Kate stole glances at him while they ate in silence. The more she looked, the harder it became to swallow. She’d never had feelings like these before and had no idea how to handle them. The tension soon became unbearable. She had to get away from him before she embarrassed herself, so she put her sandwich down, got up, and walked back to the creek where she rested her head against Sugar’s soft neck. She startled when Reid came up behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders.

“I wish you’d tell me what’s bothering you.”

“I can’t,” she whispered.

He turned her to face him. “Now you’re worrying me.”

Looking up at him, she couldn’t resist the urge to caress his face.

His eyes flashed with awareness as he took her hand from his face and kissed the palm. “Kate, honey, you’re so beautiful, but you’re too young for me. I’m an old man.”

“You’re not.” She rested her head against his chest. “You’re perfect.” Encircling his neck with her arms, she tilted her face, daring him to kiss her.

He reached up to take her hands and gently extricated himself from her embrace. “Sweetheart, please. Your daddy asked me to keep an eye out for you, but I don’t think this is what he had in mind.”

She tightened her grip on his hands. “I don’t want to talk about him.”

“This isn’t going to happen, Kate.”

“It already is.”

“It can’t.”

“Why not? We’re both adults.”

“You could be my daughter.”

“But I’m not,” she said, running her finger along his jaw.

“I’m flattered, honey, I really am.”

She pulled her hand free of his. “But you’re not interested.”

“Of course I’m interested, but I’m not going to take advantage of a young girl. That’s just not who I am.”

“You know what?” she said, suddenly furious. “You can save your whole ‘little girl’ speech. I stopped being a little girl the day my mother was hit by a car right in front of me, so spare me the bullshit.” She swung herself up onto Sugar’s back and was gone before he could reply. Back at the stable, she turned Sugar over to a startled Derek. She was on her way to her car when Reid stormed into the yard on Thunder.

He was off the horse before it came to a stop. “Kate! Damn it! Kate!”

She reached for the car door, but his hand on hers stopped her.

“Don’t go,” he said. “Talk to me. Please.”

“There’s nothing left to say.”

His eyes implored her. “Stay.”

Over Reid’s shoulder, she saw Derek come out to collect Thunder from the yard and discreetly disappear back into the stables.

She looked into Reid’s eyes. “If you treat me like a child, you’ll break my heart.”