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Apparently the nickname is staying.

“Where are we going today?” she asks as we walk toward the stables.

I prepared the horses earlier and chose my easiest saddle for her, but there’s one thing I probably should have asked before making all these plans.

“Ever ridden a horse?”

She stops so abruptly that I turn toward her, immediately catching the fear in her eyes.

“I… no. I—Jude, maybe this is a bad idea.”

I smile and hold my hand out to her. “Trust me?”

She hesitates, her dark eyes moving from mine to the stables and back. Then she slips her hand into mine.

“I don’t know how to ride a horse.” Her voice is small, almost embarrassed.

“I’ll teach you.”

I give her hand a gentle squeeze, but when she brings her lower lip between her teeth, I have to look away.

For fuck’s sake.

“Okay.”

When I look back, I find that determination again, that stubborn fire she has inside her pushing through the fear.

Another step forward.

“I chose Honey for you. Sweetest horse I own.”

I lead Nora into the stables and let go of her hand before entering Honey’s stall. Honey barely reacts when I bring her out, simply turning her head to inspect the stranger standing beside me.

“Before we ride, you get acquainted.”

I hand Nora a brush and show her how to use it, keeping my movements slow as I run my hand along Honey’s side.

“Like this. Long strokes. Don’t stand directly behind her.”

Nora nods like I’ve just given her instructions for open-heart surgery, her fingers gripping the brush so tightly I’m surprised it hasn’t snapped in half.

“Relax.”

“I am relaxed.”

“You’re holding that brush like a weapon.”

She glares at me, and Honey turns her head toward her as if she wants to see what all the fuss is about.

“See? Even Honey knows you’re lying.”

“Shut up, Grumpy.”

There she is.

After a few minutes, Nora gets the hang of it. Her shoulders slowly drop, and she starts talking quietly to Honey while brushing her, so I step back and let them be.

By the time I bring Hades out, Nora looks completely different from the woman who froze outside the stables ten minutes ago.