“Was it noticeable? Did anyone else see that?”
“I’m not sure. Mom’s pretty good at picking up on that vibe. So’s Luis, for a guy, anyway. I think that’s why he’s such a good horse whisperer.”
She groaned and let her head flop back against the chair. “I don’t know what to do!”
“Have you discussed it with Adam?” Mila, the infinitely practical one, believed in discussing everything, at length.
“He says I’m only attracted to him because I’m on the rebound from Sean.”
“As someone who recently made that mistake, he could be right and you don’t want to go that route, especially with someone you care about.”
“Exactly. I’d never want to hurt him. But I’ve already caused harm because now he’s attracted to me and he doesn’t want to be.”
“Because it would be a rebound relationship?”
“That, and the fact that our lives are so entwined. Getting involved puts too much at risk.”
“Oh, boy.” Claudette rolled her eyes. “You’re in forbidden fruit territory. Good luck putting a lid onthat.”
“She’s right,” Mila said. “Romeo and Juliet, Lancelot and Guinevere. If you’re not supposed to want someone, that’s who you want.”
“Is that why I kissed Adam? He’s forbidden fruit?”
“Could be.” Claudette shrugged. “Or you were so drunk you didn’t know who he was and didn’t care.”
“I knew who he was.” Her heart rate picked up. “I even remember thinking I shouldn’t kiss him because we were such good friends, and now he was themayorfor God’s sake.”
“And in that moment,” Mila said, “he became irresistible. It all fits.”
“What if it works the other way?”
“It almost always does.” Claudette finished off her tea.
“I’m his forbidden fruit?”
She nodded. “Looks like it. You’ve been his good friend for years, he’s the mayor and you’re the town’s legal counsel, and you’re in rebound mode. Forbidden fruit doesn’t get much juicier than that.”
“What are we supposed to do?”
Mila smiled. “We could discuss it on the ride tomorrow.”
“The four of us? Are you nuts?”
“Or we could bow out and let the chips fall.”
“No, don’t do that. I want you to go. How about you take the ride with us but wedon’tdiscuss this?”
Claudette chuckled. “You want us to chaperone? What do you think’s gonna happen on a winter horseback ride? My brother’s inventive but even he couldn’t create an opportunity given that scenario.”
“Besides,” Mila said, “you guys need advice and who better to supply it than Claudette and me? Unless you want to bring Mom into it. I’m sure she’d?—”
“No, thanks. I just can’t imagine trotting through the snowy fields talking about how Adam and I can work ourselves out of this forbidden fruit situation.”
Claudette leaned forward, eyes gleaming with mischief. “I’m sure he’s not in bed yet. We could get him over here right now and discuss it while we’re all sitting around this cozy fire.”
She gasped. “That sounds awful.”
“Of course it is, which is why I said it. Mila has the right idea. We’ll be on horses looking at the scenery instead of staring at each other. Who knows what will come out of it, but I say it’s worth a shot.”
