I cut her off. “Do you feel the way I feel? I need to know. I want to be with you. Just let me show you. Let your hair down for the day.” I grinned.
“Since you twisted my arm, I will. When?” she asked breathily.
“How about Friday? You can stay for dinner if you want.”
“Okay. I do feel what you feel. It’s a little scary, actually.”
“What’s scary about two people wanting to be together? I want you, and you want me.”
Twelve
Amber
I’d never been in a place more peaceful than Colt’s property. Baggage from cases melted right off my shoulders, floating to the ground and under the earth. I wasn’t ashamed to say I took Friday off. I wanted to meld into Colt’s world. The house was dead quiet when I arrived. Bella was at school and not due back until the afternoon. It was just me and the sexiest man alive—Colt Winters. Outside of the jail, he appeared larger than life—big, strong, and capable with sturdy hands and a nice pair of tanned cowboy boots. We were in his barn not long after I arrived.
Colt was coaching me onto one of the Palominos. “She won’t bite. Put your foot in the stirrup, and I’ll give you a leg up and over.”
“Okay. Okay. I think I got it.”
I held on to the bridle like Colt said, putting my right foot into the stirrup. I watched the Palomino’s tail swish flies away. Colt placed his large hand near my buttocks and helped me onto the horse, leaving me feeling flushed.
“Great job. Okay, just sit tight, and I will ride beside you. The Palominos are really gentle. Everybody rides them, and there’s nothing to fear.” Colt’s pacifying tone, along with his cool ocean-blue eyes, made me believe every word he said. I watched the power exude from him as he mounted another one of the Palominos, his thick thighs taking up space on the horse. I eyed them hungrily.
With Colt beside me on his horse, I said, “I haven’t ridden since I was a kid. The world feels different up here.”
“Sure does, doesn’t it? You look mighty fine on a horse, Amber. Follow me, and everything will be good. Just gently pull the reins in the direction you want the horse to go. You don’t have to kick hard, just lean a little. She will know. We are just going to trot. You don’t need to come up out of the saddle for that.”
I nodded and followed Colt’s strong lead to the letter. My hair was pinned up high and out of my face, though a few tendrils fell. My blue jeans were stretchy, so I felt comfortable on the horse. My off-the-shoulder top was keeping me cool from the muggy California heat. The clouds were a little overcast as I looked up, and a fine mist was hanging over the cobalt blue sky, threatening rain.
Colt and his trusty steed trotted alongside me like old friends. I breathed in and let all the stress roll off my back. I enjoyed the smell of the trees along the trail. The only things I could hear were blue jays and the crunching of hooves connecting with the dirt path underneath us. Riding with Colt was the first time I’d felt at ease with life. I rode in front through the overhanging branches into a wooded forest area, almost like an open enclosure. I gasped at the discovery and looked at Colt.
“This is incredible!” I couldn’t close my mouth from the shock of it all. I was surrounded by a natural wonderland with all sorts of sights and sounds.
“This is my thinking space. I come here to get away from everything.” Colt dismounted first and tied up his Palomino to the nearby oak tree. He placed his hand on the rear of the Palomino to let the horse know he was there as he approached.
“Hey, now. You did well. Let’s get Amber off,” Colt said to my horse with tenderness.
Who would have thought this big, muscled cowboy would have a hidden softer side? He stroked my horse’s head. Colt touched my thigh, and I felt like sparks ran off his fingers and straight through my bloodstream.
“Here, let me help you down,” Colt said as he held out his large hand to help me down from the majestic golden horse.
I jumped and slid down the horse into his strong grip. He held me there, his eyes hooded over, twirling my hair through his fingers. A powerful magnetism sank me into him further. Suddenly shy, I looked into his chest. I gently placed my hand over his chest and felt the rhythm of his heart vibrating through my fingers.
“Amber.” The urgency in his voice turned me to water.
“Mmm?”
His eyes merged with mine, taking me to another galaxy as our lips merged. The weight of his passion crushed my lips. I moaned involuntarily. Colt’s massive hands cupped my buttocks as he moved me away from the horse, who neighed in support.
I curled my hands into his closely cropped blond hair. The forest sounds circulated around us as my mouth was rocked by Colt’s assault. He picked me up and grinned. I giggled with happiness. He pulled back from me for a beat, then turned and opened a brown satchel that was attached to the side of his horse, pulling out a flannel blanket and two plastic cups along with a bottle of white wine.
“I didn’t know you had that in there! Wow. I feel special.”
“That’s because you are, Amber.” He laid the blanket down on the forest floor, where a beam of light shone through our little forest canopy. I took it as a sign we were meant to be here. Colt noticed it too and looked up.
“Would you look at that? Four and a half years in the hole, not seeing the light like this. I’m thankful.”
Colt lowered to the blanket, and so did I. He poured the white wine in my glass and then his.
