"Goodbye, Vinnie," I say pointedly, while he chuckles against my shoulder.
"Have fun! Don't do anything I wouldn't do. Which leaves plenty of options, by the way." She winks before ending the call, and I seriously consider whether it's possible to die from embarrassment.
When I hand Caleb's phone back, I'm about to ask about the email, but he's already standing, pulling me up from the couch.
"Ready?"
"For what?"
"You'll see."
"Wait, aren't we supposed to be at dinnerwith everyone?"
His grin turns wicked. "Live a little, babe. Rules are meant to be broken."
I don't know what tonight is. A surprise? A joke? A trap my heart's already caught in, even if my brain's still pretending we're just friends?
But for once, I want to see what happens next.
The moment Kristal mentionedhorseback rides being available, I knew I had to make this happen. The memory of Austin's smug face offering to take Ivy riding still burns. Like hell, I would let that cowboy wannabe anywhere near her on a horse.
"You sure you don't want any help?" The ranch hand, Grayson, eyes me skeptically. His weathered face says he's seen this exact disaster play out before. "These horses need a gentle touch."
"We've got it covered." I wave him off, eyes fixed on Ivy as she floats toward a chocolate-colored mare. "How hard can it be?"
Grayson shrugs, muttering something that sounds suspiciously like "your funeral" before retreating to his post.
Ivy's already bonding with her horse. Her face is flushed with excitement, those light freckles standing out across the bridge of her nose.
"Hi, beautiful," she coos, reaching up to stroke the mare's velvety muzzle. The horse dips her head at once, pressing into Ivy's palm. "Aren't you just perfect?"
My stallion—a massive beast I'm pretty sure is part demon—gives me a side-eye.
"We're gonna be friends," I say. He snorts, unimpressed.
"Caleb?" Ivy's voice draws me in. She's worrying her bottom lip as she looks up. "I could use a boost. Misty's a little taller than I expected."
Fuckingfinally. An excuse to get my hands on her. "Allow me, my lady." I move behind her, close enough that she has to tip her head back to see me. "Though I gotta say, watching you try to parkour your way up might've been entertaining."
"You're hilarious." But her breath catches when my hands find her waist, andthat? That's the kind of sound I want to collect and replay on an endless loop.
"Ready?" I ask, though my hands are already sliding lower, mapping the curve of her hips. And yeah, maybe I don't need quite this firm of a grip to boost her up, but she's not complaining.
Ivy lets out a breathy gasp when I hoist her. My hands slide down, fingers sinking into the flesh of her ass, and I don't bother hiding the squeeze I give her on the way up. A beautiful flush spreads over her pale cheeks.
"That was . . ." She clears her throat. "Thanks."
"Trust me, Shortcake." I flash her my most innocent smile. "The pleasure was all mine."
She rolls her big blue eyes, but the tug at her lips betrays her. "Just get on your own horse before your ego needs its own saddle."
"Yes, ma'am." I turn to my own mount, who's observed the whole thing like a grumpy chaperone. "Don't worry, Satan. You're next."
"His name is Comet."
"Yeah, well, Comet looks like he's plotting my murder, so we're sticking with Satan."
Her laughter carried a lilting rise. "Maybe if you weren't treating him like he's about to eatyou—"
