Page 46 of Back in the Saddle

You were in love with Finn since you were fifteen. You noticed other men but didn’t really see them. Until now.

She grimaced, inhaling sharply. Now was just as good a time as any to tell Hunter the truth – or at least, part of it.

‘So, about yesterday …’ She paused, chewing on her bottom lip. ‘When I told you I’m married and then ran off.’Like the coward that I am, she added in her head.

‘You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to,’ Hunter said softly.

Caroline crossed her legs at the ankles and shook her head. ‘I want to tell you. It’s just … difficult because I don’t really talk about it.’

She swallowed, twisting her fingers in her lap. ‘Four years ago, I married my first and only boyfriend. We met in primary school. We were friends for a long time before we became more. Anyway, we got married, and I really believed it was going to be my happily ever after. But things between us started going downhill.’

He mulled over her words with a thoughtful expression. ‘Are you still with him?’

‘No. Long story short, we’re getting a divorce. We’ve been through marriage counselling, we argued until there was no more puff left in either of us. So, it’s over.’ She scratched herforehead, leaving a red mark. ‘It’s complicated. I love him, but I’m notinlove with him anymore.’

As soon as she said it, her throat tightened, and her heart ached. Despite thinking about it many times, this was the first time she had found a way to put her feelings into words. It terrified her. Not only because it was the truth, but because she found it so easy to confide in Hunter. He was practically a stranger, for Christ’s sake.A stranger you kissed like a horny teenager lusting after him for days before that.

‘You aren’t in love with him?’ Hunter repeated, like this was the main takeaway he’d got from her monologue.

She shook her head, a sad smile tugging the corners of her lips. ‘No. To be honest, I think I haven’t been for a while.’

Caroline watched him with a mix of nervousness and anticipation, not sure what she was expecting or hoping for. She knew he made her feel hot and bothered. He was gorgeous, he was a great kisser, and based on the limited information she had about him, he was a kind, good-hearted guy.

Maybe this was all that she needed to know just now.

She shivered with surprise when he slid his hand into hers and gave it a firm squeeze.

‘Is there anything else you want me to know? About your marriage?’ he asked.

She shook her head slowly. ‘No. But you see now why that kiss was impulsive and—’

He squeezed her hand again and it made her feel warm all the way down to her toes.

‘And why there are tons of reasons why we shouldn’t see each other again,’ she finished clumsily. ‘Like the fact that I’m only here for a few months.’

‘Because you don’t trust yourself around me?’ He smirked, looking very pleased with himself.

She swallowed hard. ‘Precisely.’

Hunter hummed under his breath, staring at the wall of the cave opposite them.

‘If you tell me that this … this thing—’ he gestured between them ‘—is completely one-sided and I’ve got it all wrong, then I’ll walk away right now. But if you feel the same pull to me as I do to you, however stupid and incomprehensible it seems—’

She put a finger to his lips, and he stopped mid-sentence. ‘I think you already know that I do. I kissed you, after all. It’s hard to make my attraction any more obvious,’ she smiled shyly.

Then, she pulled her finger away.

This was crazy. She must’ve gone completely crazy. How else could she explain throwing all her caution and moral backbone to the wind? This wasn’t her. She was responsible, level-headed, and always putting others before herself. She was a people pleaser. And she had never, ever, done anything so out of character.

‘Well, Dr Caroline … Damn, I just realised I don’t know your last name.’

‘O’Kelly. Caroline O’Kelly.’

‘Dr Caroline O’Kelly, I think you’re a woman worth dismissing the reason and logic for.’

They locked eyes with each other, still holding hands.

Her throat went dry and when she spoke, it sounded like a low whisper. ‘The feeling’s mutual, Mr Hunter Jackson.’