Page 43 of Shattered Mind

When the fuck did I become the guy that waits for a text from a girl with bated breath? That’s Hunter’s territory.

I move around the tack room, collecting the supplies I need to make an attempt at grooming Casper. I grab a bucket, throwing in sponges, a tail brush and some detangling spray. With his wounds fully healed, I can finally give the poor guy some long overdue TLC. One of the first things I noticed about Casper, besides the gnarly dog bites, was his matted tail and mane.

Over the past week, I’ve spent countless hours gaining his trust. Hand feeding him his favourite treats. Spilling my guts to him while he chomped away happily in his stall.

One of the most valuable lessons I learned from my father when it comes to working with the more untrusting horses is that consistency is key. They may not talk, but they are aware. They learn routine. If you show your horsethat you’re gonna show up for them every day, you will gain their love and trust.

I round the corner and come to a grinding halt. Liv stands outside Caspers stall, her hand moving in a hypnotic rhythm as she strokes the usually skittish horse affectionately. I watch, enamoured, as he extends his neck over her shoulder and captures her long ponytail in his mouth before nibbling on the silky strands.

Liv lets out a girly giggle as she tugs her hair free and the sound floats down the alley of the barn, wrapping around me like a warm embrace.

The feeling is unexpected, and I clear my throat, alerting her to my presence. Liv’s head snaps towards me, her face flushed. “Hi.”

“He likes you,” I nod towards Casper where he still stretches his neck in a bid to capture Liv’s hair.

She turns to look at the horse with a beaming smile. “I like him, too.”

“You’re the first person, other than me, that he’s let get that close, let alone touch him.”

Her face is contemplative as she resumes her stroking. Casper leans into her touch, soaking up the attention and her eyes soften. “Maybe it’s a woman thing.”

I think about that for a moment. This is the first time he’s been around a woman. From what I could tell in the short time I was at the farm, there weren’t any females around, so it’s possible his distrust is mainly towards men.

“You might be right.” I take measured steps towards her, and she glances down at the bucket I’m carrying.

“What’re you doing?”

“Gonna try my hand at grooming him.” I say, reaching past her to unlatch the door. The hairs on my arms stand on end as her arm brushes mine, and I hold back an involuntary shiver that threatens to run through me.

“Oh, okay. I’ll get out of your hair. I just came by to ask you if you’d maybe be able to help me with something this week,” she nibbles on her bottom lip, and I fight against the urge to reach out and free it from her assault.

“What do you need help with?” I question.

“Bella is moving in next week and I promised her I’d help move some of her furniture over while she works.”

That piece of information surprises me. “Bella’s moving in with you?”

Liv nods excitedly. “Yep. Her contract on her apartment is up and I’m down a roommate so it made sense.”

I nod my head in agreement. It makes me feel at ease to know she won’t be alone in that house anymore. Although she’s only on the other side of town, the drive from the ranch still takes fifteen minutes if anything were to happen to her and she needed one of us. At least with Bella there, she isn’t so isolated from everyone.

“Why don’t you ask Noah for his help? I’m sure he’d jump at the chance.” I say distractedly as I slowly run a brush over Caspers back.

Liv watches me from the doorway, her chin resting on her folded arms atop the Dutch door. “What’s the matter, grumps? You scared of being alone with me?” she teases, a knowing smirk on her face.

I shake my head with a small laugh. “I’m alone with you right now.”

“No, you’re not. Casper’s here.” She points towards the horse, and he flicks his left eye to me as if to say,Yeah, dick.

I keep my face stoic as I look at her. Really look at her. At the way her eyelashes curl naturally without the help from mascara. The light dusting of freckles across thebridge of her nose. The way her lips always look like they have a layer of gloss on them.

Fuck, she’s so beautiful it hurts.

She watches me with hope in her eyes and I cave. “Fine. When?”

Her smile is blinding. She straightens and bounces a little on the spot. “Yes! Thank you. Is tomorrow okay?”

“I’ll be there.” I say with a resigned sigh, but the truth is this girl could ask me for almost anything in the world and I’d do it, as long as she keeps looking at me the way she is right now.

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