Smiling at each other, their gazes locked and neither looked away. He leaned forward, intently looked into her eyes, paused, and then moved away. He walked over to the counter and poured two mugs of coffee, keeping his back to Caitlin.
She sighed. "Now I understand. He sees me as that little girl. I'm grateful for his help, but now I want his love. I need a way for him to see me as a woman, not a child who needs help and protection." Those answers remained nonexistent.
Garrett turned. "Shall we have our coffee outside?"
Nodding, Caitlin joined him. At least outside the past seemed to stay away. She sat on the wicker rocker while Garrett sat on the porch railing, one leg up. He looked towards the barn and laughed. "Memories rush to the surface each time I'm here. This was home away from home. After Barbara and I married, we moved right into the big house. I missed my guesthouse, but Barbara needed fine things, space, and lots of company, provided it wasn't the four-legged kind." He chuckled and then took a sip of coffee. "She never stepped foot in the barn, not even to talk with me. I had to go to the house and shower first." His eyes took on a distant look and Caitlin knew to remain quiet.
Questions filled her mind, but tonight was not the time to ask. Nothing about his marriage to Barbara seemed right or loving. Why did he stay with her with five years? Why has he not moved forward in a new relationship?
She glanced at him and saw a smile creep across his lips and a hint of mischief shining in his eyes. "What are you thinking?"
"Thinking about Marshall and all he told me, plus the things he didn't say. Maybe when I'm done training horses, I'll write a book about him."
"No one will know how much is fiction and how much is truth." Though they laughed, Caitlin's heart broke. The pain was still too fresh.
He knelt in front of her. "We have to remember the good times, sweetie."
"I know." She wiped away the tears that had escaped. "It's the tired and the hurt talking. I'm fine." She patted his arm. He gently placed his hand on top of hers.
"Thank you for the relaxing evening."
"Thank you for the memories and the doctoring. How do you know when I need you?"
Garrett shrugged. What words were hiding behind his sad blue eyes? She knew there were thoughts and ideas, perhaps romantic notions trying to get out, but he refused to release them. What would it take to make that happen? "Next time, call," he said, as he stood.