Shy Kinda Love by Deanna Eshler Read Free Book Online Page B

don’t know,” I tell him honestly. I know these are normal questions to ask someone you just met, but they are not questions I want to answer.
    Kade must notice I’m uncomfortable with this topic, because he tries for a different one. “So, tell me about this horse barn. You work there?”
    I sigh and it sounds almost dreamy, so I clear my throat to cover it. Horses are the only thing that can make me sound dreamy.
    “It’s a horse farm just outside of town. There’s a huge barn with twenty stalls, an indoor arena, and acres of pasture. The owners, Angie and John, have six horses of their own. There are also eight horses that people board. Then there’s my horse, and four other horses Angie is training.”
    “Wait, you have a horse?” He asks, looking intrigued.
    I nod. “Yeah. He’s a rescue. I got him about two and half years ago.”
    “What kind of work does one do at a barn?”
    “In addition to daily chores, I manage the barn, the boarders, feed for all the horses, vet appointments, and blacksmith appointments. The most exciting part, though, is that Angie has been teaching me how to train. She’s been working with horses for more than twenty years. She can break a horse, correct problem behaviors, and train for show, all using natural horsemanship.” Realizing I’m sounding dreamy again, I stop talking, but don’t look at Kade until he speaks.
    He’s smiling as he goes on to ask me several more questions about the barn and what I do with the horses. He truly seems interested, so I answer a few questions about how I got Walker and about the horses I train. After a few minutes of talking I realize what I’m doing: I’m talking to a complete stranger about my life. How is this the person I’ve become? Before Keegan and Gemma bulldozed into my life, I never talked to people. Even the girls at the barn are kept at a distance.
    “What breed is Walker?”
    “A mutt,” I say, smiling. “He’s not registered, but he has the build and personality of a quarter horse, but the markings of a paint.”
    “Did you know that the term quarter refers to a quarter of a mile?” Kade asks.
    I furrow my brow, thinking I missed something.
    Kade laughs. “Quarter-mile horse racing is part of the breed’s history. In the eighteenth century, the Colonists raced them on village main streets, and they became known for their speed for up to a quarter-mile.”
    “Um… no, I didn’t know any of that.” Realizing I’m staring at his mouth, I blink, then look up to his eyes. “As a matter of fact, I would guess that most people in the horse community don’t know, and if they did, could not recite all the facts you just spewed.”
    “Adrian says I have a lot of useless information up here.” Kade shrugs, tapping his head with a finger. “I guess it’s a side effect of reading everything that’s put in front of me. I love facts, so I’m always looking for new ones. But that’s all I know about horses—well, except for the origins of a few other breeds. I’ve never ridden a horse, or even been near one.”
    My mind is spinning. What hot college senior doesn’t drink, and loves to read for the sake of gaining information?
    “I’d like to go with you to the barn in the morning.” Kade’s surprising statement pulls me out of my thoughts.
    What? I just met him. “Um, I don’t think so. I have a ton of work to get done so I don’t have time to entertain you.” My mood change is clear in my voice, and I can tell that by Kade’s expression.
    He leans back on his stool, with a look of challenge in his eyes. “Shy, just watching you will be entertainment enough. Now, what time do you leave in the morning?” he asks, with complete confidence.
    Okay, fine, he wants to play control freak? Let’s see how this control freak feels about sunrise. “5:45,” I deadpan.
    He can’t hide his shock. “Are you serious? What sane person gets up at five to take care of horses? Or for any reason?”
    “I never said I