Page 9 of Back in the Saddle

Hunter tried to ignore the way Alan’s glasses kept sliding down the bridge of his nose. Instead of taking them off, Alan kept pushing them up. He was stubborn that way. Or maybe he was afraid of losing them again. He always seemed to misplace those damn glasses.

The rest of the dinner passed in pleasant small talk, focusedmainly on Megan starting college next month and chores that needed to be assigned and done at the ranch. Just as Hunter had suspected, Alan decisively refused to let Megan drink some red wine with the rest of them. She scoffed into her glass of lemonade. Once everyone finished, Hunter piled up the plates and took them to the sink.

Mary followed him into the kitchen. ‘Thanks, honey. Just leave them at the side for now. I made a blueberry cobbler for dessert.’ She took out the deep casserole dish and started scooping out four portions into shallow bowls.

On autopilot, Hunter opened the freezer and took out a tub of vanilla ice cream. He put it on the counter, and she reached for it and started dishing it out next to the cobbler.

‘You know, I’m worried about you.’

Hunter raised his eyebrows. ‘Why?’

‘It’s been five years now. You were so young … I mean, you’re still very young. But you can’t keep yourself closed off to the world forever.’

Not this again, Hunter thought as he let out an exasperated sigh.

‘I’m not closed off. I’ve just been busy. First with finishing college, and then coming back when Dad got sick. It’s been a tough time. Dating’s been the last thing on my mind, trust me.’

Mary put the ice cream scoop into the sink and faced him. Her eyes were full of sadness, so deep that you could fall into it and drown. She was a beautiful woman, but she seemed to have aged rapidly in the past few years. Her hair wasn’t the only feature Alan’s illness had touched.

‘I know it’s been tough. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry,’ she paused, shaking her head vigorously as if she hoped the movement could keep her steady. ‘I’m so grateful that you’re here for him, forus. But you also have your own life to live. You know your daddy. He doesn’t want you to put your life on hold on his account.’

‘Mom, it’s fine. You have nothing to be sorry for,’ Hunter said in a sharper voice than he intended. It pained him that his mother thought being there for his family was a chore he resented. ‘I just haven’t met anyone worth my time.’

He winced as the bitter taste of lie flooded his mouth.

Mary looked at him with a sad, knowing smile. ‘I’m sure you will.’

The image of Caroline’s hypnotising smile flashed before his eyes. He bit his bottom lip. She was definitely someone worth his time.

But she didn’t think you were. Otherwise, she would’ve given you her number.

CHAPTER FOUR

Caroline

Caroline woke up with a start to the sound of a truck reversing outside. Disorientated, she looked at her phone – 7.17 a.m. She yawned, stretching in the double bed. Her alarm was set for half past, so there was no point trying to get back to sleep. She needed to get to work for nine.

It had been two weeks since Caroline had started her job as a research assistant at the Rouken Cancer Center. She had always thrived on challenges and the feeling of satisfaction at the end of the day. So far, the job was great. Intellectually stimulating and engaging. Dr Anna Kennedy, her aunt and the attending oncologist who supervised the exchange programme Caroline got onto, didn’t give her any preferential treatment, which was something she had worried about before. She wanted to succeed in the role based on merit, not her family ties.

Two weeks had also passed since she kissed Hunter.

Her cheeks instantly flushed at the memory of his confident smirk and deep voice. She hadn’t told anyone about him or the kiss, still too shocked with how brazen she had been. Once or twice, Caroline wondered what would have happened if she had given him her number. Would they have met again? Gone to another bar? Maybe they would’ve kissed again, too?

Or maybe they would’ve done more than kissing …

A soft knock sounded at the door, pulling her mind from wondering how those calloused fingers would feel pressed against her bare back.

‘Come in!’ She quickly sat up in bed as the door to the guest bedroom opened.

Gian, her aunt’s wife, popped her head in, smiling broadly. ‘Do you want some coffee?’

Gian was a tall Korean American woman in her early forties with a warm disposition that made everyone around her feel at ease. Anna and Gian had been together for just over ten years now. They werethatcouple everyone wanted to invite over for dinner parties and game nights. Despite being raised in different cultures and having totally different careers, they were like two peas in a pod.

Caroline smiled. Having been busy with medical school and then the first years of working as a doctor, she hadn’t had a chance to spend much time with her aunt’s wife before coming to stay with them now. Gian was lovely and Caroline knew they would get along really well. But she was still finding her feet in their interactions. ‘Morning, Gian. Coffee would be great, thank you.’

‘Sure. Do you want me to bring you a cup or …’

‘No, that’s fine. I’m going to come and sit with you in the kitchen, if that’s all right.’

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