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“This is the saddle,” he explains, tapping the worn leather. “The stirrups—these are key. You wanna make sure they’readjusted right, so you’re balanced. And the reins—these give you control, but you don’t gotta yank on ‘em. Just be firm. She’ll listen.”

I nod, absorbing every word. It’s easy to listen to Eddie when he’s teaching me something. There’s a quiet confidence in the way he speaks, like he knows exactly who he is, exactly how to exist in this world. I envy that.

“Alright. Let’s get you up there.”

With his hands steadying me, I swing my leg over the saddle, settling into the seat. Daisy shifts slightly, but Eddie’s hand is still at my knee, grounding me.

“You’re good,” he murmurs. “Just breathe.”

I do. And for the first time in days, I feel steady.

“Here.” He steps closer, adjusting the stirrup strap. His fingers brush against my thigh, and a jolt of awareness shoots through me.

I inhale sharply.

He stills, his gaze flicking up to mine, something unreadable in his eyes. The moment stretches, thick with something we haven’t put words to yet. Then he steps back, clearing his throat.

As Eddie moves toward his horse, Blaze, my eyes are drawn to the effortless way he carries himself—calm, steady, utterly in control. He grips the saddle horn, planting one boot in the stirrup before swinging his leg over in a fluid, practiced motion.

The movement stretches the denim of his jeans over his muscular thighs, pulling tight across his strong legs and, for a second, I forget how to breathe.

Well, damn.

The man was already unfairly attractive, but watching him mount a horse like he was born in the saddle? That’s a whole new level of devastation.

I tear my gaze away before he can catch me staring, but not before heat pools low in my stomach.

Settling into the saddle, he adjusts his reins with an easy confidence, his broad shoulders straight, his biceps flexing as he strokes Blaze’s neck. The sight alone is enough to make my pulse stutter.

Then he glances at me, the corner of his mouth lifting in a slow, knowing smirk. “You comin’, darlin’, or just enjoyin’ the view?”

I snap my gaze up to his, heat rushing to my cheeks. “Shut up.”

His chuckle is deep and rich as he nudges Blaze forward, and I swear to God, if this man doesn’t stop being so effortlessly hot, I’m going to need a damn moment to collect myself before I can function again.

We rideout into the countryside, side by side, the rhythmic clip-clop of the horses filling the quiet. The landscape stretches around us, rolling hills fading into thick woods. Fireflies blink lazily in the distance, tiny golden sparks against the deepening blue of the night sky.

It’s peaceful. Tranquil in a way I didn’t realize I needed.

A strange sensation settles in my chest—like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Which is ridiculous.

Because this isn’t my life. This isn’t my world.

And Eddie? He’s definitely not the kind of man I should be falling for.

But here I am, falling anyway.

He glances over at me. “You’re quiet.”

I blink, realizing I’ve been lost in thought. “Just taking it in.”

His mouth tips into a soft smile. “Good.”

Minutes pass in easy silence until we reach a clearing—a wide, open meadow bathed in moonlight. Eddie pulls on the reins, slowing his horse to a stop.

“C’mon,” he says, dismounting with an effortless grace that makes my stomach flip.