“I think so.” I rested my hand on Miller’s arm, ignoring the way his skin felt like sunshine. “I’m still processing it all.”
“Does this mean no girl talk tonight?”
“Maybe another time.”
He pulled a tissue from the pocket of his jeans. “But I even came prepared. I have wine and chocolate in the truck, more Kleenex where this came from, and aMy Dad Sucksplaylist cued up on my phone.”
I laughed. “Very thoughtful of you.”
“It’s just who I am.” He studied me for a moment, and I wondered what he saw. “If you need someone to listen, I’m here.”
I sat up and faced Miller. “You’ve got quite the double standard.”
“I am all about equal opportunity, so please do enlighten me.”
“You want me to open up and talk about my bio-dad, but you’ve yet to tell me about Jonathan.”
All humor left Miller’s face. “Come on, Hattie. That’s old stuff.”
“The only way I’m talking is if you do.”
The swing swished back and forth as Miller went quiet. “Fine. But you go first.”
I barely held back an eye roll. “Has anyone ever told you you’re infuriating?”
“Only every woman I’ve ever met.”
I watched a robin light on a magnolia tree branch while I organized my feelings. It was hard to think at all with Miller melded to my side. “The night at the rodeo didn’t go like I expected at all.”
“I gathered from the quiet ride back to Arkansas. How so?”
“I thought I’d see Buck, tell him how I felt, then leave. I never expected him to be a sympathetic character, and I certainly never thought he’d want to stay connected.”
“Do you think Buck’s genuine?”
“As genuine as he can be.”
“Do you trust him?”
That question needed no thought at all. “No. Definitely not.”
“So why continue talking to him?”
“I don’t know. Curiosity perhaps…I want to see where it leads.”
“And if it doesn’t lead to a relationship?”
“I don’t even think I want that. What I know is Buck is here for a limited time, and he seems to need something too. Maybe we can both get some closure and heal a bit. Be better for it.”
“And all that old anger?”
“It’s still there.” It currently sat beside lust in the front seat of my mind. “There’s only so much visiting Buck can do for me. The rest of the work is up to me.”
He nudged his shoulder to mine. “I know a gal who does horse therapy who could help.”
I wish Miller wouldn’t be so captivating, but all he had to do was exist. “She sounds brilliant.”
With a finger he traced the pattern of my single braid. “Gets people to cry just by brushing a horse.”
