‘I… I almost fell on the ground!’ I said, still trying to get my head around what had just happened.
‘Almost…’ He gripped me tighter.‘But you’re fine.’
‘Thanks toyou!’ I clutched my heart.It was racing at a million miles an hour and I was worried that it would shoot from my chest.‘I could’vedied!’ I said dramatically.‘You literally saved my life!’
Yeah, I was wearing a helmet, but what if I’d snapped my neck?
I knew that telling Jake that he’d saved my bacon wasn’t a good idea, because it’d mean that I owed him and he’d use it against me.As far as he was concerned I didn’t even like him and up until we’d arrived at this ranch, I was perfectly happy to keep it that way.But right now, I was so grateful for what he’d just done, I didn’t care if he reminded me at two-second intervals how he’d literally ridden in on his white horse and saved me.
‘It was nothing.’ Jake looked down at me and shrugged.
He’d must’ve taken off his sunglasses when we’d stopped like I did, so I now had an uninterrupted view of his eyes.They were really pretty.Especially framed by those long lashes.
And his brows were great too.Thick, dark and well-shaped.I wondered if they were naturally like that or if he did the whole male grooming thing.
Then I realised I’d been staring at him for way too long.I quickly shook myself out of my daze and attempted to remember what he’d just said.
Wait.Instead of using the opportunity to gloat at my hero gushing, he’d tried to play it down.I wasn’t expecting that.At all.
‘Itwas!’ I argued.‘You actually gave a shit,’ I said, remembering how no one had cared about what happened to me all those years ago.‘You saved me from falling and for the reasons I explained before, that’s a big deal, so thank you.’
Jake’s eyes locked with mine.After several seconds, my eyes floated down to his mouth.Then his lips parted as if he was about to speak.
I noticed (admittedly not for the first time) that he had a very nice mouth.Jake had full, pink lips which looked extremely soft, like he followed some kind of daily plumping and moisturising regime.
My gaze moved to his chin and jawline.Normally I didn’t like facial hair.I preferred men to be clean-shaven, but Jake’s stubble suited him.It looked sexy.And I heard that helped to intensify the sensations when a man went down on…
What the hell?
‘I should…’ I said, desperately trying to push the illicit thoughts out of my mind.Maybe I’d actually hit my head and was suffering from concussion.That was the only logical explanation for why I was suddenly picturing Jake’s face buried between my thighs.
‘Sure.’ Jake tore his gaze away.‘Okay if I put you down now?’
‘Course!’ My voice shot up like I’d just sucked on a helium balloon.‘Don’t want to break your arms!’
‘Why would you break my arms?’ His brows knitted together.‘I can carry you back to the bus, orcoachas you Brits like to call it, if you want.I know you must still be in shock.’
My traitorous body was screamingyes, please!I would very much like you to carry me everywhere in your big, muscular arms.But luckily, common sense was still in the building, or should I say, on the hiking trail.
‘No, it’s okay.’ I waved my hand in the air.‘I’m fine, but thanks.’
As Jake lowered me to the ground, my knees wobbled.And to be honest, I wasn’t sure whether that was because like he’d said, I was still in shock or if I was still swooning over him.
I really, really hoped it was the trauma, because I couldn’t start liking Jake.
No way.
Forget the damage falling off a horse could cause.
Falling for a man like Jake would be catastrophic for my heart.
17
JAKE
As the bus pulled away from the hotel’s reception, Halle and I stood in front of each other in silence.
I’d lost count of how many times she’d thanked me for catching her during the journey back to the hotel and each time she did I told her the same thing: it really wasn’t a big deal.I saw that she was about to fall and I caught her.I insisted that anyone would’ve done the same thing if they were in my position.
