Emily perchedon a semi-clean piece of farm equipment and talked with Daniel as he reached his hands back into the tractor’s engine.
They discussed trivial things for a while, then Emily said, “You look good, Daniel. How are you feeling?”
Daniel scratched the back of his neck with a greasy hand, leaving a black streak there. “Good, I guess. The cravings aren’t as strong as they used to be, but I still struggle.”
“Are there certain triggers that cause the cravings?”
“I’ve recognized some. Whenever I get angry, frustrated, or upset about something, I get thirsty.”
They continued to talk about his triggers and coping mechanisms and first AA meeting he’d attended until Emily spotted Jake headed her way leading two horses.
Her heart raced as thousands of winged creatures took flight in her chest. She patted Daniel’s shoulder. “I’ll talk to you later. Right now, I need to have a long talk with that handsome cowboy.” She nodded her head in Jake’s direction, hardly registering Daniel’s chuckle as she walked away.
As she drew near, Jake dropped the horses’ reigns and pulled her into his arms. “Now, I can greet you properly.” He lowered his lips to hers, sending her pulse skyrocketing.
The touch of his lips was light, but it ignited a spark deep inside Emily, and she wanted more. She pushed up on her toes, pressing her lips more firmly against his. Jake claimed more of her mouth, deepening the kiss.
Pleasure rippled through her as electric warmth spread through Emily. She felt like she’d glimpsed the sun for the first time. It was bright, warm, and powerful. In Jake’s arms, with his lips on hers, she found something she hadn’t realized she’d been longing for. It was so much more than the desire to belong to someone.
It was home.
The kiss was thorough, but it ended much sooner than Emily wanted it to.
“Wow.” The word came out a breathless whisper. Not wanting to leave his arms, she buried her face in his chest.
Jake tightened his embrace, as she hoped he would. The fresh clean scent that always wreaked havoc on her senses hit her full force and she sniffed. “Mmm... you smell nice.”
Jake chuckled. “I’ll never be able to change my soap and deodorant, will I?”
“Not as long as I’m around.”
Jake’s arms loosened, and he pulled away enough to look into her eyes. “Dare I ask if that will be often and for an extended period of time?”
Emily pulled back and smiled at him. “Let’s ride and talk. Do you think we could go to that place with the little waterfall?”
Jake pointed to the bulging saddlebags. “That’s my plan. I had Lottie fix us some lunch.”
“Mmm... any strawberries in there?”
“I hope so,” he said under his breath. They exchanged a heated look. “Get on your horse already. We should talk before we kiss anymore.”
“Good idea.” She turned toward the horse, and a shiver of anxiety shot through her. “I haven’t ridden for years. I’m a little nervous.”
“Honey is the gentlest horse I have. You’ll be fine.” He stood by and helped her get into the saddle then adjusted the stirrups.
They rode in silence for a while, Emily not yet ready to broach the subject they needed to discuss. She knew Jake was leery of her intentions, but she wasn’t sure how to explain to him what she experienced yesterday. There was still a lot she didn’t know about this handsome rancher, but she knew she could trust Jake with her heart, and she looked forward to getting to know him better.
Peace and contentment filled her as she settled into Honey’s smooth rhythm. Her revelation in Joe’s office yesterday had lifted a burden from her shoulders. An incredible sadness filled her every time she thought about Cameron and her father, but she recognized that God had a plan for her. All she needed to do was learn to let Him guide her.
They slipped into easy conversation as they rode, Emily enjoying every minute. When they reached the waterfall, they worked together to lay out the picnic.
“I have to admit,” Jake said as they ate, “your greeting surprised me back there. I wasn’t sure when or even if I’d ever see you again. So I wasn’t expecting to be attacked.” He gave her a teasing grin, triggering a flutter in her abdomen.
Heat filled Emily’s cheeks at how brazen she’d been. “I had to know if what I’d felt every time we kissed in the past was real or if I was remembering a passion that wasn’t really there.”
Jake looked at her, eyebrows raised. “And? Was it real?”
She couldn’t keep a sigh from escaping. “It was definitely real.”
