Shaun's plan was simple - feed him a sandwich and let him ride. Tansy's presence was to ensure there wasn't any confusion. He had a girlfriend, and she had a husband, an unfaithful one.

She hadn't expected Dex to be so good-natured about Tansy, including the PB&J mix up. Part of her crush on him in high school was because he was always kind to everyone, including her. She should have expected the adult man would be the same.

She began her climb down the ladder and called to Tansy so she could help her down.

"Dex, do it." Tansy said.

Shaun looked up at her child and Dex. He shrugged.

"You have to stay with her in case she falls."

He nodded. "We've got this. Right, Tans?"

"My name is Tansy."

Dex stepped backwards onto the ladder. "You need a nickname, like Dex."

Shaun stood on solid ground, looking up, chuckling.

"What's a nickname?"

"It's a fun name your friends call you."

"Why?"

Joshua chuckled. "My friend, Duff named me Dex because I'm smarter than him. What are you good at?"

Tansy turned to Shaun. "Mommy?"

She smiled. "Everything. Hugs, coloring, smiling..."

"How about Peanut? Since you like peanut butter."

"Peanut? I like it. What about Mommy?"

Josh looked at Shaun as she blushed. "Red?"

"No!" Eliot used to call her Red.

"Chlorophyll?"

Shaun put her hands on her hip. "I'm not green."

"Point to you for remembering. I'll have to think up a name for your mom."

"Okay, smarty. You need boots." Shaun led him into the tack room and pointed to a row of old boots. "Pick a pair and try them on. Then you can get the saddle." Shaun turned to Tansy. "You need to go stay with Stella."

She started to pout. Dex said, "I'll go see you before I leave, peanut."

She smiled and ran towards the house. Shaun kept an eye on her until she was inside, then she returned to the tack room. Josh stood in a pair of boots, looking unsure of himself. The man resembled the boy she remembered. Shaun hoped she didn't act like the shy girl.

"Okay. Lift that saddle and we'll see if you can saddle Shadow. He was my father's, but mostly we use him for therapy. My mother's horse, Lady, is old."

She walked into the paddock to the large black horse. "Hi, beautiful boy." She ran her hands down his neck along his back before leading him to Josh, who stood waiting. She instructed him on the saddling process. When she leaned in to him to help, her belly constricted from his masculine, musky aftershave.

She checked the saddle. "Nice job."

"Thanks, boss." He flashed a perfect white smile.

Every instruction she gave, he followed. After a few circles in the paddock, she dropped the lead and let him ride on his own inside the fence.

"How do you feel?" He nodded. "Try pulling back gently to stop him."

Josh did, and Shadow stopped in front of her. "Good boy. She ran her hand down his soft nose."

Josh flashed his crooked smile. "What about me?"

"You're a natural. Go ahead and try it again."

"Okay. Boss."

Shaun laughed, but stopped abruptly when she looked at the buzzing phone she pulled out of her pocket.

Eliot. He had called earlier, asking when she was coming home. The phone call was upsetting for the things he hadn't said. He never asked to speak to Tansy.

She thought about ignoring his call, but he was a persistent man. He proved it when he wanted to date her. She gave in and didn't regret it, because their relationship gave her Tansy. To the outside observer, theirs was a love story. Innocent shy girl meets outgoing, popular, handsome guy. She had put him off until he weakened her defenses and seduced her into his bed. Most women were keen to marry, but Eliot was the one who pressured her. Shaun had a fairytale wedding courtesy of her father and hated every moment, specifically all the eyes on the bride.

"What?" She turned her back to the paddock and stepped into the barn.

"Nice greeting."

She stopped herself from apologizing politely. "We spoke a few hours ago."

"If you're refusing to come home, we should sell the house."

After they settled custody, which wouldn't happen until she filed for divorce, she would have to live in the house in Seattle. It gave her a headache just thinking about it.

She paced around the barn. "We won't be selling the house because we don't own it."

"Yes, we do. We bought it."

Shaun sighed. "Yes, but you took a second mortgage and lost your job."

"The boss had it out for me."

They always did. "We couldn't pay the mortgage. Remember, you signed the agreement when we begged my father to help us."

"So, it's not like it put a dent in his bank account."

"No, but we no longer own the house?"

"But he's dead, so it's ours. I need my share of the house."

"There is no share. We've been tenants living for free when we should have been homeless. No thanks to you."

"Fine. You'll be missing out on a sure thing." She lost count of the times she heard those words. "Courtney believes in me. She'll invest in my project."

Being mortified by Eliot's failures and her father's bailouts, Shaun hid the truth from everyone, including her former best friend. While Eliot talked big to their friends, she ignored him. Courtney was welcome to him and his failures. Grant McManus locked it up so Eliot wouldn't have access to his money. He saw right through him. Shaun frowned.

"Good for Courtney. I hope you are very happy together."

She didn't. The sound of a whinny made her turn. Josh stood behind her, holding on to Shadow's reins.

"I have to go."

She didn't look at Josh. "Bring him in. You need to brush him."

"Yes, ma'am."

