do a signing in Cheyenne, but she had refused to even think of going until after I promised her that I would be quite fine now that I had a ranch hand, Brandon Jacob, to help me with the horses now that everyone was in school together.

My "horse whisperer" business had grown by leaps and bounds, and the ratio of horses to one person was ridiculous. I had decided to place an ad for an apprenticeship of sorts if only to teach someone my techniques as well as help me with the upkeep and demands I had with re-training and healing the issues the horses sent to me. I had instantly bonded with Brandon, and he had been excited to help me and Jesus turn the loft into a little apartment. Having moved into the loft apartment at the end of the summer, everyone was now in school, and his help has been above and beyond, and I couldn't be happier with my decision.

"I'm leaving probably around noon. The signing doesn't start until two, and that gives me enough time not only drive down there, but also to set up my table." Lena rolls onto her back and looks in my eyes as she smiles softly.

"What?" I ask as I run my fingers down her jawline then softly tuck her stray curls behind her ear.

"Nothing," she coos as she runs her own fingertips across my arm giving me goosebumps. "Can I not smile at my wife? The one I can't believe I'm so lucky to have?"

A broad smile fills my face as I swiftly move to capture her lips with mine. Not a day goes by that I am not in awe of this being, this perfect creation, and she gets to be mine, all mine. Sometimes I wonder at the perfect timing of our meeting. Had we not been running late that day, Callie and I may have never run into her broken down on the side of the road. I can't imagine my life without Lena Adams Foster anymore, for ever since she walked into my life, she not only has managed to balance me, she also keeps me sane.

"Mmmm, you taste good," we break our kiss, and she kisses back towards my ear. "But I should get up because I have a list of things to do before I leave."

"Noooooo," I pout as I push my hips into hers.

"Baby," I hear her soft whimper and smile.

"You started it," my tongue flicks her earlobe granting me a soft scratch of her fingers down my bare back.

"How? All I did was look at you," she giggles as I push my hips into hers once more.

"Don't you know by now? That's all it takes?"

Flipping us over, she now hovers over me as she brushes my cheek. "Yes, with you, that's all it takes, crazy woman, but if I start this, I won't want to get out of bed. And weren't you the one who practically twisted my arm to go to this signing?" She runs her nose softly over mine as I sigh.

"Fine, you win...this time, Mrs. Adams Foster," I softly growl as I push her off of me so we both can get up. "I need to go and talk to Brandon anyways. We have a mare being dropped off today. She has been in a deep depression since she lost her colt last Saturday, and her owners are beside themselves on what to do since she won't hardly eat or leave her stall to get some fresh air."

"You love me anyway," she flashes her smile at me, the one that makes my heart race even after almost three years later.

"Do you want me to work with Fester until this mare arrives?" Brandon places the pitchfork back in it's place as he had just finished mucking the stalls.

"You were up bright and early!" I smile as I lean against the wooden wall of the barn, thermos of hot coffee in hand.

He shrugs as he grabs a bucket for the feed. "I couldn't sleep. Plus, I kind of figured if I get my work done early, I can...you know...help Callie when she gets home from school."

I raise an eyebrow as I sip my coffee. "Oh? With?"

He doesn't quite look me in the eyes as he digs the front of his cowboy boot in the ground and shoves his hand deeply in his pockets. "Oh, you know, she..she wanted to start practicing her jumps for that show next month. And you know, ummm..." He now looks at me as he swallows hard, "I mean Mariana wanted to start practicing with Neon as well. I think she wants to train him to be a jumper."

I nod as I swallow my coffee and keep staring at him intensely. Nice save, I think to myself before saying out loud. "Well, I kind of think that Neon is more of a barrel racer than a jumper, but she can try. As for Callie? She hasn't needed help training her horses since she was about 11."

"Really?" Brandon is a good actor, and I want to burst into hysterical laughter because it's no secret that he's had his eye on my daughter since he first laid eyes on her. Any and every chance he can get, he's been around her, and they seem to be hitting it off quite well. I just don't think that Callie having a serious boyfriend right now would be beneficial for her considering she'll be graduating and heading off to vet school.

I nod as I stand straight up and look around nonchalantly. "Nope. She takes after her mama, that one. Smart as a whip!" I wink at him making him laugh nervously as I walk over and place my hand on his arm. "Yes, to answer your question, why don't you go and work with Fester until Daisy is dropped off. I think you should be able to get in a good hour before her owner drops her off. Just keep working with him the way you have, and don't allow him to do what he wants. He needs to know you're the boss, okay? Just like I showed you yesterday.

Brandon just nods as he pulls his gloves out of his back pocket and I follow him as he heads down the long row to Fester's stall. I feel pretty confident with how fast he has been learning, and I am beginning to trust that I made a pretty good choice with hiring him onto the ranch. I just hope that he sticks to this and doesn't allow any girl, namely Callie Adams Foster, to distract him from the work at hand. I will be one upset mama if that happens.