Page 12 of Anton

I nod. “Yeah. Really good.”

His shoulders ease, and a shy smile appears. “Thanks, Thora.”

An awkward silence follows before he clears his throat and scratches at his temple.

“I was, uh, gonna grab lunch in a bit. If you’re not busy or anything, I mean…you could come with me. If you want to, of course.” A strained laugh leaves him. “No pressure.”

I freeze.

Damn it. I was afraid of this.

“I can’t today. I’m sorry. I’ve got to go meet someone after I remove her boots in about thirty.”

He nods, shifting uncomfortably. “Oh. Yeah, that’s fine.”

“I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t disappoint you.”

My God, I’m going to hell. He’s a good guy. Sweet in that quiet, kind way. But I’m not into him at all. And on top of that, he works for my father, which means there’s absolutely no way I’d ever date him.

“Of course not.” He shakes his head. “I’ll see you around, Miss Thora. Let me know if you need any help with the horses later today.”

“Yeah, I will for sure.” My touch remains on Cider’s neck as she leans into me. “I’ll see you.”

As he heads off, he glances back over his shoulder with another shy smile. I call out a final goodbye, hoping I didn’t just make things weird between us.

“Men, right?” I whisper to Cider. “I can’t seem to find the right one. They’re either crazy or I’m just not into them. Why is it so hard to find someone nice?”

The horse gives a little neigh like she understands exactly what I mean. Honestly, I’m pretty sure she does.

I keep my palm on her neck, fingers moving through her mane. “Me and you, we’re going to be great friends. By the time I’m through with you, you’ll probably be sick of me.”

She presses into me again.

“Yeah, I like you too.” I give her another kiss just as the sound of boots carries from behind me, and I don’t turn right away because I already know who it is.

“How’s she doing?”

My oldest brother, Jace, leans against the stall door when I glance over, arms folded, his blue eyes assessing Cider.

“Better than yesterday.”

She turns her head a little like she’s offended, and I laugh before going on.

“She’s still guarding that back leg, but she let me wrap both, so I’ll take that as a win.”

His gaze drifts back to her. “That’s already more than anyone else has gotten out of her.”

I shrug, my palm stroking along her neck. “You just have to understand them.”

Something almost like a smile pulls at his mouth. “No one understands these animals like you do.”

Before I can respond, there’s a small blur at his side.

“Hi, Auntie Thora!”

His six-year-old daughter, Rue, pops out from behind his leg, curls bouncing everywhere, those bright blue eyes locked on me.

“Hey, baby.”