“Ready to ride?”
I place the sponge on the tray and wash and dry my hands. “First, let me check your wound.”
“I took care of it earlier.”
I perch my hands on my hips. “May I have a look for myself? A trained eye can spot infection early on.”
He slowly unbuttons his shirt and my breath stalls in my throat when he reveals his chest then his abs before shifting out of it and clutching it in-between his thick fingers. He walks toward me but stalking might be a more appropriate word to use because the way he’s looking at me right now, he looks like he wants to devour me.
“Be my guest.”
His skin tenses beneath my fingers as I carefully peel back the bandage and check the wound. No sign of infection. Nice and clean.
“Satisfied?” he asks in a gravely tone.
“Almost.”
Then I shift him around to face forward and check the back one as well. The bandage is a little loose so I secure it better and while doing so I admire his backside, the slope of it, muscles rippling beneath his smooth skin.
“Now I’m satisfied,” I say, patting his bicep to let him know I am finished with my inspection.
He grunts, shoving his good arm back into his shirt then carefully maneuvering the other in to button back up.
“You’re not wearing your sling today?”
He reaches for my hand after he has the final button in place, pulling me toward the garage door. “I’m good. Let’s go.”
Smiling, I let him drag me away. Perhaps I am just a girl with a foolish heart and foolish dreams, just like my mother, but you cannot stop a heart from wanting what it wants no more than you can stop the sun from shining or sea from crashing to the shore.
We head out into the garage where he leads me to a large side-by-side ATV. Once I get on, he reaches over to secure my seatbelt in place; his face is so close to mine I can smell his aftershave. He still has a light stubble shading his jaw but he’s trimmed his neck and the skin around it.
Pulling out of the garage, he handles the ATV expertly, taking us down a path leading toward the stables. It’s probably less than a mile from the house but the short drive is beautiful. The early morning sun beams down from above, casting its glorious light onto the dozen horses grazing in the pasture.
When we arrive at the stables, Justin walks around the ATV, reaching for my hand to help me off and he doesn’t let go until we walk inside. I follow him down to the last stall and find a beautiful black horse with his head poking out.
“Wow, he’s gorgeous,” I say, reaching out to smooth my hand down his long neck that hangs over the door.
“This is Jack Daniels. He’s mine. He’s a smooth ride but he can be a little temperamental at times. We have an understanding though, don’t we, buddy?” Justin says, patting his neck.
Jack Daniels snorts, bobbing his head.
Justin walks over to the stall across from Jack Daniels to a stunning mare that is white with a huge brown spot on her back. “This is Trixie. She belongs to my mother. She’s gentle as a lamb and isn’t spooked easily. You’ll be riding her today.”
Rubbing her neck, I press my nose to hers, training my breaths to be synonymous with hers, letting her get to know me. When I was little and Teddy taught me to ride, he told me that a horse could sense a human’s fear. I want Trixie to know I’m not afraid.
Justin sets about saddling up the horses and I stand close by, helping him where I can, but he’s so competent and sure of himself, moving with comfort and ease around the horses. I notice his strong arms rippling with his movement, his muscles bunching beneath the fabric of his shirt. Then I remember how they felt moving beneath my fingertips when I had them on his skin earlier.
A burning sensation throbs deep in my belly. That’s been happening a lot lately, especially around him. It seems like everything comes to life in my body when he’s near. I can hear every breath I take and beat of my heart. Like the way it’s pounding now and all I’m doing is looking at his lips. I really like his lips. The way the top one is thinner than the lower one, how it pokes out just enough to be tempting.
“You all right over there?” His deep voice penetrates the heavy fog surrounding me.
My cheeks flush. He’s caught me staring at him. He holds my gaze for several heartbeats before I turn away, focusing my attention on Trixie.
I swallow the thick desire clogging my throat. “How long have you been riding?”
“Since I can remember. My brothers and I used to come visit for two weeks in the summer when my grandmother was alive. We spent hours riding. I think I was the only one with a passion for it though. My brothers preferred riding the ATVs but I always liked being out here with these guys. I don’t know, I just understand them, I guess.” He shrugs. “Okay, we’re all set.”
Justin walks Trixie in a circle before stopping her right in front of me.
