A huff.
Right by my head.
I look up slowly and find Snowfall's large head right next to mine, her dark eyes observing me with what I swear is curiosity. Her white coat is slightly damp with sweat from the run, and she smells like horse and hay and winter air.
"Oh!" I squeal in delight, turning the camera. "Look guys! Snowfall wants to say goodbye as well! Isn't she an absolute beauty? Look at her!"
Snowfall neighs softly, then reaches forward and gives me a gentle rub on my cheek with her soft nose.
The gesture is so tender and affectionate that I giggle helplessly, warmth flooding my chest.
She likes me. This gorgeous horse actually likes me. I'm going to cry happy tears twice in one day.
Before I can get too emotional, I hear more hoofbeats approaching rapidly.
Nash and Theo appear, riding side by side on their respective horses. Both of them are windswept and grinning, their competitive energy still crackling in the air between them.
They whistle simultaneously—some kind of signal—and both horses slow from their canter to a walk with practiced obedience.
Theo huffs as he pulls his black stallion to a stop beside us.
"You only beat me by a second, Nash. One second. That's basically a tie."
Nash rolls his eyes as he dismounts from his chestnut mare with easy confidence.
"If that helps you sleep at night, sure. We can call it a tie. You keep telling yourself that."
"Fuck off," Theo mutters, but there's amusement in his voice rather than real anger.
They both approach me, reins held casually in their hands, both looking at me with assessing gazes.
"Are you cold?" Theo asks, his olive-green eyes scanning me for signs of discomfort.
I shake my head quickly.
"No! The riding kept me warm! And the adrenaline! I'm totally fine!"
Nash doesn't look convinced.
He strips out of his flannel shirt with quick, efficient movements—revealing a fitted black tank top underneath that shows off his arms and shoulders—and drapes the warm flannel over my shoulders before I can protest.
The shirt smells like motor oil and leather and Nash's Alpha scent.
It's still warm from his body heat.
"We can't have you getting sick," he says firmly, adjusting the collar. "So wear this for now. When we get to the lodge up the road, they have a cute little store with girlie cashmere sweatersor whatever you ladies love to wear when you're reading books and drinking hot chocolate and doing cozy things."
Theo snorts.
"If you're trying to be romantic, you should probably read those books like Grayson does. That's why he's the smooth romantic one and you sound like you're guessing."
Grayson sighs heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"You know I'm standing right here. And I'm pretty sure we're still on live stream."
I gasp, having completely forgotten again.
I look at my phone screen and see the viewer count has jumped to 2,000 people watching.
