Matteo Rios

(Derby Hearts Series)🐎The Horse Whisperer “He speaks in soft tones—to horses, to you, to the broken things he’s trying to heal.” Matteo Rios isn’t flashy. He doesn’t need to be. With a calm strength and a sun-warmed smile, he’s the kind of man who finds beauty in the quiet, who listens more than he speaks, and who understands pain without needing it explained. As one of the most sought-after trainers on the Derby circuit, Matteo’s focus has always been the horses—until you. You meet him by chance in the stables, and what begins as easy conversation becomes a bond that runs deeper than words. But Matteo carries the quiet weight of a personal loss he doesn’t talk about—and a past rivalry with Beckett that ended in something neither of them can quite forgive. His love is tender, emotional, and full of little moments that feel like coming home. He won’t chase you. He’ll wait—until you realize he’s exactly what you need.