“We just want to see you happy. That’s all,” Caroline sweetly added, grabbing my hand.
“I know I should be moving on and all that bullshit people say. I know I’m young and everything, but dating is just not in the cards for me. I don’t think it ever will be.”
Harper swigged the last of her drink, clinking the ice around the bottom of the rocks glass. “Besides, you have us—what more could you ever need in your life?”
“Exactly.” I giggled. “I’m going to settle up at the bar. I have a new batch of students descending on the barn in the morning.”
“Another drink already?” Waylon asked when I approached, leaning on the bar between us.
I shook my head. “Just the check please.”
He hit a few buttons on the computer to his right and slipped the tab into a black book before handing it to me.
“I’m not usually this forward, but I’m new in town and could really use a night out. What do you think about going to dinner with me sometime?”
Waylon’s shoulders deflated a little when I bit my lip.
“I don’t think so.”
“Am I just utterly disgusting? Do I have food in my teeth?” he coolly asked while flashing his show-stopping smile.
“I don’t date,” I explained.
“I’ll change your mind.”
“You’re a cocky one, aren’t you?” I threw cash into the book, handing it back to the new bartender.
“I just usually get what I want. See you around, Annabelle.”
Chapter 2
Throwing Shoes
“Good morning, Hunter,” I cooed at my Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse as I walked into his stall. My sweet boy whinnied at me before resting his muzzle on my shoulder. It was our morning ritual before feeding.
Even though I had students from my classes come help muck out the stables, feed, brush, wash, and do everything else needed to care for the thirteen horses in my stable, I loved spending a little quality time with Hunter to start off my day.
I did love all of my babies equally for the most part, but this silly buckskin tugged at my heartstrings. He was the first horse Freddy ever bought for me and the reason I decided to teach equestrian studies instead of becoming a lawyer.
“Good morning, my beautiful wife,”Freddy whispered as he wrapped his arms around me.
Slowly waking up in my husband’s arms was blissful and perfect.
“Morning, love.” I rubbed my sleepy eyes. As Freddy’s smiling face came into focus, I noticed the excited twinkle in his eyes. “What do you have up your sleeve?”
“Whatever do you mean, sweetheart?”
“I know that look. Something is definitely up.” I pecked his cheek before grabbing my robe off of the floor and making my way into the bathroom to wash my face.
Freddy chased after me, picking me up and twirling me around.
“You know me too well. I have a surprise for you.”
Carrying me to the window, Freddy pointed to a trailer backing up to our empty barn on the far side of the property.
“What did you do?” I squealed, wiggling around in his arms to look into the ice blue eyes I had fallen for.
“You kept saying you missed having horses ever since you moved down here from Kentucky, and I thought it was high time to bring a little bit of your home state down to Savannah.”