I tip the brim of my hat up and smile fully at her. “Then we make quite the pair because you are the most gorgeous woman I have ever laid eyes on.” I slant my mouth down on hers, intending to make this a nice long kiss, but Butterscotch nipping at my shoulder reminds me of what I should be focused on today.
I break the kiss and chuckle, running a hand between the horse’s eyes like I know she likes. “I think Butterscotch here is jealous of you, little flower. How about we take her out for a ride to calm her nerves?”
Violet smiles, but her eyes move over to the horse cautiously. “Are you sure I’ll be okay? I teach yoga but that’s way different from riding a large animal,” she says. I refrain from making a joke about her riding a different kind of large animal soon enough, but only just. I must be spending too much time around Wyatt.
Instead of messing around, I grip onto Violet’s hips and kiss the tip of her nose. “It is a little different, but I would never let any harm come to you, little flower.” I swallow down the three little words I long to say and give her my most reassuring smile. “I know its fast, but you’re very special to me. You’re safety is my number one priority.”
Violet smiles and leans her cheek against my chest. “You’re special to me too, Mav.” After a moment clinging to one another, Violet steps back and nods decisively. “Alright, cowboy. Let’s do this.”
Twenty minutes later, we’re on the trail and Violet is riding Butterscotch like a champ as I steer Thunder over to a quick stop near the creek that runs through our property. I slide off my horse and lead him and Butterscotch over to the water to drink. Violet reaches out to me to help her down, and I smile as I grip onto her and pull her into my arms.
“You’re doing so well, little flower. I’m proud of you.”
Violet’s smile is brighter than the sun in the sky and it fills my heart with even more warmth. “Really? I wasn’t sure how it would go at first, but I’m having such a great time,” she gushes, her eyes crinkling in the corners as her smile widens further.“Thank you so much for doing this with me, Mav. I love…I’m loving every minute of our time together.”
I think I know what she wanted to say, but I also have a feeling she wants me to say it first. That won’t be a problem much longer because I plan on telling her tonight as we look out at the stars.
“I’m loving it too, little flower.” She leans her head against my chest and we stand quietly and watch the world around us. I wonder if she can hear my heart about to beat out of my chest with all the happiness I am feeling at this moment. It beats for her now. Only ever for her.
Chapter Six
~Violet~
Riding a horse is no joke, but the soreness in my thighs is more than worth the pleasure I saw on Mav’s face as we rode around the ranch. He pointed out all his favorite spots, from the small pond he and his siblings used to mess around in during the hot summer months to the small crested hill where his dad proposed to his mom many years ago.
“That’s where we’ll star gaze from later on tonight,” he mentioned, and to say I got my hopes set on a second proposal happening in that spot would be entirely accurate.
Every place we visited on the ranch made the feeling that this place is my home, where I’m supposed to be grow bigger and bigger until it felt like my chest would burst open with all the happiness I’ve been feeling since yesterday.
I know we have a whole week to decide on whether or not we want to go through with a marriage, but my mind is already made up and it’s a one hundred and fifty percent yes from me. I’m so excited for our date this evening that I even put a freshcoat of paint on my nails right after dinner hoping that there will be a ring to set them off soon enough.
The evenings here are a little chilly, so I’ve dressed in some jeans and a sweater to stay warm, though I’m sure that cuddling up with my man will keep me heated up enough for sure. Watching him handle a horse all day in his tight jeans and t-shirt was like a torturous form of foreplay.
Every move he made showed off a new muscle: corded forearms as he gripped the horse’s reins, bulging biceps as he lifted me up and down from the horse, and strong thigh muscles as we rode along.
Our time outside also showed me not just how capable he is, but how gentle he can be too. Every word spoken to me or the horses was done in a level tone, so much so I wondered if he was trying to not spook me away. Well, he can he gentle or gruff because I’m not going anywhere.
I’ve already typed out my letter of resignation to the gym and saved it in my email to send off just as soon as we’ve decided our future. A future I want to include Mav so very badly that the excitement of it is making me feel like I’ve got a swarm of bees buzzing throughout my body.
I raise my fist to knock on Mav’s shut door when I hear grunting noises coming from inside. Recognizing those sounds as pain, I open his door and pop my head in, eye’s widening when I see Mav rubbing his left leg, an expression of extreme discomfort on his face. He’s only in a pair of boxer shorts and from this angle I can see the scars from his accident running up most of his leg and onto his back and neck. My heart aches forhis pain, but it’s also so proud of what a selfless man he is to put himself in danger to save some animals.
Mav’s head whips to me and I see panic in his eyes. “Get out,” he barks, but I don’t startle at the sound of his voice.
Instead, I walk over to him and drop to my knees, batting his hands out of the way so that I can rub his thigh for him. He stiffens at my first touch, but soon after I can see his shoulders relax and I reward him with a small smile.
“What are you doing?” He asks, his voice sounding small and shy for the first time since I’ve met him.
“What does it look like I’m doing, cowboy? I’m giving you a massage,” I tell him as I knead the scarred flesh of his thigh, trying not to get too distracted by the feel of all the strong muscle, the light brush of hair under my hands, and the sight of his rippling abs and chest that are right in front of me.
This isn’t about that right now. This is about providing comfort to someone I care about who is so obviously in pain. “I’m not sure if I mentioned it before, but in addition to yoga training, I also have about one hundred hours in therapeutic massage. Lucky for you.” I wink at Mav and I swear the tips of his ears turn pink with a blush. “Want to tell me what’s going on?”
Mav huffs a breath and looks out the window for a moment, gathering his thoughts. “I have good days and bad as far as my pain level goes. The ride earlier aggravated my hip a little and from there the pain goes down my leg and up my back some,” he tells me, his voice even. When his eyes turn back to mine, there’sa defiance there that wasn’t before. “I can normally handle it all myself, so there’s no need for you to do all this.”
I nod, but continue with my ministrations regardless of what he just said. “I know you can handle yourself, cowboy. You’ve already proven that and then some, but I’m here now.” I work my hands deeper into the tight tissue, smiling when I hear him moan contentedly.
“What that means is that even though you can take care of yourself, you don’t have to.” I lean my head back and gaze straight into his deep brown eyes. “I want to take care of you, Maverick. I would consider myself lucky if you would allow me to.” He stares at me disbelieving, moisture shining in his eyes. “Will you let me?”
I watch his throat bob as he swallows down whatever he’s feeling and nods. “Yes,” he breathes out. It’s barely a whisper, but it’s there.
