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“Okay, bad boy.” She planted her hands on her slim hips. “Why did you drag me all the way out here? To look at weeds? They’re lovely.”
“Smart ass.” He smacked her ass, eliciting a squeak of surprise. He took her hand and led her to the edge of their perch by a cluster of trees. From this vantage point, they could see the entire valley below. There were a few trees, lots of sage brush, and wild grass, but so far, what he’d hoped to find wasn’t there.
“It really is pretty,” Laurel marveled, scanning the area.
He could tell she meant it. He’d basically brought her out into the middle of nowhere, and she wasn’t mad. In fact, she seemed happy taking in the area and simple sounds of nature. They were far enough from the road, they couldn’t hear the meager traffic below. It was only the two of them in the peaceful, untouched land. None of the women he’d gone out with before would’ve been okay coming here, doing nothing but enjoying being outside in the fresh air. They’d have complained the entire way, thrown a fit, and refused to get out of the Jeep. But not Laurel.
He tilted her chin upward with a finger and stole a kiss. Her lips were soft and willing, parting without prompting, allowing him entrance. He kissed her slowly, thoroughly, relishing the feel of her mouth under his. He wasn’t expecting the rush of emotions when she lifted her hand and curled her dainty fingers around his wrist. And he damned sure wasn’t prepared for the tightness in his chest, or the singular thought taking up residence in his brain.
Laurel broke the kiss first, which was probably a good thing because he wasn’t sure he’d be able to any time soon.
“What was that?” she asked.
Jake’s lips curled into a grin when he heard the faint sound. It grew stronger the longer he listened.
“That,” he said, placing his hands on her shoulders and turning her around to face the valley, “is your surprise.”
Chapter Nineteen
Peering down into the valley below, Laurel blinked a few times to make sure she was actually seeing what she thought she was, and even then, it was hard to believe.
“Are those…?”
“Wild horses,” Jake confirmed.
“Are you serious?”
“Like I said before, Princess. I don’t lie.”
She looked up at him, searching for any signs he was joking, but he looked completely sincere. Turning back toward the horses, she cupped a hand over her eyes and squinted, trying to see them better. They were pretty far away, but she counted at least twelve, plus a few foals. Too bad they weren’t closer, so she could get a better look, but even seeing them from this distance was magical.
Like a genie granting wishes, Jake held out a pair of binoculars.
She offered a grateful smile before taking them and focusing on the herd. The horses were a kaleidoscope of colors from nearly black, to various shades of brown, to chestnut. There was even a speckled white one and a large, golden tan one with blacklegs. And the foals? They were all legs and energy, and so darn cute, she almost couldn’t stand it.
“This is amazing,” she breathed.
“See the big one on the right?” Jake asked. He stepped close, pointing to where she should look. “The buckskin?”
Laurel closed her eyes on a stuttered exhale. As breathtaking as the horses were, feeling the heat from Jake’s body pressing against her back as he wrapped an arm around her waist made her knees weak.
“You see him?”
She bit her lip and nodded, even though her eyes were still shut. It was taking all her focus to steel herself against the low tenor of his voice and the whisper of warm breath across her skin. When Jake was this close, somehow everything else ceased to exist.
“Laurel?”
Hearing her name broke the trance, and her eyes flew open.
Oh, for goodness’ sake. Get a grip!
Lifting the binoculars she’d unconsciously lowered, she fought to concentrate on the sight before her and not on the man behind. It shouldn’t have been so hard. She was looking at wild horses.Wild horses!How often does someone get a chance like that?
“You mean the tan one with the black mane and tail?” she asked, hoping her voice didn’t sound as flustered as she felt.
“Yep. And the black legs. That’s the stallion.”
“He’s gorgeous.” She shook her head in awe, still not quite believing they were real. “So, the others are his harem?”
