Chapter Six

HADLEY

“Hi there, handsome. You miss me? I’m sorry I didn’t come give you love sooner,” I say, petting his long nose. Max snorts, lifting his head a few times and then settles it on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, I won’t wait so long next time.”

He stomps his hoof and I smile. Max has been my horse the last eleven years. He was a foal that came from Aunt Devney’s mare and I fell in love with him instantly. By the grace of God, I was able to convince my parents to board him in New York so I could come see him. I’m still not sure how Dad went for it. I searched for somewhere close to the city, but one that also would allow him to have room to roam and wasn’t so expensive they could refuse me.

I found a small, family-owned stable on Long Island. It’s a bit farther than I would’ve liked, but it’s not like New York City is brimming with farms. This was close to feeling like home where I could get to him easily by train.

“He’s doing well,” A voice says from behind me. Vicky, the stable master smiles as she walks towards us.

I give his nose another rub. “He looks good.”

“We exercised him a bit yesterday. He was stomping around, clearly missing you.”

I shake my head. “You were lonely, Max? I’m sorry, buddy. I know it’s been a few weeks. Forgive me?”

He turns his head to the side and I laugh.

“Such a man,” Vicky says.

“Is he eating okay?”

“He is now. I think the difference in hay was upsetting him, but he’s acclimated to it well. ”

A few weeks ago, Max was refusing to graze. I was worried about bloat, but thankfully Vicky and her staff were already on it and had the vet out. Everything looked okay, but we increased his activity with the pen walker and adjusted how much grain over hay he was getting.

“Good. I’m going to ride him today.”

She nods. “He’ll appreciate that. Won’t you, boy?”

He does his grumble and I sigh. “You’re so dramatic, Max.”

“You know boys, they want to be ridden.”

My face flushes as I remember the man I rode quite hard yesterday. God, I was a dummy. After we finished, I lied on the floor in his arms and I realized not only did we have sex, but we did so without a condom.

Thank God for the pill.

“You okay?” She asks.

“I’m fine. Sorry, just spaced out there.”

“I better check on our newcomer. Stop by the last stable on the left before you go. She’s beautiful and she’ll be here for the birth of her foal.”

“Oh! Definitely! I got to watch this guy be born and it was the most amazing thing.”

Vicky nods. “It’s an unforgettable experience. We’re guessing she has another week, but her owner passed away and her daughter had no idea, just that she couldn’t get her mother’s affairs in order and deal with a pregnant horse.”

“How awful. I’ll definitely stop by.”

She heads off to do her never-ending list of chores and I grab my saddle, needing a mental break.

Mel got home yesterday about two hours after we finished and smirked at me when she saw the living room. This morning I left before she woke up and could ask me a million questions I didn’t want to answer.

Once Max is saddled, he’s moving around a lot, shifting so I can’t mount. “What’s going on, huh?” He moves again and I check the straps. “Is it too much or are you still prickly about me not coming last week?” As though he’s going to answer. However, I have always been like this with my horses. I talk, they listen, and I pretend they understand and answer. I am who I am. “I’m sorry about that, Max. I’ve been super busy at work and when I brought you here, we discussed this. If it’s because I’m a little off today, well, that’s not all my fault. You see, last night, that stupid man came to my house, we drank too much, clothes came off, and well, I’m a mess. But I’m here and I love you and I think we both need to ride so will you let me get up now?”

Max, the brooding beast, shifts again to the left. I groan.

“You know they can sense your mood?” A voice I know says from behind me. I close my eyes, really not wanting or needing to see him today.

There is no reason that Cayden Benson-Hennington should be in my happy place.

“What, are you stalking me now?”

He laughs. “No.”

“Then why the hell are you at a stable on Long Island?” I ask, turning to face him.

Mistake. Big one.

In a suit, Cayden is gorgeous. Absolutely freaking amazing.

In tight jeans and a cowboy hat…dear God. I am screwed.

My jaw is slack, taking in the very country attire he’s wearing, leaning against the entrance to the stables.

“Did you notice they have fifteen head of horse? You’re not the only one who needed to ride today.”

Of course. “You board your horse here?”

He nods. “I sure do.”

“Seriously.”

“It’s a great place. Close to the city, has open fields, and a trail that won’t spook my girl. I guess you felt the same, hence why your gelding is also here.”

“Yes, clearly,” I reply. I rub Max’s neck, trying—and failing—to keep my eyes off Cayden’s lower half.

“Anyway,” Cayden says, pushing off the side and walking toward us. “I was saying he can sense your energy and it’s clear you’re agitated.”

“I wasn’t until about a minute ago.”

“You’re saying I’m your instigator?”

I sigh. “Yes.”

Cayden laughs. “I don’t think so, but if you need to tell yourself that, go ahead.”

My head is not in the right place for this today. “I speak the truth, but as much as I would love to continue this, I came here to ride.”

Cayden looks to Max, who normally looks away from strangers, but is studying him. “Hey there, big boy. You’re a handsome guy. ”

Max is a beautiful horse. He would’ve been an amazing stud, but we weren’t in a position to breed him.

“He doesn’t like strangers,” I warn Cayden.

“He seems to like me. As I said before, I’m pretty lovable.”

I roll my eyes. “Not to Max. He’s an excellent judge of—” I start to say more but my very non-trusting and anti-men horse brushes his nose to Cayden’s outstretched hand.

“Character? I agree. He knows I’m safe and I’m a horse guy.”

Yes, I remember. Cayden’s family owns a horse farm, which is where I got my first horse from. I loved her so much. She is now almost twenty-four and lives the good life in the fields at home.

However, Max doesn’t know this and is supposed to be rude to him because I will it so.

“Traitor,” I whisper to him.

He doesn’t seem to care, just allows Cayden to pet him.

“As much as I’d love to stay here, I have a limited amount of time before I need to head home. Come on, Max, we’re going to ride now.”

“I’m saddling up Sadie, how about we ride together?”

“I’d rather not. I need time with Max so he’ll forgive me.”

Cayden smirks. “Afraid?”

“Of what?”

“Being alone with me again?”

Oh, please. “Not even a little bit.”

“Then let me saddle her up and go out with you.”

I huff. “Why? We don’t even really like each other.”

“I think we disproved that last night. Or, at least, I showed you that I don’t dislike you at all,” he admits. “I like you a lot. I like you more than I should and I came here to stop thinking about how much I fucking like you and then I find you here.”

Why do I like that? Why does his admission make me want to kiss him? Because I’m a nincompoop. That’s why.

“If you know me at all, it’s not hard to figure out I’m either here or I’m at work,” I try to sound blasé about it, not wanting him to see how much I like that he found me.

I like that our lives are entwined again in some way.

And also wanting to fight against the like. “I’m leaving now. If you catch up, I guess we’ll ride together.”

I grab the bridle, give Max a stern look that says do not ruin my dramatic exit , and hop up, leaving Cayden behind and hoping he follows.