She stared at him. "Really?"

"Sorry, boss."

She couldn't stop from laughing at his smirk. Even when she wanted to cry over not understanding osmosis, he had made her laugh.

She tried not to correct him as he removed the saddle and bridle. When he attempted to brush him, she stepped closer and put her hand over his to show him the correct way. Focus on the horse, she chastised herself as her insides felt like a teen's at a Jonas Brothers concert. Dropping her hands, she stepped back.

"Keep going. Nice job. Did you enjoy your ride?"

"I loved it. Could we work out a deal so I can come back? I'll pay you."

Shaun frowned. "I thought we established we're friends. You gave my daughter a nickname."

"Yes, but..."

She put her hand up. "You're welcome to ride, as long as there are no therapy sessions. Does your girlfriend ride?"

He frowned. "I don't know, but I doubt it. Does your husband?"

Shaun shook her head. Eliot refused to ride and when they first dated, Shaun teased him about being afraid of horses. She said, "I think he's cooled down enough. Do you want to meet my horse?"

He nodded as Shaun led Shadow to his stall. Josh followed her to the next stall.

"This is Lady, my mother's horse. She is an old lady."

She moved back to the open barn door and called Star. The mare looked up from grazing and came to her. She nudged Shaun.

"This beauty is Star."

"Was naming her a tough decision?"

Shaun pushed on his shoulder and laughed. She had a white marking between her eyes that resembled a star.

"I always liked your sense of humor."

"People accuse me of being serious and not funny." Dex said.

"Strangers?"

He shook his head. "Oliver's younger brother most recently."

"I disagree. So according to your introduction, you're a lawyer and heir to the family business."

"Guilty. I read contracts all day. Very boring. Do you work? Besides being a mother."

Shaun laughed at his awareness. "I left my job when my father... I worked in an art museum and loved it, but my mother needed me."

He touched her arm. "I am really sorry about your father."

She nodded as they silently walked into the tack room. She hung the bridle while he kicked off the boots and put on his own shoes.

"And your husband?" She glared at him. "I could pretend I didn't hear."

"What did you hear?"

He shrugged. "Not much. Who's Courtney?"

Shaun debated a big lie. Her mother knew too much about her marriage, and Stella had too many opinions. She kept most of the details to herself. A friend would be nice.

"Courtney is my former best friend who is currently sleeping with my husband."

He hid his shock well. "Are you sure? How did you find out?"

"He told me and that he didn't love me."

Josh rubbed between her shoulders in a slow back-and-forth motion. "Was it a lie?"

She shut her eyes. "I think he loved my father's wealth. He expected a windfall in my father's will."

"But there wasn't. I think that's why I stick with my friends. If they have their own family money, then..."

"They won't marry you to get rich. Is Ann rich?"

"She's a literary book agent. She supports herself."

"Beware. She doesn't trap you."

Joshua frowned. "She's too career oriented."

"So you're one of those couples. Sipping drinks at upscale restaurants."

His snorty laugh made her smile. "Honestly, we work too much and typically only see each other on Saturday night. I don't feel like you got your money's worth. I was supposed to take you on a date. Instead, you thoughtfully gave me the opportunity to ride a horse."

"Your kindness to me and Tansy was more than enough. Watching you eat PB&J was worth your price."

He shifted his feet. "Could you afford it?"

She frowned, aware he overheard more than she hoped. "It was my mother's donation. The books for kids' charity was my father's favorite."

"I hope he approves of our date. I suppose I should say goodbye to Peanut."

Shaun looked into his hazel eyes. "You don't have to. I'm sure kids aren't your thing."

He smiled. "I genuinely like her. She's fun to be around."

"You're not being kind because I paid for you?"

His face brightened. "No, I'm not that nice."

Shaun walked toward the house. "You were in school."

He didn't respond, but held the door for her. Stella turned to greet them.

"Tansy keeps talking about Dex. She is taken to you, Mr. Roche."

He looked from Stella to Shaun. "She must miss her father."

"Huh." Stella blurted.

Josh looked at Shaun as she looked at her socks, having kicked her shoes off on the way inside.

"She might if the man wasn't an awful father."

"Stella, Josh was asking me, not you."

Josh said, "It's refreshing. She doesn't evade."

Shaun glared at Josh, then Stella. "Where is she?"

"With your mother in the atrium."

Josh followed her into the atrium. It resembled a greenhouse with its glass sides.

"Dex!" Tansy dropped the beads she had been stringing and some scattered onto the floor.

"I came to say goodbye."

She flung her little body at Josh and hugged him around his legs. He put his hand on her back. Shaun wished Eliot returned his daughter's affection. He was always concerned with dirtying his clothes. He never even did the laundry. Was Courtney folding his boxers?

Joshua spoke to her mother about his ride while Shaun frowned over underwear.

"Shaun, walk Joshua out. Next time he comes you can ride with him."

Josh raised his eyebrows. "Am I ready?"

Shaun smiled. "You're a natural."

She didn't like the feeling when he smiled or when he gently held her hand as he thanked her. She felt confused and a little less lonely.