Page 12 of Sweet Devotion

“Johnny Football,” Aiden murmured.

Mention of the star quarterback who left school for the pros and more or less flaked out afterward brought a smile to her face. Not that the kid had allowed ego to ruin a promising career, but that Aiden knew enough about A&M to know of Johnny Football. “Lots more to Aggie football than individual players.”

“Yeah,” he agreed.

“Well, hello there,” Colleen cooed. Boots swung her attention immediately, ears forward, nose already reaching. “She’s been aware of us since we walked in.”

The horse stepped forward, nudging the stall door.

Aiden moved closer, resting his forearm along the top rail. “This her?”

“Sure is.” Colleen reached into the sack and holding her palm flat, offered the horse an apple treat.

When she was done with her snack, Boots stretched her nose toward Aiden. He held still, letting the horse come to him, then lifted his hand slow and steady.

Boots breathed warm against his palm, then leaned in.

Aiden’s hand moved, careful at first, then more sure as he stroked along the side of the horse’s face. Something in his expression shifted. Not big. But noticeable. “She’s…steady.”

“She is.”

Aiden ran his hand once more along Boots’ neck, slower this time. “You don’t get a lot of that.”

“No,” Colleen said softly. “You don’t. Want to give her a treat?”

He nodded.

Colleen produced another apple from the bag and held it out to him.

Holding out his hand, flat as Colleen had done, Aiden watched as Boots found the apple with delicate efficiency. The soft lips moved against his palm and something crossed his face—an unguarded quality she had yet to see in him. He watched the mare’s face while she ate. The dark eye regarding him with that patient, unhurried intelligence that Boots had always brought to her assessment of new people. “She’s checking me out.”

“Yep. Still making up her mind.”

“Does she do this with everyone?”

“She does. Or at least she used to.”

Boots, whose nose had drifted from Aiden’s now empty palm, rested against his chest, her eyes going half-closed with the air of an animal that had made a decision and was entirely at peace with it.

He went still. Not the careful stillness of someone managing an uncertain situation, but something quieter than that. His hand came up. Found the side of her neck. “You’re right.” A smile stretched wide. “She’s very sweet.”

Chapter Five

The kitchen was no longer quiet.

What had been a calm workspace when they left had turned into something else entirely—voices, movement, the clatter of dishes, chairs being pulled out, someone laughing from the other room. Aiden moved to the sink, washing his hands, pretending he belonged in the chaos of the Sweet family kitchen.

Drying her hands, Colleen stepped closer, lowering her voice, “You doing all right?”

He nodded, but didn’t look up, didn’t want her to see the discomfort in his eyes.

Taking more time than he was comfortable with, she studied him before nodding. “Okay.”

The back door opened and more voices carried in with it. More footsteps. More greetings, and just like that, the house filled.

Introductions happened fast. He’d already met Garret and Preston, now Carson, and Jill, now there were more names, handshakes, claps on the shoulder.

“Thank you for helping Mom.” This from Rachel, the other sister.