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Grant glared at him before listing off all the chores he’d planned to take care of.
Rhys turned to go, but Grant called him back. “Be careful. Keep your eyes open for anything suspicious from inside or out.”
“Yes, sir.” Rhys saluted him, then headed for the barn.
“What do you mean inside or out?”
Grant sighed. “Let’s focus on riding, and we can talk about that later.”
“I can’t be left in the dark if I’m going to be here with you, if I’m going to support you and trust you—”
“You don’t have to support me. I’ve got this.”
I stared at him until he looked down and started fiddling with the bridle I knew Rhys had already checked and rechecked. “You’re allowed to need support.”
“But I—”
“No.” I laid a hand on his shoulder. “Let me do this for you. Let me be there when you need someone to take care of you, not with a gun or fighting skills but with comfort and… friendship.” I wasn’t about to say love, even though that’s what I wanted to give him.
Grant looked up, eyes wide. “I don’t need—”
“Yes, you do.”
He let out a long breath. “It’s not easy for me to need anything.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“I’ll see if I can change, but…”
“All you have to do is let me—” I stopped abruptly. Once again, I’d almost gone too far.
He frowned, studying me intently. “What?”
“Care for you too.”
“Okay. I’ll try.”
He had me show him what Rhys and I had worked on the day before. Every time he touched me, whether it was placing a hand over mine on the reins, cupping my leg to remind me to keep my heels down, or laying a hand against my back to remind me to sit up straight, a thrill raced through me. It was all I could do not to squirm in the saddle.
I was able to concentrate much better once he sat on the rail and talked me through stopping and starting, then turning and walking over poles. Everything was coming back to me quickly.
“I’m impressed,” he said when I stopped Biscuit in front of him. “You remembered almost everything once you got going.”
Yeah, because you weren’t touching me.“It’s coming back easily.”
He tested me on more skills before once again having me stop before him. “How are you feeling?”
“Great. Well, hot, but otherwise great.”
“How about a shady trail ride?”
That sounded heavenly. “Are you serious? You think I’m ready for that.”
“With this horse, yes. You’re more than ready.”
I’d gained a lot of confidence, but I also knew I was taking up too much of Grant’s time. “I would love that, but don’t you have work to do.”
“Rhys seems to think I should have the day off or at least part of it, so I’m going to take advantage of that.”
