Page 77 of Elusive Promise

The small foyer had dark hardwood floors and a staircase leading up to the second floor. Off to the right was a wood-paneled living room. On the other side of the hall was a dining room, and she presumed there was at least a kitchen and maybe a bath on this floor.

Jared walked into the living room, pulling dustcovers off the couches and chairs. The style of décor was more rustic farmhouse than the modern contemporary pieces he had in his Manhattan apartment.

"My dad left his furniture behind when he moved," Jared said. "At some point, I probably need to pick up some new pieces."

She walked into the room, pausing by a series of photographs on the wall. She felt a tug on her heart as she stared at a family of four: mother and father and two boys of elementary school age. The picture had been taken in front of a Christmas tree. Everyone was dressed in red and black. Jared's dad was a mirror image of his son, with brown hair and light eyes. His mom had dark-red hair and the kind of smile that drew you in, much like Jared's. Jared, who appeared to be about twelve, was making a goofy face at the camera, while his brother appeared more well-behaved.

"My mom loved that photo," he said, coming up next to her. "Even though I was making trouble. She said it captured the moment perfectly."

"Sounds like she thought you were a troublemaker most of the time."

"I liked to have fun," he admitted.

"And your brother—does he have the same mischievous personality?"

"No. He's very chill, laid-back. He doesn't move too fast, doesn't think too hard, doesn't worry at all. I envy him. He takes after my dad. I'm more like my mom." He paused, glancing back at the photo. "Those were happy times. I really had a great childhood. I took it for granted."

"Most people do," she murmured.

He looked back at her with his penetrating green eyes, and she caught her breath, fighting the urge to kiss him again, to take this small quiet moment and make it even more intimate, to give him comfort, to share his pain, to bring him pleasure.

But then Jared stepped back.

She felt an absurd wave of disappointment.Had she just misread the moment?

"You want the tour?" he asked, digging his hands into his pockets. "Or do you want to have a little fun first?"

"I'm leaning toward fun," she said warily. "But what does that involve?"

"A trip next door."

"That was not the answer I was expecting. Especially because a second ago…never mind."

"There's time for that kind offunlater. I have something else in mind, something that will clear your head. If you're game. And I'm betting you are."

"Of course I'm game. Lead on," she said, feeling an irresistible pull to join in whatever adventure Jared had in mind.

He took her out the front door, around the back of the house, through a thicket of trees and a wooden gate.

"Is this your property, too?" she asked, as they moved down a narrow path.

"No. It belongs to my neighbors, Pam and Carl Hale. They've been family friends forever, and when my dad moved to Hawaii, they got custody."

"Custody of what?" she asked, getting her answer as she heard a soft neigh from the barn they were approaching. "Horses?"

He nodded and led her into the barn, stopping by the first stall, where a chestnut horse gave a whinny of approval as Jared stroked her nose.

"Hey, Honey," he said. "Have you been a good girl?"

It felt odd to hear Jared speak in a soft, husky voice to a horse. "Do you two want to be alone?" she asked dryly.

He grinned. "Jealous?"

"Of you calling a horse honey?"

"That's her name." He stepped back and waved his hand toward the dark-gray horse across from Honey. "That's Barnabas, and next to him is Colette."

"You know all their names?" she asked in surprise.

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