Page 74 of The Jealous Girl

‘Grey.’ I shrugged. ‘Big. Spooky.’

Ben chuckled before jerking his head to a stall further down. ‘Like him?’

I took a few steps forward and peered at the horse nuzzling his food bucket. ‘Yeah, that looks like him.’

‘Thought so,’ Ben said, joining me. ‘He’s the only grey horse we have here at the moment.’

I turned my head. ‘Let me guess, Spook?’

Ben nodded. ‘Yep.’

‘But Ryan said he’s not a beginner horse.’

‘He’s not.’

‘And Charlotte would know that.’

He nodded.

‘And she knows how to saddle a horse properly.’

Ben nodded again. ‘Yeah, she does.’

Silence stretched between us.

I hadn’t imagined it.

‘Kirsty?’ Ryan’s voice pulled me back. ‘How many slices do you want?’ he asked, tapping the loaf with the tip of the knife in his hand.

‘Oh, just one, thanks.’

He started to turn back to cut the bread but paused. ‘Are you okay?’

I hesitated.

Ben had believed me about Charlotte without question.

Ryan hadn’t. Ever.

‘I’m fine,’ I said finally, trying to sound convincing.

Ryan nodded, his attention already back on the task at hand.

I watched him move about my kitchen preparing our meal. Maybe it didn’t matter. I’d never fitted into his world at Blackwater. But this wasn’t his world, it was mine. And he seemed to fit perfectly here, with me.

The stables. Charlotte. It was all temporary. Ryan had decided to step back from it all. He’d moved out of the farmhouse and moved in here. A few weeks and the summer tourists would leave, things at the stables would be calmer, he’d find someone to take over from him.

And he’d be free.

We’d be free.

Ryan handed me a bowl of spaghetti bolognese, but his hand lingered for a moment before letting go. ‘You’re a bit quiet tonight.’

I smiled, warmth spreading through my body.

‘Just tired, I guess,’ I said with a shrug.

He studied me for a moment longer.