Reid walked her to the stables with two bags tossed over his shoulder. “We got a great day to ride. It’s never this warm in November.”

“I talked to my sister this morning. It’s snowing in Providence.”

“Jill, right?”

Kate was busy watching him walk. “Uh-huh.” He startled her when he suddenly turned around to face her.

“Everything okay, Kate?” Studying her with those soft brown eyes, he seemed to see everything she was trying so hard to keep hidden from him.

A keen burst of longing shot through her, and she was certain he could see it. How could he not? “Why do you ask?”

“You seem jittery. Are you nervous or something?”

Her first impulse was to deny it, but she couldn’t. “Sort of.”

“Why?”

She met his gaze. “I’m not sure.”

Neither of them looked away for a long moment during which it became clear to Kate that he had feelings for her, too. Her heart gave a happy lift at what she saw on his face. Desire. Pure and simple.

He held out a hand to her. “Let’s ride.”

She took his hand as if she’d done it a hundred times before and followed him into the stable where more than a dozen horses peeked out from their stalls to inspect the visitors.

“Oh, they’re beautiful!” Kate cried. “Are they all yours?”

“Half of them. The rest belong to friends of Ashton’s who board them here.”

“That’s nice of you.”

He shrugged. “It was a good way to keep all the kids coming around when they were in high school and college. They come out most weekends to ride.”

“Afternoon, Mr. M,” an elderly groom said when he came out of the tack room.

“Hi there, Derek. This is Kate Harrington, a new friend. She might be out to ride now and then when we’re not home.”

“That’d be fine. We’ll make her feel right at home.”

“Thank you,” Kate said.

“I’ve saddled up Thunder for you, Mr. M, and Sugar for Miss Kate like you asked.” Derek handed Kate a carrot he pulled from his jacket pocket so she could get acquainted with Sugar.

“Thanks, Derek,” Reid said a few minutes later when he gave Kate a leg up on the gentle snow-white mare.

While Kate got comfortable in Sugar’s saddle, she watched Reid stash two saddlebags on Thunder’s back. “He’s beautiful,” she said. The compliment was rewarded with a loud whicker that made her laugh.

“He must like you,” Reid said. “He only talks to people he likes.”

They walked the horses out of the gated training area.

“Is Sugar one of yours?”