Page 28 of Time To Learn

“You’re so good for her, sweetie,” I murmur softly as I clear some pebbles from theshoe.

Lady’s head turns and I feel the pony nudging my behind, making me chuckle.

“Yeah, we have a good life, don’t we, Lady?”

“Are you a horse whisperer?”

The question from Kristian startles me, and I tense before turning my head in his direction.

There’s an inscrutable look in his eyes as he leans back against the stall next to me, hands in his pockets.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” I answer drily.

Gently, I release Lady’s leg and go to her other side, away from Kristian’s probingeyes.

“Then what are you?” he asksme.

I pause as a lump forms in my throat, making it difficult to talk, but I try to mask it and clear my throat.

“That’s a very serious question for a stranger to ask another, isn’t it?” I hedge.

“I don’t thinkso.”

I pat Lady’s back as I muster up the courage to look at him properly.

Yep, my libido still works.

His longish hair teases the top of his shoulders, and he looks like something from out of a magazine as he remains where he is, eyes watchful and intense.

I wet mylips.

“I’m just a simple woman trying to raise her daughter while running a business, Kristian. Nothing more, nothingless.”

“I don’t believe you,” he deadpans.

I huff. Despite my promise to myself when I saw him earlier—to keep my distance—he has me curious.

“Whynot?”

He jerks his chin at me. “The fact that you appear to be a single mother tells me that you have a story. One that you don’t want to tell me, and that’s okay, for now, anyway, since we don’t know each other.”

I narrow my eyes athim.

“So? That doesn’t mean I’m a puzzle you have to piece together. Or…” I laugh darkly, “that I’m a mystery in anyway.”

He pushes away from the stall and meanders towards me. I want to run and yet, at the same time, I want to remain where Iam.

He stops on the other side of Lady, resting his hand on herback.

“Again, I’d have to disagree.”

I blow out a long breath as he runs his other hand through the scruff on his chin. His fingers linger on his lips, rubbing them as his eyes cloud over in thought, and I have to force my hands to still.

My fingers itch to discover if his lips are as soft as theylook.

Snap out of it, Laura!

Deciding he’s not going to accept the subtle hints I’m offering him, I try a different tactic.