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“No, I’ve been out with her before.”

She paused, finally facing him as he put Nightshade’s hoof on the ground and straightened. “Oh. So, second date, then? Or hundredth?”

“She’s definitely not old enough to have gone on a hundred dates with me.”

Winnie pulled a face. He was that kind of guy, then, was he?

“I can see your confusion,” he said, his eyes shining. “Allow me to explain.”

“Oh, don’t feel like you need to defend yourself.”

“I don’t, but I’m going to explain anyway. My niece passed off learning her letters today, so my family and I are going out with her to celebrate.”

Instantly, the tightness in Winnie’s chest dispelled, and warmth spread throughout her like water pouring over a smooth surface. That was…that was really sweet, actually. But then, would he be bringing⁠—

“And no,” he said, interrupting her thoughts as he leaned against the side of his horse, his arm across the back of him, “I won’t be bringing an actual date.”

She glanced at him, feigning neutrality. “Why would I care about that?”

“Because you think I’m…What was it your sister said again? Oh, that’s right. Hot.”

Winnie nearly groaned. She had begun to think she’d gotten out of that conversation. “I think you need to get your ears checked, Matthew,” she said, attempting to cool down her blush. “My sister was the one who called you that.”

He raised a brow. “Oh, just your sister, was it?”

“Yes,” she stated stubbornly.

“Are you sure?” he pressed. “Because I recall her stating specifically that you described me in such a way.”

He took a step toward her, and she froze in place. Why was he looking at her that way? With that knowing smile and with those warm blue eyes?

“Nope,” she said. “I just think…that you smell like horse.”

That was the weakest defense she had ever had. Ever.

Apparently, Matthew thought so, too, his smile growing to twice its size. “I have it on good authority that women like men to smell of such manly things as horses.”

“Who did you hear that from?” she asked, taking a step back. “Other men?”

He gave a soft laugh, taking a step closer to her. As he did so, his smile faded, though a softness lingered in his eyes as he continued to stare at her.

Her mind threatened to lose its grasp on reality with such a look, so she took another step back.

“What are you doing?” she asked, hoping her direct question would bring them both back down to reality.

He didn’t respond, his eyes searching hers, focused and determined until, for a split second, they dropped to her lips, and her mouth dried.

“I just want…” he began in a soft voice that filled her senses to breaking point.

She swallowed hard. What did he want? The same thing she did? What they both needed was to create distance between them, but with the stall door closed, Winnie had nowhere else to go.

What was even worse was that she didn’t want to have anywhere else to go. As coworkers, they should definitely not be entertaining such a proximity—or such thoughts. But she couldn’t help herself. If Matthew was willing…perhaps she was, too.

“What?” she asked when he didn’t continue, her voice huskier than she would have liked. “What do you want?”

“I want…” he began again, drawing a step closer to her so she had to crane her neck to maintain her gaze on him, “to get to that final hoof.”

Winnie blinked. The final hoof? What was he…