The snow fell harder, coming down sideways. Angela rested her cheek against my chest to avoid the sting of the flakes.
I kissed her hair. "You want to head back after this?"
"Let's go through the stables. I want to see the horses."
The cool thing about this outing was that I was getting to know her, her likes and dislikes. So far, she was open to trying new things and going somewhere on a whim. She seemed to like animals.
"You should stay in my place." Suddenly, I wanted Ayla to have the dog she'd always wanted. I wanted them to be in a home, one with a yard, space for a Christmas tree, and year-round lights to admire.
Her head snapped up. "When the repairs are done, I thought we'd move back to my place. I don't know what the rent is on your house."
"It's the same as yours."
Her eyes narrowed. "How can you possibly know that?"
"I don't want to charge you any more. You could rent with the option to buy."
Her eyes narrowed. "I thought you wanted the property as an investment? If I'm not paying market price, how does that help you?"
"I was dragging my feet on renting it. I didn't want a stranger living there, but you're not a stranger." My long-term plan was a bit different, but she wasn't ready to hear that I wanted to move in together. It was too soon for talk like that.
I'd always run from anyone who hinted at commitment, but now I was running toward it.
She let out a breath. "I'll have to think about it."
"I was thinking you could get a dog for Ayla. The yard is fenced. There's no space for a smaller dog to squeeze out."
"You've thought this through."
"It's the perfect solution. I trust that you won't trash the place, and I want you and Ayla to have a home. Isn't it what you want too?"
She looked away. "Yeah, I just didn't think it would happen so soon."
"Life doesn't have to be hard. Sometimes you get what you want." I had a feeling she thought she needed to work hard, and I wanted to disavow her of that notion. She was already deserving.
"That doesn't seem to work out for me," she finally said as we turned around and headed back to the line of people waiting for a ride.
"I think your luck is changing." I wanted her to desire more for herself and for Ayla. Everything was possible for them. And I wanted to be there to ensure she got everything she wanted.
A slow smile spread over her face. "I hope so."
"You don't have to decide today. It's not like I have anyone else lined up to move in." I had no intentions of letting anyone else rent it. The place was hers.
She leaned against me again. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
We disembarked, holding hands as we crossed the snow-packed path to the stable. Inside, the horses huffed and puffed, their heads hanging over their stall doors. I grabbed an apple and a few mini carrots, handing them to Angela.
She opened her hand, placing a carrot on it, and presented it to the first horse with a white blaze on his face. "Aren't you a pretty boy?"
The horse's eyes flared wide as he lowered his mouth to her hand, baring his teeth.
Angela jerked back into me.
I touched her shoulders. "Relax. Keep your hand flat, and he'll take it without biting you."
She let out a shaky breath. "Easy for you to say. You're not offering your hand up to a horse with huge teeth."
