THEA
Thea slid from the saddle. Her feet crunched against the stones on the side of the road. Taking the reins in her hands, she ran her hand over Simon’s glistening flank before nuzzling into his neck. She and Josh had just ridden, thundering over the fields, racing hell for leather, like they had so many times over the years.
They both loved to ride, but it wasn’t something she’d had much time for recently. Right now, though, the thrill of galloping with the wind at her back was just the thing to drive away her worries.
Josh grinned as he took Simon’s reins along with Madonna’s and led them down a rough path between two banks of bushes. “I told you this was what you needed.”
Thea pulled off her riding helmet and wiped her brow with the back of her arm. As she took a breath, a wave of scent from the spring wildflowers in the grass tickled her nose, and she smiled. The river was one of her and Josh’s favourite places to come. They’d fished down here as kids. Had family picnics on the banks growing up, and Thea had even lost her virginity here after a skinny-dipping session with a local farm hand.
It was also the place Josh and Kitty saw as the venue for their first proper date. Thea’s smile turned into a grin. It had taken them ages to sort themselves out. The two had an origin story worthy of a romance novel, unlike hers and Felix’s. Theirs was more suited to a horror film.
Thea followed her brother down through the bushes, swatting branches away, until they came out on a broad, sandy riverbank under the shade of an enormous willow tree. After he tied up Simon and Madonna in the shade, she turned to Josh. He leaned up against the tree’s trunk, his arms folded.
Thea walked over to join him, sitting down on an old log. After a long moment, Josh spoke. “Okay, out with it. What’s going on?”
“Who says something’s going on?”
Josh snorted. “Come on. One minute, you’re grumbling about the awful man you have to work with for a school function; the next thing we know, he’s escorting you at a friend’s wedding, and then after one weekend in his company, you’re a mess.”
Thea tutted. “Accurate description.”
“Enlighten me, then.”
Josh came over to sit on the log next to Thea. It wobbled slightly with his weight. She swallowed down a bitter taste and lay her head on his shoulder. “Felix’s ex-wife turned up at the hotel.”
“Oh. From your tone, I’m guessing her visit wasn’t all cups of tea and small talk, then?”
Thea was the one who snorted this time. “Let’s just say their split involved complications and acrimony, and she strongly objected to my presence.”
Josh sucked on his lips, his brow furrowed. “But they’re not together? Why would she have a problem? You’re all grownups, surely.”
Thea lifted her head as the horses shifted in the swirlinggreen water of the river. “No, they’re not together. But she’s convinced they should be. For their son’s sake. And she was very vocal about it.”
Josh grimaced, picking up a pebble. “So what happened?”
“Oh, you know. Felix casually told her he was in love with me. Bit of a surprise all around.”
Josh held the pebble up, about to throw it into the river. “Holy crap!”
“I know. It wasn’t exactly the end to the weekend anyone expected.” Thea gave a wry laugh. “It wouldn’t be the first time Felix has dropped a bombshell at a bad time. Perhaps he’s making a hobby of putting the Fox family in awkward positions.”
Josh threw his stone, the smooth pebble plopping into the shallow water. “So, ignoring the disgruntled ex-wife, how do you feel about him?” Josh ran his fingers across the blond stubble at his jaw. “If things have gone as far as declarations of love, I’m going to assume you have some skin in the game. Some feelings of your own.”
Thea hesitated, unsure what to say or how to put her muddled thoughts into words.
“If you like him, go for it, T. You’ve been on your own for a long time.”
Thea nibbled at one of her already chewed fingernails before turning to Josh. “Kitty asked me once if I had upstairs or downstairs feelings for Felix.”
“Seriously? Is this something you should tell your brother?”
Thea elbowed him gently. “Stop, please. I told her they were definitely downstairs feelings. I mean, Josh, I hadn’t had sex for five years.”
The corners of his mouth lifted. “I’m assuming we’re using the past tense here?”
Thea’s cheeks fired like a blowtorch. “Yes.”
“Okay, thanks for the overshare. Sonow,where are your feelings coming from?”
