Elise arched a brow. “Smooth-talker. Also, I just got ma’amed.”
“My mama raised me that way,” he said easily. “It’s the way we do things where I’m from in Alabama.”
Elise’s grin widened at the way he dragged out the state’s name, emphasis on at least two syllables.
“Wade, this is Elise Hale,” Nicole said, making the introduction easily, “who will be my sister-in-law in two-and-a-half weeks. Elise, meet Wade Reynolds, our guest from the Deep South.”
“Welcome to Utah.” She clutched the horn with her left hand and bravely reached out her right, certain that Wade didn’t notice Nicole’s subtle move to hold Elise’s leg safely in the tiny harness that only a trained eye would see.
Smooth, Nic. I’ll pay you in hundreds later.
“Thank you kindly,” Wade said. “I admit, I’ve fallen in love.”
Elise gave a saucy lift to her shoulder. “Already? We just met.”
He laughed heartily, deep from inside his very impressive flannel-clad chest. “Doesn’t take long when a woman’s on a horse.”
She patted Copper’s mane, a thrill jolting through her. Had she ever flirted with a man before? Sure, she was flirty by nature. But one who hadn’t met her in a wheelchair? No, never. Not once in her adult life.
“I’ve fallen for the mountains, too,” he clarified, taking a quick glance to the peaks against the blue sky, but then his gazemoved right back to Elise as if…well, as if she were even prettier than those mountains.
She was pretty—she’d always known that. And she took great care with her hair, makeup, and fashion because it was all she could control of her body.
But right this minute, under the winter sun, high on Copper’s back, bantering with a gorgeous cowboy who thought she was as normal as the next girl? Honey, she could climb that Rocky Mountain high all day long.
“My uncle told me the lodge had a horse, and I’m partial to anything with four legs and an attitude. Figured I’d say hello.”
“Copper’s the sweetest guy alive,” Elise told him. “A total teddy bear. Unless you’re a peppermint candy, then you’re just his next snack.”
“Duly noted,” he said. “You ride often?”
“Every chance I get.”
Before she could answer, Red’s booming voice cut through the air. “Nicole! Hey, I need you a minute!”
They all turned to see him on the far side of the paddock, tugging hard at an open Santa jacket. “Can you help before the sleigh ride passengers show up? This darn coat musta shrunk since last time I had it on.”
“Oh, I’m sure that’s what happened,” Nicole cracked on a whisper. “No cream puffs involved. I’ll be right back.” She gave Elise a quick look, a secret question in her eyes. “Are you…”
“Go save Red.” She let her eyes widen slightly, hoping her friend got the message that she’d be fine, she wouldn’t fall, and she didn’t want this moment to end.
“Be right back,” she repeated, heading off across the paddock.
More hundreds for Nic. Many more.
It was a rare moment that Elise sat alone on a horse, and even more rare to be a foot above adimewho looked at her like she’d hung the moon with one hand and the stars with the other.
“I have to say…” Wade tipped his hat back far enough that it was about as secure on his head as Elise’s behind in this saddle. “Everything about Utah is gorgeous, and I do meaneverything.”
Dude was a first-class, Grade A, woman-melting flirt. And she was so here for it.
“Thank you,” she said, not even trying to pretend to be coy. “Do you ski?”
“I’m from Mobile, honey. That’s like askin’ one of you folks if you wrestle gators,” he said with a laugh.
“Doyouwrestle gators?” she asked.
“Only if they’re sick and, in my case, have a tumor.”
