Page 8 of A Montana Secret Admirer
She hadn’t regretted saying as much. But now that she was here, she couldn’t help wondering if she’d jumped the gun.
Nope. She wasn’t going there.
Friends. That was all she needed.
Serenity cleared her throat. “Noah said something about you being good with kids.”
He chuckled. “I don’t know what he bases that opinion on…”
“Something about helping out with kids on ranches when you were in the scouting program.”
This time, he eyed her with an arch of his brow. “Huh. I can’t believe he remembered that.”
She smiled. “It’s nice to know that there are still male role models for kids these days.”
The way he was watching her—it unnerved her more than she wanted to admit. She squirmed in her seat, fiddling with the hem of her shirt. “Anyway, the reason I wanted to bring it up is…” She blew out a breath. “My boys need something to do this summer, and Noah thought you might be willing to give them riding lessons.” There. She’d said it. She’d asked the man who had flirted mercilessly with her at Jane’s wedding if he’d help her with her children.
Why was she so nervous? If he said no, there were plenty of other options.
“If you don’t want to?—”
“I’d love to.”
She exhaled with a laugh. “What? Really?”
“I love kids.”
That confession gave her a surge of warmth. She didn’t know what it was about this guy that made her feel so at ease. “Well, good. Because Tegan can be… a bit much.”
“Is Tegan the little guy? Or your wedding date?”
She released a laugh. “I totally forgot about that.” Then she relaxed her shoulders a little. “He’s seven. He’s… been struggling lately.”
Reese nodded thoughtfully. “Well, getting out into nature might do him some good.”
“That’s what we were thinking.”
They sat there for a little while longer, and she wasn’t sure what else she should say. Stars were starting to dot the sky, and she was exhausted.
“Well, thank you—for being willing to help my boys. I’ll come by tomorrow, and we can set something up around your schedule.”
He looked like he wanted to say something more, but when she waited expectantly, all he did was nod. “Goodnight, Serenity.”
“Goodnight, Reese.”
CHAPTER THREE
“That’s it,Tegan! Don’t squeeze your legs too tight. Easy! She’s a real, live animal, not a bike.”
Behind him, he heard Serenity snort.
Reese shot her a glance over his shoulder, noting just how carefree she looked in this moment. Today was the first day he’d gotten Tegan on a horse. The boy was quiet. He didn’t speak much. But his moodiness was warranted. The kid didn’t want to be here, that much was certain.
It hadn’t been hard to lose track of how many times the seven-year-old had mentioned that fact. Surprisingly, he hadn’t complained about learning how to ride, though. He might not like being away from a bustling city or his friends, but he was definitely interested in the horse he was riding.
Then Reese saw it.
It was a flicker, one that Serenity wouldn’t have been able to catch—a hint of a smile.
