After the Fall

did.”
    “Right. I get it. But this could really be something if you let it.”
    “It’s fine the way it is,” I said. “He’s good company. He’s fun in bed. Why ruin it by turning it into something it’s not?”
    “Because things like that have a tendency to evolve on their own, whether you like it or not.”
    I shook my head. “No. I’m done with that shit for a few years. Besides, he’s leaving Tucker Springs in November. It doesn’t have time to—”
    “Nathan, mi amigo, I’m going to warn you right now: do not tell yourself he’s safe because he’s leaving in a few months.”
    My stomach flipped. “What do you mean?”
    “I mean I know you, and I know how that little brain of yours works. You’re thinking you can fuck around with this guy and have a good time, and you won’t get attached because you can’t get attached.” Brad shook his head. “It doesn’t work that way.”
    “Except what’s the point of getting attached to someone who isn’t going to stick around?” I half shrugged. “Even if I do get all starry-eyed over him and let myself think things are getting serious, this is a guy who’s flat out said he won’t commit to anything more than a tattoo.” I gestured dismissively. “The guy can’t stay in one place for more than a year or two. He’s not going to let me tie him down, and I wouldn’t want to tie him down.”
    “None of that means you won’t get attached to him, though.”
    “I won’t.”
    He held my gaze, then shrugged. “Okay. Just be careful with this guy, all right?”
    “I will.”
    Though I would never have admitted it out loud, never mind directly to him, Brad’s comments had rattled me. What if he was right? Ryan was amazing, but I wasn’t at all ready for a relationship. Particularly not with someone who wasn’t long for this town.
    I was batting oh-for-two when it came to relationships. I’d only had two serious ones, and they’d both ended in excruciating disaster. Someday, yes, I wanted to fall in love and have a long-term relationship with someone, but not yet. I needed to mature some more. The dating pool needed to mature some more so I could date men my own age without feeling like we were both two dumb kids with no clue how this shit worked.
    Someday. But not today.
    And not Ryan.

    I watched Ryan from the bleachers. He had the sitting trot down, but I made him do it anyway. It was good for Tsarina. Good for him. And goddamn, it was good for me because he made it seem so effortless and gorgeous. He’d definitely gotten the hang of correct posture, that balance between staying still in the saddle but also moving with her, which meant a solid, tight core. As she floated around the arena in a steady, easy trot, his abs must have been gorgeous underneath his black T-shirt.
    Much as I hated the way the summers here could get blistering hot, I secretly hoped this year was a scorcher. Then maybe he’d have to ride without a shirt on, and I could see if he was using his abs the way he was supposed to. For training purposes, of course.
    I cleared my throat and called out, “Go ahead and walk her. Let her cool down for a few minutes.” Her and me both.
    He didn’t make a sound or any obvious movements, but Tsarina made a smooth, flawless shift from a trot to a walk. They walked for a little while, Tsarina stretching her neck while Ryan reached down to pat and praise her.
    Once she’d caught her breath, he reined her to a gentle halt. He swung his leg over the saddle and dropped onto the soft ground, landing on both feet. And I might have stolen a lingering glance while his back was turned. What could I say? The only thing hotter than perfectly relaxed-fit jeans on an ass like that were those jeans covered in dust.
    I lifted my busted ass off the bleachers and hobbled into the barn behind them. Ryan put Tsarina on the cross ties, and I sat on the tack trunk like I always did.
    “I don’t even know why you want lessons,” I said as Ryan slipped Tsarina’s bridle off. “You’re a natural at this.”
    “Yeah, but you know the finer points.” He eased the bit out of her mouth so it didn’t clank against her teeth. Bridle in hand, he turned around. Perspiration darkened the edges of his hair, and he had a muddy smear of dust mixed with sweat across his forehead. “I didn’t have a clue about half this shit when we started.”
    And I didn’t have a clue how hot you’d look in the saddle.
    I muffled a cough. “Well, you’re a