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“Did what he said about Blossom get to you?” Reese asked.
I shrugged one shoulder. My gaze focused on the neatly folded napkin on the plate in front of me rather than on my date. “He made a comment about how horses should pay their own way, and he didn’t understand why you kept her around for so long.” I shifted uncomfortably. “And I got to thinking that people should pay their own way, too. When they’re adults anyway. I feel like I’ve been taking advantage of—”
Reese growled. “Don’t finish that sentence.”
I didn’t listen. I needed to say my piece. “Ever since I moved in I’ve paid for nothing. You won’t even let me buy you dinner.”
“The other night at the house after dinner when you…”
My cheeks flushed and I looked away.
“Was that supposed to be some sort of payment?” he asked.
“No!” I bit my lip. “It wasn’t like that. I mean, the thought did cross my mind.”
Reese looked away. Focusing on the corner of his plate. “We haven’t known each other long, Perry. Damn, I thought you knew me better than that. I thought I showed you better than that. I don’t expect anything from you, least of all that.”
We were quiet for a moment. I didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to repair the damage that had been done.
“Was any of it real?” he asked.
I moved forward, hitting my knee against the table, and our water glasses sloshed and spilled over the white table cloth. “Of course. Reese, please. Nothing I have done with you was meant to pay you back for your kindness. Even the other night. I… I didn’t feel like I measured up to the type of people you are used to being around, and I wanted to show you that I was your equal.”
“You’re not my equal, Perry.” Reese reached his hand across the table and gripped mine. “You are worlds better than me, than any other horseman I’ve come across. I kept Blossom all these years because she was never mine to buy. She belongs to you, and you to her. I spent countless hours hoping that horse would see in me what I saw in you that day. I knew if I kept her, I’d see you again.”
My throat closed up. The emotion was too raw, too exposed for me to even respond to his words.
“He mentioned a foal,” I said quietly.
The waitress chose that moment to set down our salads. I reached for my fork, but Reese did not reach for his.
“Three years ago, after I kind of came to terms with the fact that there wasn’t anybody going to be able to get up on Blossom, I thought maybe she’d throw a nice foal. I debated about it for a long time. The vet gave her a clean bill of health and essentially told me it was now or never, so I had her bred to my stallion. She did great, produced a nice, healthy baby.”
“Really?” I said.
“Blossom’s a little up there in age, so it’s not really worth the risk to breed her anymore.”
“And the foal?”
“His name is Perrington’s Return. We call him Ton. He’s intact. A good horse with solid prospects. I have been working him through the circuit right now. He’s doing well.”
“Oh,” I said.
“I likely am going to breed him to another mare of my choosing soon.”
“Wow,” I said. “Can I see him?”
Reese nodded. “He’ll be back next week. I work on his training, along with his rider.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
He shrugged. “I wasn’t quite sure how to bring up the subject, but you know now. I don’t need you to pay your way, Perry. I like having you around because I like you. I kept Blossom because I wanted to see you again and I hoped someday you’d find her.”
“Perrington’s Return?” I raised a brow.
Reese shrugged, the corner of his mouth lifting up a bit. “I didn’t want to be too obvious.”
Chapter 13
