Page 123 of Back in the Saddle

‘It is, but in a good way.’ Caroline walked to the kettle. ‘Tea?’

‘That’d be lovely, thanks,’ Tom responded.

She nodded and clicked it on. She opened the grey kitchen cupboard, taking out two porcelain mugs and putting a teabag in each.

‘I missed it here. It’s funny, because years ago I would’ve grasped any chance to go away. But now this is home, you know,’ Caroline mused. The kettle boiled and she poured water into the mugs. ‘Sugar? Milk?’

‘Two sugars and a small splash of milk.’

She laughed. ‘You haven’t changed the way you take your tea since high school.’ She measured two flat spoons, added the milk, and handed Tom the cup.

‘Cheers.’ He blew on his tea.

Caroline added cold water to her mug filled with black tea. ‘I’m glad I decided to live in Banchory and commute. Don’t think living in Aberdeen would have the same appeal it had when I was young.’ She took a sip. ‘I love my work just now and I’m feeling really content otherwise. The only thing maybe missing from my life is a decent guy.’ She laughed, shaking her head. ‘Sorry, that must’ve sounded pathetic.’

‘Not at all.’ Tom looked at her warmly over the rim of his mug. ‘No luck with the dating apps?’

‘Not since you witnessed that disastrous scrolling session at the Inn a couple of weeks ago.’ She sighed. ‘But never mind.’

‘I can maybe help with that,’ Tom said, scratching his chin as if he was thinking. ‘There’s a guy who moved to the areanot long ago. He looks to be a similar age to you. I don’t know him that well, but Sarah deemed him to be “a real catch”.’ Tom raised his eyes to the ceiling as if embarrassed on his girlfriend’s behalf. ‘He comes to the Inn regularly for food, sometimes a drink, but always takes a taxi home afterwards. Doesn’t seem like he enjoys cooking for himself.’ He scratched his chin again. ‘He bought that equestrian facility, just outside Aboyne? Think it’s called Windswept Hooves.’

Caroline froze. The place where she had learned how to ride. The place her mother took her to, watching her over the fence and smiling, like seeing her middle daughter on top of a horse was the best view. ‘I didn’t know McCluskeys went out of business.’

‘About three, four years ago now? They retired to Spain.’

‘I’m glad someone bought the place.’ Shehadplanned on getting back in the saddle, eventually. Riding was another thing she missed when remembering her time in Oklahoma. But she hadn’t found a good time to do it, at least not yet.

‘Anyway, the guy seems to be, you know, normal. As in, not a psycho or something. I could set you up on a date if you wanted to?’ Tom looked up at her, grinning. ‘Like a blind date? That’d be so cool.’

‘Well … OK, I guess,’ she finally said, wincing. ‘Guess I have nothing to lose.’

‘Only your time.’ He shrugged and they both laughed. ‘Is that a yes then?’

‘Sure. What’s his name?’

‘If I told you, it wouldn’t be a blind date, would it?’

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

Caroline

Caroline fumbled with her necklace, frowning at the cleavage of her dress. She had almost decided she wouldn’t come. What was she thinking, agreeing to go on a blind date?

She snorted into her glass of red wine.

The whole situation was ridiculous. But she needed to get back out there. Hunter had shown her everything she had been missing in her life; she didn’t want to fall off the saddle, now that she learned how to stay in it.

So, here she was, at Tom’s pub in Aboyne. Dressed in one of her favourite purple dresses, waiting for the guy whose name she didn’t know. It’d be thrilling if she didn’t feel so stupid.

‘Caroline?’

Caroline stiffened. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to calm her nerves. This wasn’t possible, was it?It could be a complete coincidence that the accent sounded so familiar.

Slowly, she turned towards the direction of the male voice. As soon as she did, she thought she was going to pass out. She blinked twice, not daring to believe her eyes.

A tall, muscular, dark-haired man in a checkered shirt tucked into a dark pair of jeans casually leaned over the bar counter next to her.

Time seemed to have slowed down. Their eyes met. Caroline felt like she was falling deep into sweet nothing. She hadn’t realised she’d jumped down from the stool. She didn’t remember her legs moving towards the man. Before she knew it, they were standing face to face.