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“Why didn’t Rhonda take her own horse?”
“She hadn’t ridden in a while.”
Merritt rolled her eyes. “I don’t think you forget how to ride a horse.”
“Are you mad about this?”
“Do I look mad?” She knew she did, but she couldn’t help herself.
“We already talked about this. There’s nothing between me and Rhonda.”
“Maybe she wants there to be.”
“She doesn’t matter to me. You matter to me.”
The air between them was suddenly weighted with words unspoken.
“What if the paparazzi had been lurking out there and took a picture of the two of you together? It wouldn’t look good. For either of us.”
“Paparazzi in the middle of the forest?”
“You never know.”
“I don’t think we have to worry about that.”
“Just be careful, Augustus.”
His eyes met hers, and she wished she understood the look she saw there. She wished he would talk to her about whatever was troubling him.
“Why didn’t you come to bed last night?” she asked.
His throat moved as he swallowed hard. “You told me to sleep on the floor.”
“I didn’t mean it. I was just surprised by what happened.”
“You and me both.”
Their eyes locked again, and she nearly mentioned yesterday’s kiss. It had felt so real. Had he felt it too?
“Did you really sleep on the floor?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I didn’t sleep.”
“At all?” Her eyes widened.
“I couldn’t.”
Whenever something was weighing on him, like it obviously was now, a little crease formed in his forehead that she always had the urge to kiss away.
She instantly ignored that thought. “Why not?”
He ran a hand through his hair and nervously rubbed the back of his neck. “I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Did I do something?”
“You’re perfect, Mer.” The sweet sincerity in his tone made her heart ache. “That’s the problem.”
Merritt’s eyebrows wrinkled. “What do you mean?”