A Forever Kind of Love (Kinds of Love 1)

It was a good thing that her horse was doing the walking, or she would have stopped in the middle of the path. He kept on riding like it was nothing, but she felt incredibly special.

“Really?” she asked, urging her horse to go a little bit faster to ride next to him. “You've never taken a girl out here?”

“I guess if you want to be technical, I have come out here with Laura,” he replied. “But, since she's an employee, and I think of her like my little sister, then I don't think it really counts.”

“So, I'm special?” she asked. Her cheeks heated as soon as she realized she'd said the words out loud.

He turned, focusing the full power of his blue eyes on her. When he looked at her, it was as if there were nothing else in the world. He made her feel like the center of everything. It was a heady experience that left her a little breathless.

“Yes.” He said it like a simple truth and her insides went to mush.

“Thank you,” she whispered. He nodded, not releasing her from his gaze. She cleared her throat, her heart fluttering in her chest with his direct gaze. “So, do you come out here with Laura often?”

The corners of his mouth twitched up in a smile. “Jealous?”

“Maybe a little,” she admitted, and he laughed.

“We go out about once a week when I'm here in Silver Springs,” he told her. He glanced up at where Laura was explaining something about riding to Lily. “When I first bought this place, I hired Laura to run it. She had amazing recommendations. I went riding with her and they were all well-deserved. I'd owned this place for two years but only came to visit a handful of times. No one really knows that it's mine.”

His horse walked calmly next to Mia's, the two horses in sync as their riders talked. In front of them, the kids enjoyed their horseback ride.

“There’s some local gossip that a billionaire bought this place, but no one knew which one. Most people think it's going to be turned into houses at some point,” Mia replied.

“I have no plans to do that,” he assured her. “I like this place as it is. It's too wild and beautiful to be a block of homes.”

“Do you plan on staying here?” Mia asked. Her throat tightened at the last word, surprising her with how much she hoped the answer was a long time. She wanted him to stay forever.

“I'm not sure,” he said after a moment. “I didn't expect to be here this long, to be honest.”

“Oh.” Mia's face fell and she looked off toward the mountains so he wouldn't see.

“It's not that I don't want to be here,” he said quickly. “It's just that my business is back in California.”

“So why are you here then?” Mia asked.

“It's complicated,” Carter replied. He sighed. “I'm hiding out here. No one knows that I'm at this ranch, or even in the state.”

“Why?” Mia turned to look at him.

“There have been some threats,” he said, his voice emotionless.

Mia's eyes widened. “Oh my god! Why would someone want to hurt you?”

“That's what I'd like to know.” His expression was grim and his eyes distant. For a moment, he looked much older and worn than he really was, but then he shook himself and smiled at her, bringing back the light to his eyes. “It's nothing to worry about,” he promised. “It's more precautionary than anything. Please, forget I said anything.”

Mia suspected there was more to it than that, but she didn't want to pry. She tried to remember if the internet had said anything about him being in danger, but nothing came to mind. “If you need anything, let me know,” she offered. “Even if it's just someone to talk to.”

His eyes softened as he looked at her and he smiled. “Thank you.”

“I mean it,” she said. “Anytime.”

The horses caused their legs to bump into each other. He reached out and touched her leg, sending electricity straight to her brain. How was it that he had this effect on her? Just a casual touch had her body aching for more of him. She found herself hoping he'd take her up on her offer.

The horses moved apart as the path widened again. She missed his touch already.

“So, are you seeing anyone?” he asked. Mia nearly fell off her horse.

“No, I mean... the kids... I...” She regained her poise and cleared her throat. “No, I'm not.”