Page 11 of The Rancher’s Ecstasy

“Saddle up,” Neil shouted before moving on up the trail.

Emily and Cole moved in behind the group that would take them deeper into the wilderness.

Chapter Six

Over the next hour, Emily and Cole kept up a conversation the whole time. They talked about everything from family, favorite movies and books, to politics and even the stock market.

Cole pointed out different things about the ranch. From a herd of cattle he was experimenting on to see what worked the best for more hardy animals to a deer and her fawn on the edge of a group of trees.

Emily was enthralled by everything he told her, and she saw. Ideas about storylines she could use for her book raced through her mind.

The feel of the horse beneath her and the sound of Cole’s voice relaxed her.

Emily could tell that Cole noticed her eyes droop a bit, and her body sway in the saddle.

“Neil, Emily and I are going to stop for a bit. We’ll catch up.”

Neil looked back and raised his arm, indicating he heard.

Cole turned slightly and moved toward a small pond at the edge of some trees. “Come this way.”

Emily straightened and tensed as she watched the group move away. Did she really want to be left alone with Cole?

“Emily.”

Emily turned her horse, which had stopped on the trail. She watched as he dismounted and laid the reins over a bush before making his way toward her. She looked down into his face, and her heart stopped in her chest when he raised his arms.

“Come here.”

“Why?

Cole smiled. “Because I’ve seen you grimace a few times and you started to look sleepy. It will help to walk around for a bit.” He studied her face. “Didn’t you get any sleep last night?”

Emily nodded, and her grip on the reins tightened. “I got some sleep.”

Cole nodded, not believing a word of it from the dark circles under her eyes.

“But not enough,” he murmured. “Come here.”

“I can get down by myself.”

Cole watched her for a moment before he nodded, took a small step back, and crossed his arms over his chest. “Okay.”

Emily lifted her leg over the back of the horse and knew right away she’d made a mistake. She tightened her grip on the horn of the saddle and the end of the saddle. The second her feet touched the ground, her legs started to give out under her. A thick arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her back against a very hard chest.

She froze as mixed feelings raced through her. Relief that she wasn’t going to make a fool of herself by collapsing in front of Cole. The mortification that she needed his help and, most importantly, the fierce streak of desire that shot through her. Her hands came up and gripped his arm.

****

Cole bent his head and breathed in the scent of her and almost groaned. His favorite smell had always been horses. Now, it was Emily. He raised his other arm and placed his hand over hers, holding her hand against his arm that she gripped. He stayed like that and listened to their labored breaths burst from them. His body hardened further at her display of desire. The way she melted against him, the little points on her nipples that poked through her shirt, her breathing, and the way her nails dug into his arm.

Cole rubbed his chin against the side of her head. “Are you okay, baby?”

Emily opened her mouth to respond but couldn’t seem to push the words she needed out through her constricted throat.

“Emily?”

Emily nodded. “Y-yes. I’m fine.” She tightened her leg muscles and straightened. “You can let go of me now.”