My stepfather, Phil, had a friend who owned stables. Not long after he and Mom started dating, Phil took us there, and I got on a horse for the first and last time.

Because I fell off it.

I’d landed with such force, all the air went out of my lungs. I remember not knowing what was worse—the pain from the fall or the panic of not being able to breathe.

The mere thought of leaving Roane Robson was akin to falling off that horse.

Yet worse.

Much, much worse.

“You all right, Evie, lass?”

I blinked to find Milly in front of me. I stared down at her as her face came into focus. “What?”

She patted my arm and smiled reassuringly. “It happens to the best of us.”

“What?” I shook my head, wondering if she’d said something prior to asking after my well-being.

“Go.” She nodded her head to Roane and Bobby. “I’ll bring you over a cider.”

“Okay.” I frowned, a little confused by our encounter. As I made my way through the tables toward Roane, he looked up and our eyes met.

That disorientating feeling of thrill mixed with contentment hit me with more force than usual as I drew toward him. Sometimes it felt like we were two magnets, my south seeking his north.

“Hey.” I smiled as I reached the table.

Roane reached up to rub his hand along my lower back as he smiled warmly at me. “Evie.”

It was something a boyfriend would do. Not a mere friend.

But I didn’t care.

I liked his strong hands on me.

Much more than any mere friend should.

“Evie.” Bobby grinned as he stood up. “I was just leaving.”

“Was it something I said?”

“No, no,” he hurried to reassure me. “I really do need to get home. See you tomorrow.” He nodded at Roane and then winked at me. “Night, lass.”

At his abrupt departure, I slipped into the seat he’d vacated. Brows puckering as I reached down to pet a sleepy Shadow, I asked, “He really didn’t leave because of me?”

Roane shook his head, his mouth curling up at the corners. “He’s just being a good husband. And a good friend.”

“A good friend?”

His smile was far too wicked and flirtatious. “Bobby knows I like having you to myself.”

Oh, he really had to stop saying such things. Heat pooled low in my belly, and I shifted uncomfortably. “Right,” I practically squeaked.

My friend laughed, a deep, rumbly, masculine knowing laugh that caused me to flush with sexual awareness.

Thankfully, Milly appeared at that moment with my cider and asked me about the store. When she walked back to the bar, I turned the conversation away from the flirtatious tone it had developed. “Caro is thinking of opening a bakery?”