Love Me Tender by Susan Fox Read Free Book Online

greenish blue. Oh yeah, Jessie did know how to pick them.
    From Cherry’s back, she held out her hand to him. “Hi. Cassidy Esperanza.”
    â€œEvan Kincaid. Welcome to Riders Boot Camp. Want to hop down and take the tour?”
    â€œLove to.” She dismounted, holding her breath that her stupid left leg wouldn’t choose this moment to go numb. But no, it behaved just the way it was supposed to. She smiled with relief. Caribou Crossing was good for her health.
    While Robin tied Cherry’s and Malibu’s reins to a hitching rail, Evan and Dave greeted each other. Cassidy expected awkwardness between the two men, but instead they acted like friends. Maybe they’d buried the hatchet, in Robin’s best interests.
    â€œWhere’s your mom?” she asked Robin, hoping to meet the intriguing woman.
    â€œOut on a trail ride.” She caught Cassidy’s hand and tugged. “Come on. Most of the horses are out, but I’ll show you the few that are left. And the barn, the tack room, the ring, the guest cabins. We’re not fancy like the Crazy Horse, with a restaurant and a spa. We’re no frills, intensive, all about horses and riding, and that’s what folks come for.”
    Evan, Dave, and Merlin joined them and they strolled around Riders Boot Camp. The layout had obviously been well thought out, and the place was attractive in an appropriately rustic way. As each of her companions chipped in bits of information, she realized how closely they’d all been involved in setting up this operation. She also realized how mature Robin was for her age, which was obviously something her family encouraged.
    â€œThis is really impressive,” Cassidy told them as they passed a couple of bunkhouses and several cute log cabins with wooden lounge chairs and flower boxes on the porches.
    â€œWe haven’t even told you the best part,” Robin said. “We’ve got a scholarship program. You guys fill her in. I’m going to get Concha.” To Cassidy, she said, “That’s my mare.”
    After she ran off, the dog at her heels, Evan said, “We set Boots up as a charitable foundation. Jess wanted to offer our riding experience to disadvantaged people who would benefit.”
    â€œThat’s a terrific idea. So you what, run on donations?”
    â€œWe do have donors. A few are on our board and some get the option of staying at Boots for a week or two themselves. We also have paying guests on a sliding scale based on what they can afford. Word’s getting out and, sadly, we now have to turn people away.”
    â€œYour wife had a brilliant idea.”
    Evan glanced at Dave and they exchanged what looked like fond grins. Weird. Although she, personally, thought jealousy was a stupid emotion, it surprised her that there was so little tension between these two men.
    â€œShe did,” Dave said, “but it took a village to make it happen.”
    â€œLuckily, Jess had that village,” Evan agreed.
    Cassidy prided herself on making her own way in the world. And yet she almost envied the woman who had a village behind her to make her dream come true. The woman who had such fantastic qualities that two amazing men had fallen in love with her. The woman who’d given birth to and raised a terrific daughter and now had a baby boy as well.
    A touch on the back of her shoulder brought her out of her thoughts. She knew from the tingle of awareness that it was Dave behind her. “Ready to continue our ride?” he asked.
    â€œSure.” She wanted to lean back against him, feel his arm come around her, but instead he dropped his hand and stepped away.
    Flanked by the two lean, handsome men, she returned to where the horses were tied, Cherry and Malibu now joined by a sleek bay horse that Robin was saddling.
    â€œAre you coming riding with us, Evan?” Cassidy asked.
    He shook his head. “I’ve got the month-end accounts to