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Glaring at me silently, she stalks past me and up to the horse. She stands there for a moment before snapping, “What do I do?” It’s quiet, like she’s embarrassed.

“Here,” I mutter, leaning down and interlocking my fingers. I incline my head toward them, and she tentatively puts her foot in. “On three,” I order. “One, two, three.” She jumps, swinging her foot over the horse. “Scooch up as far as youcan,” I instruct.

Then I place my foot in the stirrup and jump up into the saddle behind her.

The sudden sensation of her body pressed into mine catches me off guard. She’s warm. Warmer than I would expect having been out in the rain for so long.

“Hold the horn,” I tell her, my voice suddenly a bit softer. I reach around, taking her hand and gently placing it over the saddle horn. My chest is flush with her back, my arm and hand completely over hers.

It’s just then I realize that she’s silent. Completely silent. This might be the longest we’ve gone without her snapping at me.

I clear my throat, leaning back just a bit, trying to get as much space between us as possible—which is pretty futile. “Hold on tight,” I instruct and then spur the horse into a trot.

Addison squeals quietly, moving both hands to the horn.

She’s bouncing. Which is normal if you’ve never ridden a horse before, never learned how to properly rideone, carry your weight, keep yourself centered. One of my hands holds the reins, and I reach my free one around her waist, pulling her back against me, trying to keep her level.

She sucks in a breath of air. I don’t hear it over the rain, but I can feel it. My fingers dig lightly into the flesh of her stomach through her soaked shirt. She’s thin, but not skinny. She has meat on her bones, the kind of curves that normally drive me wild. A thought flashes through me head—my hands roaming over her body—and I physically cough.

Jesus Christ, Cruz, I think to myself.

I try to focus on keeping her steady and keeping us going.

But even so, the ride is rough. I don’t dare make the horse go any faster—if Addison can’t take a trot, she definitely can’t take a run. But her ass keeps bumping back into me, over and over again, and—fuck.

I swallow thickly, thoroughly alarmed. I don’t getaccidentalhard-ons. I’m not a teenager for Christ’s sake.

But it’s definitely there, and it’s definitely not going anywhere.

Suddenly, thunder and lightning crack above us, and Addison yelps in surprise.

I grit my teeth. We’re not making it back to the cabin.

For multiple reasons.

Just then, I spot what looks to be our haven. It’s a barn. One of the older ones on the property. We rarely use it—only in the fall when we sometimes herd the cattle up here. But it’s a godsend now.

I steer the horse in that direction, booking it across the field and up to the barn. I quickly dismount, reaching for Addison and helping her down as well, then I’m leading us all inside.

The quiet peace of being out of the rain envelops us, and I take a deep breath. I quickly tie the horse to a post and then take off my dripping-wet cowboy hat, shaking out the water from my hair.

When I’m done, I look up, locking eyes with Addison across the room. Seemingly gone is the calm, docile woman who had been on the horse, and instead, there stands the Addison I’ve come to know over the last few days.

There’s fire in her eyes. For what reason, God only knows.

I release a heavy sigh, glancing out the doors at the pouring rain. I’m stuck here until the rain clears.

Withher.

Chapter 5

Addison

“You yelled at me,” I snap. It was humiliating enough that he felt the need to ride up here in the pouring rain and “save” me. But to yell at me like a child?

“You were being obstinate,” he says coolly.

My eyes widen. He’s doubling down. Which I shouldn’t be surprised by. All he’s done since I’ve known him is double down on his asshole tendencies. I don’t know if the man is even capable of being civil. “Obstinate?” I repeat. “You’re the one who decided to come after me for no reason, and then you threatened me if I wouldn’t get on your stupid horse!”