Page 52 of Falling for Her

“I was supposed to have today off, but I have to go in now. I definitely have the next two days off after that.” He picks up his cup. “So you can have two days off in a row.”

I gasp and cross one leg over the other. “I don’t even know what I’ll do with myself.”

He finishes his coffee as his phone rings. “I have to get this.” He gets up. “I have to leave by eight.”

“I’ll be back by then,” I assure him. My mind spins, wondering if it was his girlfriend calling him. Does he have a girlfriend? Why else would he have to excuse himself? I try not to think about it as I finish my coffee and head inside to get dressed. I choose a pair of jeans that fit me tight around the hips and looser down the legs, with holes in each knee, completing the outfit with a faded black T-shirt. I tuck the front inside of my jeans before combing my hair and heading back to the house.

He’s coming downstairs dressed in his usual cargo pants and T-shirt. “He’s still sleeping,” he says to me. “I have to get going.”

“I’ll have him call you when he gets up.”

“I might not be able to answer.”

“I’ll text Harmony and see if we can meet up with her and Wyatt.”

“Okay, stay away from fishing, yeah?” he teases, and I lift my hand.

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” He stands by the door for a bit longer than he should, looking at me, before he puts his head down. He looks back at me once more. “Have a good day, Finley.”

“Be safe.” Our shared look lingers for a couple of seconds before he walks out.

When I hear his truck start, I look up. “Is this some sort of test? I get divorced, and you send me a smoking-hot dad, who lives about twelve hours away, to tell me everything is going to be okay?”

I wait for an answer, but there is none. I plop down on the couch, putting my hand on my head.

Asa comes down the steps.

“Morning, buddy,” I greet him.

He grunts and heads to the chair I usually sit on, curling his legs on the cushion. I reach for the throw blanket he likes and toss it to him. “Thanks,” he says, putting his head on the arm of the chair.

“Want breakfast?” I ask, though I’m not ready to move yet.

“Later,” he replies.

“Great. You’re the best.” He returns my smile with a sleepy one of his own. “Don’t forget that when I’m gone.”

“I won’t,” he assures me.

We spend a chill morning together until it’s time to meet Harmony and Wyatt at the park. They’re already waiting for us when we get there, and I join Harmony on the bench while the boys catch up with each other. Harmony tells me about some of the new recipes she’s working on, including one for a cherry chocolate cake that has my mouth watering.

“Finley”—Asa runs to me—“Wyatt is going to his uncle’s horse farm.”

“Okay.” I’m not sure why he’s telling me this.

“He said I could go with him.”

“I don’t know, buddy.”

“You should come,” Harmony says. “Charlie, Wyatt’s uncle and my brother-in-law, runs an equestrian therapy farm.”

“Oh, wow. If you don’t think he would mind, we would love to come.”

We get in her car, and she heads to the ranch. As she parks on the gravel road, I take in the sign displaying Mustang Creek Ranch.

We get out, and Asa slides his hand in mine. “You okay?” I ask him, and he looks up.

“I’ve never ridden a horse before,” he confides.