Page 15 of Stick Around,
Tater Tot
Quinn
Iclosed the cabin door behind me and kicked off my tennis shoes, eager to try on my new purchases. The shopping trip with Enzo had left me with an unsettling flutter in my stomach that I wasn’t quite ready to acknowledge.
“Just boots,” I muttered to myself, pulling them from the shopping bag. “That’s all it was.”
But my skin still tingled where his fingers had brushed against my calf. The way he’d crouched in front of me, strong hands guiding my foot into the boot... it was nothing, really.
So why couldn’t I stop thinking about it?
I quickly changed into jeans and then tugged off my socks and pulled on the ridiculous chicken-on-tractor ones instead, grinning at the repeating pattern. My boots were all business, but underneath would be a party.
The boots slid on more easily this time, and I paced the small cabin, breaking them in with each step.
Heading outside, I followed the path toward the indoor riding arena where Kellan had promised to meet me for my first lesson. We’d agreed on it during dinner the night before, and even though I was nervous, I was excited to try something new.
The sun beat down as I approached the arena, and I was glad they had some covered facilities. I hadn’t even thought about grabbing a hat while shopping.
I spotted Kellan leading a small horse with a little girl perched on top. She couldn’t have been more than six, her grin stretched from ear to ear as he guided the horse around in a circle.
I leaned against the railing, watching as he gently instructed her. His patience was palpable, and his smile encouraging.
“Sit up straight, Lily,” he called, his drawl more pronounced. “That’s it! You’re a natural.”
The little girl giggled, her smile marked with pride. A woman stood nearby, presumably her mother, clapping enthusiastically at every small victory.
When the lesson ended, Kellan helped Lily dismount before handing her the lead.
Kellan and Lily led the horse toward the exit into the stables, while she chattered nonstop about something that made Kellan throw his head back and laugh. His whole face transformed in a way that made me smile.
“First time at the ranch?”
I startled, not having noticed Lily’s mom approach. She was the kind of put-together that made me second-guess my entire existence, with a perfect manicure, tasteful jewelry, and not a hair out of place.
“Yeah, I got here yesterday.” I gestured vaguely toward the stables. “I’m having my first lesson.”
“With Kellan? Lucky you.” She fanned herself dramatically. “If I weren’t happily married with two kids, I’d be climbing thatman like a tree. The way he is with children?” She gave an exaggerated shudder of pleasure. “Absolute catnip.”
Something hot and uncomfortable flared in my chest and my fingers gripped the fence railing. “He seems professional.” The edge in my voice was impossible to miss.
Where the hell had that come from? I had no claim on Kellan. Yet there I was, bristling like a cat whose territory had been invaded because some random mom had stated the obvious: Kellan Brooks was attractive.
The woman gave me a knowing look that made my cheeks burn. “Honey, professional isn’t the word most women use for him.” She winked before walking away.
I was still scowling at her back when Kellan returned, leading a different horse that was huge compared to the other horse.
I stared at the horse in front of me, convinced Kellan had lost his mind. The animal was the equine equivalent of a tractor-trailer, with massive legs and a back so broad I’d need mountaineering equipment to summit it. “There is no way I’m getting on that thing.”
“This is not a thing. This is Tater Tot,” Kellan announced with a flourish.
“That’s a ‘tot’?” I squeaked. “What do you feed him? Other horses?”
Kellan laughed and stroked the horse’s neck. “He’s a Belgian draft horse and is basically a walking marshmallow. He’s perfect for newbies, and kids love him. He once stood perfectly still while a three-year-old sang the entirety ofLet It Goin his ear.”
“Impressive patience.” I cautiously approached the railing. “He’s going to eat my face off.”
Tater Tot shifted his weight, and I took two giant steps backward.
