“How is Mia going to run the camp with a new baby?” Ethan asked. “I know mothers can do anything, but that seems like a lot of work.”
“She won't run it,” Laura explained. “Kenna, another social worker who worked with Mia, is in charge. Mia made sure to have everything in place so she wouldn't have to run it and take care of a newborn at the same time. Once Miri is older, she'll have a more active role, but for now, she's going to work on getting more investors and raising awareness.”
“And you're running the barn, right?” Ethan asked. “You're in charge of the horses?”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “Mia loved what the horses did for Lily, Alexander, and Grayson, so she really wants them to be an active part of the camp. I'm making sure that happens.”
“And it's going well?” he asked. She loved that he seemed genuinely interested.
“The horses are ready. We actually just got a couple of new therapy horses that the kids are going to fall in love with. They're amazing and will really help bring kids out of their shells,” she gushed. “It's actually gotten me interested in equine therapy again.”
“Again?” He raised his eyebrows and his eyes focused on her.
“I didn't tell Carter, but I was applying to schools before my parents died,” she explained. She looked over at the couch full of sleeping kids and shrugged. “But, it's not an option right now.”
“Why not?” Ethan asked.
Laura looked back at him. “The kids. I can't leave them.”
He frowned. “There's no schools in-state with the program? I thought Colorado was known for ranching and horses. I would assume an equine therapy program would be easy to find here.”
“I just don't have time right now,” she said. He studied her for a moment as she stared at the candle flickering between them. She hated that she felt like she wasn't doing enough. Being enough. Taking care of the kids and the barn was enough work. Her dreams could wait.
“So, now you know my secret dream,” she said, breaking the silence. She smiled, trying to change the mood back. “I want to become a therapist that uses horses to treat people. What's your secret dream?”
She took a sip of her drink. She expected him to want to race cars or boats. Maybe sail around the world or climb Mount Everest.
He smiled and leaned back in his chair. “Take over the world.”
She rolled her eyes. “Just like you do every night, eh Brain?”
He laughed at her cartoon reference and shrugged.
“Honestly? I love my job. It's fast, it's fun, it's incredibly profitable.” He chuckled and looked at the candle as if focusing his thoughts. “I don't want to do anything else. I'm lucky that I found my dream job on my first try.”
“So, you have everything?” she asked.
“Not… everything,” he said slowly, his brow creased as he thought about it. “What would really make my life complete is someone to spend my time when I'm not working.”
His green eyes lifted to meet hers. Her heart sped up, and her insides started doing twists. In the candlelight, she could swear that he meant he wanted to be with her.
“There you go,” he said, breaking contact and shrugging. “There's my secret dream. It's family.”
She quickly took another sip of her ginger ale. He didn't say that he wanted it to be her, but she found herself hoping he did. She found herself wanting to be the person he was talking about. She looked back up at him, and her body heated at his gaze.
The table suddenly seemed very small. His foot was touching hers, just barely, and all she could think of
was touching the rest of him. All she'd have to do is lean over, and she could kiss him. She wanted to. She wanted to with everything in her.
“Laura?” a little voice called from the couch.
She closed her eyes and waited to see what happened next.
“Laura, I don't feel good,” Dallas said. He sat up and as she turned she could see his little face pale and turn a shade of green.
Oh no, Laura thought.
Chapter 12