working in the field.
A bead of sweat traveled down between her shoulder blades in spite of the room’s cool climate-controlled air. Opening a grid-lined petri dish, Lexi meticulously poured the contents of the cup into it and turned on the microscope.
“We’re using the stereo microscope today.” She peered into the eyepiece and adjusted the focus knob. “Examining the cells in three dimensions allows me to grade the quality of the embryo.”
Slowly moving the dish under the microscope, she scanned the solution, grid by grid, hoping they wouldn’t come up empty again.
“We’re in luck, folks.” Lexi let out the breath she’d been holding since she arrived on the Bridle Dance Ranch that morning and smiled. “Cole, can you have someone return Confetti to her stall and move Moonglow into the crush? Ashleigh will prep her.
“Take a look.” Lexi slid over, making room for Billy, who hovered nearby. “We have a grade one embryo. See how the cells are compacted and all the same size? That’s what we always look for.”
A lot rode on this dream match between dam Little Miss Confetti and sire Dreamward Wink. The buyer, Blueford Thomas, was a longtime family friend, but Lexi had the feeling everyone was beginning to doubt her ability to get the job done, including Shane.
Seemingly satisfied, Shane turned and left the lab area without a word. Knowing full well this situation was different, Lexi couldn’t help but think of the day he’d walked out on her so long ago. Ironically, an unborn child was involved, too.
“Let’s transfer this baby into its new home for the next eleven months.”
* * *
SHANE CURSED HIMSELF on his way out of the stables. Damned if the sight of her didn’t still make his blood boil. It had taken a few years after she returned home for Lexi to warm up to Shane, but she still kept him at arm’s length. And who’d blame her? The one time he’d cheated on her led to a two-year nightmare he’d rather forget.
A couple days before Lexi came home for winter break from Colorado State, buckle bunny Sharon Vincent knocked on his door and claimed she was five months pregnant with his kid. Their one night in Oklahoma shortly after high school graduation came back to bite him in the ass. Sharon wasn’t just bad news when he met her, she was a hot mess and Shane didn’t have the good sense to resist. Claiming she was on the pill, he’d learned the hard way not to trust a woman in the birth control department.
Pressured by his family to do the right thing, he immediately married Sharon, breaking Lexi’s heart in the process. He’d never forget the afternoon he told Lexi the truth. Her hazel eyes flared at him like a cougar ready to attack. Only she didn’t say a word. He had no choice but to walk away from her and they’d kept their distance from one another until his father enticed her to return to town permanently. Shane knew it was for his benefit. Joe Langtry loved to control situations and Shane believed his father thought he and Lexi would one day take another stab at what they’d lost.
Shane married Sharon, and for their son Dylan’s sake he kept up the facade even though he didn’t love his wife. Shortly after Dylan’s first birthday, Tab Fanning, Shane’s biggest rodeo rival, rode into town and turned his world upside down when he claimed to be Dylan’s father.
Shane hadn’t wanted to believe the child he’d grown to love wasn’t his, and Sharon fed him lie after lie, swearing Dylan was his son. He convinced himself that it didn’t matter. He loved Dylan and at this point didn’t care who the father was, until a court-ordered paternity test proved otherwise. Shattered when Tab took Dylan away, Shane immediately sent Sharon packing.
Before walking out the door, Sharon admitted she had only wanted the Langtry money and had intended to get pregnant that lone night with Shane. Her fatal flaw was sleeping with one too many cowboys around the same time. It took every ounce of Shane’s strength and that of his brothers not to strangle her on the spot. From that day forward, Shane declared marriage and children off-limits.
Throwing himself into the rodeo and his work on the ranch kept his mind busy and there was no shortage of women to occupy his bed at night. His romantic relationship with Lexi was in the past but the memory of what they’d had plagued him.
They worked together, ran in the same circles and were usually found in the same places after the sun went down, but until Jesse’s wedding, Shane wouldn’t have even considered the possibility of a second chance. Maybe it was the clever way Miranda, Jesse’s wife, paired them together during the ceremony and reception. Or, maybe it was the sight of Lexi in her beaded sage bridesmaid gown. Whatever the reason, the moment she took his arm during the wedding procession, Shane knew where his heart belonged—where it had never left.
“There’s my elusive son,” his mother greeted him on the dirt path leading to the stables. “I haven’t seen you in two days. Thought I’d take a break from the ribbon-cutting preparations and see how Lexi made out.” Kay peered up at him. “Have you heard anything yet?”
“It was a success.” Shane tilted his hat back and grinned. “Had no doubt she’d get it this time.”
“This whole embryo-transfer thing fascinates me. In my day, horses did their mating the old-fashioned way. Speaking of which, how is it going between you and Lexi? I noticed you came in very late the other night. Does that mean you two had a good date?”
“I wouldn’t call dinner at the Ragin’ Cajun with eight other people a date, Mom.” Shane had hoped to get a little alone time with Lexi that night, but they were celebrating their friend Aaron’s birthday, and while Lexi had agreed to go with him, she made sure they were never truly alone. “I wish she would trust me more instead of always doing this group thing.”
“Give her time, honey.” Kay placed her hand over her son’s heart. “It wasn’t that long ago that you were chasing any female with a pulse, and some of them didn’t even have that qualification.”
“Ouch, Mom.” While he loved his mother for always telling him how it was, her words stung. “I haven’t been with anyone since the wedding and it’s not for a lack of available women.”
“Okay, I may love you unconditionally but that doesn’t mean I want to hear about your sex life.” Kay wrinkled her nose and feigned a shiver. “You keep those bits and your own bits to yourself. Do you hear me?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Shane threw his arms around his mother and gave her a hug. Since his father, Joe, died last year of a sudden heart attack, he realized how short life was and how much he took for granted. He swore he wouldn’t repeat past mistakes, especially when it came to family. They meant the world to him and someday he hoped to convince Lexi she did, too.
Kay Langtry was the strongest woman Shane knew. His father’s will left Shane and his three brothers the business end of the ranch, while the land, houses and the winery were left to their mother. In honor of their father, and after a power struggle that almost tore the family apart, the brothers created an equine facility showcasing the spirit of the horse and the grand opening was next week. Kay ran the Dance of Hope hippotherapy facility and Shane and his brother Chase ran the Ride ’em High! Rodeo School. His brother Cole primarily focused on the Bridle Dance Ranch itself and the breeding programs with Lexi while his other brother Jesse had his own ranch to run.
Once more, his thoughts settled on the mahogany-haired bombshell inside the stables. Every day she was there and every night he tried to shake free the memories of how much he hurt her.
“Aren’t
