Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Kerry turned my hand over, palm up, his fingers ghosting mine from beneath as we offered the treat to Mercy. Mercy seemed to hesitate, then stepped forward, and I watched as he snuffled and angled his head in the carrot’s direction. The gentle way he slid the carrot out of my trembling hand told me he was as vigilant about me as I was about him.
“Good boy,” Kerry said, and I swallowed thickly, still watching Mercy intently while also not wanting to make any sudden movements like Mom had taught me so many years ago. As he stood chewing his treat, I zeroed in on details I hadn’t had the opportunity to notice before, like his long eyelashes and deep-set brown eyes. He also had a small white patch of hair on his muzzle in the shape of a triangle, and I wondered about its texture.
“Thanks,” I mumbled, feeling a bit absurd. And still neither of us moved as our forearms rested on top of the enclosure. I could feel Kerry’s soft pants against the side of my neck and smell his earthy scent, and I didn’t know which situation made me feel more vulnerable in front of him—this or the nightmare.
“Don’t be embarrassed. You did good,” he said, and I liked the soft yet assuring tone of his voice. “Mercy likes you.”
“How can you tell?” I angled my head to glance at him.
“Just can.” When he added slight pressure to my hand, my palm tingled. But he didn’t seem to realize the effect he was having on me. “You can pet him. He’d probably let you.”
“Will you…um…” I winced, trailing off. God, I felt like I was five years old, but Kerry didn’t question me or poke fun, simply stretched our joined hands out again toward his muzzle. And before I could freak out, my fingers met soft, sleek hair. Mercy seemed to enjoy the attention because he slanted closer, and we stood petting him for another long moment.
Until Rocket encroached in his space, apparently wanting in on the action, so Kerry disengaged our fingers to attend to his horse.
When I finally drew my hand back, Kerry smiled. “Well, now you’ve made a friend for life.”
I snickered. “I feel like I accomplished something, and all I did was pet a horse.”
He shrugged. “Like I said, it’s the little things.”
And then there was another one of those moments where our gazes clashed for entirely too long, and fuck if his eyes didn’t soften a fraction, which made me feel all melted inside. From a damned look.
I realized right then that Kerry was right. Sometimes it was the simplest gesture that took up the most room in your heart. And Kerry’s kindness was something I wouldn’t soon forget.
Kerry’s breath hitched, and he took a step back, as if grasping for the first time how close we’d been standing—and staring. “I, uh, should go talk to Dr. Barnes.”
I blinked a few times, watching him head away from me, then averted my eyes like I’d been caught gawking too long. I felt dumbfounded for an instant longer, then finally got moving. I walked my ass back to work on the silo, wondering the entire time if this tension between us would come to a head for either of us—one way or another.
14
Kerry
“Ainsley will be ready to ride her before we know it,” Dr. Barnes said as I walked her to her car. “But we never want to rush it. Let’s see what next session feels like.”
“Sounds good.” I waved to her as she drove away.
Afterward, Ainsley helped me feed the chickens, and as she was intent on the task, I couldn’t stop my brain from rolling back thirty minutes to when Julian had stopped to watch Ainsley with Dr. Barnes again. He was obviously curious about the sessions, the horses, or both, and in the process had inadvertently witnessed a proud parent moment between Sienna and me when Ainsley finally mounted her horse. She had been so patient in her work with Dr. Barnes, and soon enough, we’d be riding as a family again. I didn’t realize until right then how much I’d missed it.
Ainsley had been raised on horses just like Sienna and me. But her recent fears had kept her from enjoying them again. When Piper had come to us as a rescue and Ainsley had immediately taken to her, we knew it was the right time to get Dr. Barnes involved.
And now look how far we’d come.
I cracked a smile as Ainsley squealed and chased after Cookie, her favorite chicken.
I glanced back toward the paddock. That moment between Julian and me…what had that been about?
It certainly wasn’t the first time that same sort of transcendent feeling had passed between us. It was as if the tendrils of my attraction were weaving themselves around the tender and bruised places inside me, and I wanted to…what? Hold him? Spend more time with him in a different way? That could only end in disaster.