He takes a deep breath, and his expression shifts from fear to relief. “I’m glad you’re okay. I couldn’t take it if anything ever happened to you.”
Our eyes lock, and something changes between us. I don’t understand exactly what, but my stomach does cartwheels, and I clutch the reins even tighter.
“Let’s…” The word catches in Jared’s throat and he coughs. “Let’s take a break.”
“Good idea.”
He means the riding, but I’d also like to take a break from whatever the hell is suddenly going on between us. Because the rise in temperature is alarming. My body is on board with this change in energy, but my brain is most definitely not.
We dismount and loop our horses’ reins over the large branches nearby before sitting down at the base of a stand of pine trees.
Jared stretches his legs out before him and crosses them at the ankles. Something about that simple gesture gets my attention. My already-heated body gets hotter, and I find myself staring at Jared’s muscled legs. Even with the jeans covering him, it’s obvious the man is in phenomenal shape.
I swallow, searching for a way to take my focus off of my nuclear attraction to him.
“Don’t you have to get ready for the game?”
“I’ll leave for the arena after lunch.” He glances at me. “I told you that earlier.”
“Oh.” I swallow again. “Right. Yeah. I remember now.”
He chuckles. “You seem distracted.”
“Do I?”
“You do.”
That’s because you’re so damn hot and I am having one hell of a time denying my attraction to you.
“It’s pretty warm out,” I say lamely. “The sun is so bright.”
“Altitude can definitely make the sun feel stronger, but it’s also unusually warm for Montana.” He bumps my shoulder with his own. “If you have time, I’ll bring you by the best place to get blueberry muffins.”
I gasp. “I love blueberry muffins!”
He’s grinning. “That’s why I want to take you there. This place could become your new go-to.”
“Like that café we found in New Orleans when we were kids? La…”
“La Dulce,” he finishes for me.
I clap my hands. “That place was the best. I was so sad when they left the city because the owners moved back to Texas. I think I’ve missed having a place ever since.”
“You’ve had other ‘places’ over the years, I’m sure.”
“Not like that one. That one was special because it was…” I cut off.
But Jared finishes my thought once again. “Ours.”
“It was.” I lean my head on his shoulder.
“Ashley.”
“Yeah?” I know where he’s going with this. And yet, I’m strangely no longer afraid.
“Tell me.”
I stare out at the gorgeous prairie and take a deep breath of the mountain air before I confess my darkest secret.
