Emily bit her lip.
Jake settled in the saddle and relaxed. The colt reared up, and Jake leaned into its neck. Emily held her breath as she continued to watch the horse rear again then buck and rear a third time. Jake managed to stay on the horse, appearing calm in the saddle, waiting for the stallion to settle down.
Jake was the epitome of grace in the saddle. Art in motion. So incredibly beautiful it took Emily’s breath away.
After bucking and rearing a couple more times, the horse stilled, sides heaving.
Realizing she’d balled the fabric of her dress in her clenched fist, Emily relaxed her hand and smoothed out the material. If she didn’t have a cast on her left hand, she would have applauded.
But applause might break the magic happening in the corral, and Jake would get bucked off again. She glanced around at the other spectators. They were as in awe as she was.
Now that the horse had exhausted itself, Jake took control and taught the colt to obey his commands. Nudging the horse in the flanks, he rode around the corral a few times then turned and rode the opposite direction. He led the horse through a series of figure-eights, starts, and stops with the slightest movement of his wrist. Jake’s muscular thighs did most of the work, giving the horse directions. Man and beast moved together as one.
Weightlessness filled Emily’s chest as she kept her eyes glued on Jake and the stallion. The scene was every bit as beautiful as the sunset she and Jake watched the other night. It was a performance she could watch again and again.
Finally, Jake dismounted, and Emily fought the urge to applaud. Once again, Jake spoke softly while stroking the horse’s neck, withers, and hindquarters. Eventually, he led the colt over to a ranch hand. “See that he gets a good rub down and give him some oats.”
A few moments later, Jake sauntered over and crouched next to her chair. “Sorry, you didn’t get to see me get bucked off.”
Feeling the magic of what she’d witnessed, Emily showed Jake how glad she was he hadn’t gotten bucked off. She reached out, grabbed the front of his shirt, and pulled him toward her. She pressed her lips to his in a firm kiss. Caught off guard and off balance, Jake dropped to the edge of her chair. Recovering quickly, he slipped one hand into her hair and deepened the kiss, setting her body aflame.
Cheers and catcalls from the ranch hands pierced Emily’s consciousness, and she released his shirt and his lips.
Her face burned.
“He tames the beastandgets the girl,” Daniel shouted. “And that, men, is why he’s the boss.”
“That’s right,” Jake yelled over his shoulder. “Now get back to work.”
He stood, picked Emily up, and walked back toward the house. He didn’t say a word until he sat on the back-porch swing with her on his lap, her cast laying across the swing. Emily wanted to protest but realized there was no other chair on the back porch.
“What was that all about? I thought we agreed we shouldn’t kiss anymore. For the time being anyway.”
“You promised not to kiss me when I’m vulnerable. But I didn’t agree to that.” Emily’s cheeks warmed again. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you like that in front of your men. I was so worried about you. Then I was so excited for you. Then so touched by how beautiful it all was. I guess I couldn’t contain myself.”
“Are you saying you get amorous when you’re excited?” He raised his eyebrows at her.
“Apparently, I do with you.” She knit her brow in concentration. “I’m certain I’ve never done that before to a man.”
“So, are you still excited?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows, his voice hopeful.
Emily weighed her emotions.Yes.His nearness and that look in his eyes excited her, and that was dangerous. “Nope, afraid not. The moment has passed.” She wasn’t about to tell him her pulse had risen, and she struggled to keep her breathing even.
“Pity.” His voice was filled with disappointment. “I suppose it’s for the best, though. I’ve already been knocked for a loop once today.”
Emily studied his face. She took in the bruising around the bandage his mother had applied over his left eyebrow. It must hurt like crazy, but Jake acted like it wasn’t even there. She spotted a faint white line at the end of his right eyebrow and another on his left cheek bone, below his eye.
“What are you doing?” He gave a self-conscious chuckle.
“I’m trying to figure out how many times you’ve had your face cut open, like you did today.”
“Probably too many to count, but this...” he pushed back his hat and lifted his hair, where Emily saw an inch-long, white caterpillar-like scar along his hairline. “And this...” he lifted his chin and pointed under his left jaw, where Emily spotted another scar amid the stubble. “Were the only ones I had stitched up and they left noticeable scars.”
“Interesting. And how many broken bones have you had?”
“Several,” he hedged, “and yes, I went to the hospital for them. Although, I ended up waiting for a full week before I went in for a broken wrist.”
“A full week?”
