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“Maybe we should take some horses out on the trail together. There’s a famous lake here I would love to show you,” he says roughly, his hand sliding further up my thigh. My legs fall open of their own volition, the jeans rub against my heated core, turning me on further.
“What’s so famous about it?” I ask, preoccupied with his hand's migration. It’s so naughty, so forbidden.
“Well,” he says, his deep voice caressing me as much as his touch, which is inching along the seam directly over my clit. “The lake is goddess blessed. People from all over come to meet their soulmate on the night of the new moon.”
“That sounds fake. Anyway, back to my riding lesson,” Theo cuts in, snapping me out of the moment. Sensing the change, Jeremy pulls his hand away instantly to turn his attention to my son.
“I have just the horse for you. You and Dylan can have some lessons together. He just started, too,” Jeremy agrees, looking to me for the go-ahead. Which I give him with a smile. The door jangles again and I twist to see who’s entered.
The flirty mood of the moment flees as a uniformed officer enters, dousing a bucket of ice water on my libido. It’s the officer from this morning, the one I had to explain my past to and it casts a lengthy shadow.
“Hi, Officer Tucker,” Theo shouts with a wave, and he comes walking over. No, no, no. Dread settles in my stomach, making it clench. I’m not ready to share my past with anyone. Much less the sexy god of a cowboy who’s been starring in my fantasies.
“Good afternoon, Theo,” he says, stopping at our table and giving Jeremy a fist bump. Great guess they know each other. “What flavors did you get?”
“Blue raspberry and rainbow. I think the rainbow is better, so you should probably get that one,” he says, and Officer Tucker nods as though considering his advice. Honestly, the man was pretty nice this morning. After Frank, I’m just not a huge fan of cops.
“Thanks for the tip,” he says with a smile before turning toward Jeremy. “Doing good man?”
“Great,” Jeremy replies, his eyes flicking between all of us, sensing my discomfort. “You going to the SAR meeting tomorrow?”
“I’ll be there. But I only have a few minutes right now before I need to be back,” he says, retreating. “Good to see you all.”
Officer Tucker gets his ice cream and waves as he leaves, but even his being gone can’t quite bring the mood back. Gathering the used napkins and finished desserts, I clean up quickly. “We better get back. Lots of things to get ready before school starts tomorrow.”
He hums in agreement, standing to help. Jeremy says a quick goodbye to the owner before we all head out the door and back into the sunny day. We meander toward the car, Theo charging ahead, and a finger pokes out, tapping against mine. Silly man. Joy sings in my veins, and I twine my pinky around his, giving our hands a gentle swing.
“Dylan has a riding lesson with me after school tomorrow,” he offers, leaning against my car. “If you want to bring Theo down, I’m happy to teach them both.” We’re so close that his scent surrounds me. His body looms protectively, enveloping me in strength. Theo climbs into the back, settling into his booster seat and before my nerve fails, I twist, slide up on my toes, and press my lips to his. It’s the world’s fastest kiss, but it blows me away. My heart races, and adrenaline rushes through me as another piece of me knits together.
“Thank you for the treats,” I sigh, and his arms wrap around me, holding me safe and sound for just a second before letting go.
He bends down and my breathing picks up. “This is just the start, Sugar,” he promises, giving me another small kiss before making sure I get into the car safely.
Jeremy taps the roof, then watches from the sidewalk as I reverse from the spot.
This is just the start. The words buzz in my head.
Giddy bubbles swirl inside.
Just the start.
Chapter Nine
Dust cakes my face and the stink of sweaty horse assaults my nostrils. After an awesome morning hanging with the Search and Rescue Team running drills, frustration slithers down my back.
“Dammit, I don’t want to deal with you either,” I grunt at Prince as he kicks his hooves up, racing from side to side in the pen. Fortunately, he didn’t buck me off. Unfortunately, I still haven’t even been able to get my foot in the stirrup for long enough to get up on his back. Reaching through the fence, I grab my water bottle, gulping big mouthfuls. Maybe if I keep drinking, Adam will stop by and take this demon horse off my hands. Fuck, I’m going to have to ask him for help.
Blue, who had been lounging in the grass, jumps up suddenly, his tail wagging from side to side. Following his eyeline, my mood lifts as I see Arden walking down the hill toward me. Obsessed doesn’t even come close to describing how often I think about this woman. Blinking hard a few times, I assure myself that she isn’t a mirage. Long blond hair flows behind her and a smile lights her beautiful face. And I want to kiss those lips again. My cock gives an interested twitch against my jeans. Then, when her breasts bounce as she makes her way toward us, I harden, unable to stop the image of her trussed below me from coming to mind.
She stops at the fence and Blue rushes toward her. No chill at all. And although I take just a bit more time, I have no chill either. “Hey Sugar,” I say, reaching through the fence to pull her hand into mine. It fits perfectly there. Never been a hand-holding kind of guy before, but I’ll touch any part of her I can, for as long as she’ll let me.
“Hello,” she says shyly, looking down and toeing some rocks on the ground. A gust of dust kicks up, dirtying her boots. “Thank you for the flower.”
In one of my finer moments, I left a rose and some morning pastries on her porch railing this morning. No freaking chill.
“My pleasure,” I reply, bringing her knuckles to my mouth and planting little kisses on them. Her breathing picks up and she licks her pink lips. Yeah, attraction goes both ways. “Happy to see you down here.”
“I was getting restless in the house. My work took way less time with Theo at school, and I saw you having some trouble,” she rushes out, and her body tenses waiting for my reaction. The sense that someone has hurt her before swims in my belly again. Although it makes me murderous, I shove it down because my anger isn’t for her to deal with.
