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“Thank you for offering to teach me to ride,” she said. “I’m sorry now that I accused you of having ulterior motives.”

Okay, now I felt guilty, and that almost never happened.

I did have ulterior motives, and her comment made me feel like a prick.

Wanting to distract myself, I questioned, “Any idea what kind of horse you want to learn to ride on? Any fears about riding?”

She shook her head. “I’m not sure. I’m excited. My only experience with riding is being led around on a pony as a kid. I guess my only fear is getting on a gigantic horse and being so high off the ground. You’re the teacher. I’ll be happy to take whatever horse you suggest. Do you have a lot of horses?”

I nodded. “Quite a few. I think I’d put you on Luna. She’s a Gypsy Vanner horse. A beautiful tobiano black and white from champion lines. She was Mom’s horse, but she had to scale down her riding to one horse because of her arthritis, so I took Luna. She has a sweet disposition and she’s not very intimidating. It’s a short breed in general, but they’re muscular and strong. I think you two would be perfect for each other, and she doesn’t get enough exercise. She’s a little too small for me and my barn manager, so Lauren exercises her for me when she can. She also exercises Mom’s horse that she still has at the ranch when my mother isn’t able to ride.”

Reese smiled. “I can help. Once I can ride, I’d help your mom out when she needs it and exercise Luna every day for you. It’s the least I can do to pay you back for teaching me to ride. I know Lauren gets busy when she’s on an important project, and she favors one of Tanner’s horses.”

“She does,” I confirmed. “She exercises Mom’s horse and Luna as a favor. Tanner gave her the horse she likes to ride, and they have a bond. What happens if you end up hating to ride?”

“I won’t,” she said confidently. “I’ve always been an animal lover. I’ve just never had the opportunity to learn to ride a horse.”

“Come early on Saturday,” I instructed. “We’ll go over some safety stuff and the basics of riding before I get you on Luna. You said you liked to swim. Bring a suit. I have an indoor pool and a hot tub. You might want to soak for a while. You’ll be sore when you first start riding.”

“Are you saying that my butt is going to hurt?” she said jokingly.

“Pretty much,” I responded, trying not to think about her gorgeous ass that I’d be more than willing to massage for her after her ride. “Unless you exercise your glutes and all of the other muscles you need to ride, you’ll be sore. Sitting on a horse in the same position stretches muscles you didn’t know you had.”

“I don’t get the exercise I used to,” she said wistfully. “There’s no gym here, and Montana is way too cold for a winter walk. Now that it’s getting warmer, I’ll be able to get outdoors more. I love to walk and take hikes, but not when it’s as cold as it’s been over the winter.”

I nodded. “That’s why I have an indoor pool and a gym.”

She laughed, and the musical sound made my gut ache. “I don’t think I’m fitting any exercise equipment into this apartment,” she joked. “I thought about an exercise bike or a treadmill, but I’m not sure where I’d put it.”

She was right. There was barely room for furniture, and if her bedroom looked like Hannah’s had, it was barely big enough for a decent sized bed and a dresser.

“Have you always had a place this small?” I asked curiously. “I think I’d go crazy if I was confined to this small of a space in the winter.”

She hesitated for a second before she answered, “No. But I really don’t mind this place being small. It’s just me here. I don’t have to waste a lot of time cleaning, and it feels…safer. I wish the kitchen was a little bigger, but I don’t have a lot of choice of apartments in Crystal Fork. They’re all pretty small, and there really aren’t any rental homes here. Most people own and live in their homes.”

The fact that she mentioned feeling safer here didn’t escape me, but I got the feeling I shouldn’t push her on that comment right now.

I was going to have to let her keep some of her secrets until she felt comfortable enough to share.

I’d make the mistake of grilling her about her former life once, and that had pushed her away.

I tried to be a guy who never did stupid things more than once.

“Nobody really rents homes here,” I agreed. “We’re not exactly high on the list of tourist destinations in Montana. If you ever want to use my pool or my gym, feel free.”

She shook her head. “I’d never intrude on you like that, and I’m not sure that I should overstay my welcome on Saturday. I’m sure you’re a busy guy, and you’re already taking the time out of your weekend to teach me to ride.”

I shrugged. “Everyone helps each other here. We don’t consider helping other people in town an inconvenience. I have a big place. I’d never even know you were there.”

She looked a little flustered as she asked, “What if you have…company? That would be a little awkward.”

I grinned at her. “Are you asking if I have wild orgies at my house every night?”

“I didn’t meanthat,” she said as she sent me a scolding look that was kind of adorable. “But you must date sometimes. You’re a single guy.”

“I don’t bring dates back to Crystal Fork,” I replied, amused. “None of my previous dates would have any interest in hanging out here, and I’d never date anyone here.”

Honestly, I didn’t really date at all.