“We have a lot in common, don’t we? That’s important in a relationship.”
“Please tell me you don’t talk about horses all night.”
Charlotte waved her off, even if it was a little true. “Stop it. He’s a steady, responsible man who runs his own business. And most importantly—he’s not going anywhere.”
Brianna’s face softened as her lips lifted in a gentle smile. “He really did a number on you, didn’t he?”
She felt like a fool every time she thought of Vince. “I should’ve known better. It wasn’t like Vince didn’t talk about living someplace ‘more exciting.’” She enclosed the words in air quotes. “I just believed what I wanted to believe, and I paid dearly for it.”
“You’re being too hard on yourself. I never thought he’d leave either. It seemed like he was digging his job at the bank. He even got promoted. Do you ever hear from him?”
“Here and there. Nothing major, just asking how I’m doing. How the ranch is. A random meme, that sort of thing.”
Brianna pursed her lips. “You should block his number, that’s what you should do.”
“I don’t want to be like that. He’s no threat to my well-being anymore.”
“Now that you have the exciting Kyle in your life?”
Charlotte tilted her a wry look.
“Is that little thing between you and your trainer holding back your relationship with Kyle?”
Brianna had stopped to borrow a pair of Charlotte’s boots this week and arrived when Gunner was giving Charlotte a training lesson. She had been so caught up, she hadn’t even heard Brianna’s car pull up the drive.
“What little thing?”
Brianna arched a knowing brow.
This wasn’t the sort of thing that escaped her friend’s notice. Or the sort of thing she’d back down from. “All right. Fine. So there’s chemistry, I admit it.”
“Finally.”
“But it can’t go anywhere. You and I both know he’s just passing through, and the last thing I need is another heartbreak.”
“And yet you took him with you to meet your biological father. That’s kind of big, don’t you think?”
“A moment of weakness.” She’d had a lot of those actually.
“I get it. He’s temporary and you don’t want to get attached. Kyle provides a nice buffer.”
Charlotte winced.Buffer?“That’s a little harsh, don’t you think?”
“But true?”
Charlotte hoped that wasn’t what she was doing. At least, not entirely. She was giving Kyle a real chance.
Wasn’t she?
Brianna put her hand over Charlotte’s. “I’m sorry if I’m prying. You know I’m no good at beating around the bush. I want you to be happy. I just don’t see any excitement from you where Kyle’s concerned. The beginning should be the fun part of the relationship. The exciting part. If it’s lacking that now...”
“Point taken. But maybe every relationship doesn’t have to be the exciting kind. Maybe it can just be... comfortable.”
“Only you know what you feel. I just don’t want you to settle. You deserve so much more than that.”
“Look who’s talking. You went on two dates with Jeremy and called it quits. He seemed like a really great guy.”
Brianna waved her hand. “I don’t have time to date. I’ve got my hands full with Granny and my job for now.”
