“Are we good?”he said with a tentative grin.
I shrugged and looked away, unhappy. “I just wish you’d picked someone else. Anyone else.”
“I understand.”
“Other than that, I’m not really sure why I’m upset. I’m the one who ended it with you.”
“Perhaps a part of you is more attached to me than you’d like to admit.”
I pressed a tired smile.“I’ve grown quite fond of you, it’s true.”
“No!”he shouted in feigned offense. “Not fondness! That’s almost worse than ‘let’s be friends’.”
We were quiet for a long moment with only the sounds of Buster and Betsy whinnying at one another and flapping their lips.
“I don’t wish you any ill, Darling,” Ricky finally said. “I’ll even admit that I did initially chase you just for a win. I’m not accustomed to being refused and your standoffish manner only pushed me to chase you more. You were a particularly worthy challenge.”
“It wasn’t my intention to play hard to get.”
He took my hand in his. “The worthy challenge turned into deep affection. I think in part because I never really allowed myself to become interested in women like you before...serious, conscientious...of high morals.”
I brought my free hand to my heated cheek. “You’re going to make me blush.”
“As well you should.” He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it as a true gentleman would. “You’ve taught me so much more than just how to ride a horse, Darling. You showed me what a woman can really be, and I do hope to find another jewel like you someday.”
“I guess all is not lost if that is your takeaway from our time together. I guess I feared you’d hate me for leading you on.”
He grew solemn and looked down at our clasped hands before meeting my gaze again. “I think I’ve known from the start that your heart belongs to another. I guess I thought I’d be able to steal it and make it my own. I was wrong. You love someone else and have from the start.”
I stared at him, marveling at his insight. I’d never let on, not for one moment, that I might love another. I was barely aware of it myself until so recently.
SIXTEEN
The news spread soquickly and with such enthusiasm, I was nauseated. It wasn’t like me to resent someone else’s happiness, but I just couldn’t muster up the energy to pretend to be happy.
I wasn’t needed for a few hours, so I cloistered myself off in my room, busying myself with a simple clean-up of my personal space. I unfolded and refolded every article of clothing I’d brought to Barry Park. I wiped off the bathroom mirror, reorganized my toiletries and set the bathmat neatly in front of the shower.
