"I'm a dad," Tucker says quietly, reading my hesitation perfectly. "I understand. I wouldn't trust just anyone with Emma either." He meets my eyes, and there's something honest there. Something real. "But I promise you, Rosie will be safe with me. I'll keep her right here where you can see her the whole time."
A dad. He's a dad. He has a daughter right there. He wouldn't do anything. Couldn't do anything with Emma watching. And Mason trusts him, that much is obvious from the way they interact, the easy camaraderie between them.
"Okay," I hear myself say, even though my heart is racing. "Okay. But I need to see her. The whole time."
"The corral's right there." Tucker points to a fenced area maybe fifty yards away. "Perfect sightline. You'll be able to see us the entire time."
Mason's already walking toward the barn, and I follow, my legs feeling shaky. He leads out a smaller horse, brown with a white blaze down her face, and brings her to the corral.
"This is Daisy," he says, stroking the horse's neck. "She's the calmest one we have. Perfect for beginners."
I look back at Rosie. She's sitting on Tucker's shoulders now, Emma walking beside them toward the corral fence, both girls chattering away. Safe. Happy.
"You ready?" Mason asks.
This is such a bad idea. Getting on a horse with this man, letting him touch me, guide me. But I can't seem to make myself say no.
"Yeah," I breathe out, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm ready."
Chapter 6 - Mason
I'm a fucking jerk.
I asked her to ride specifically so I'd have an excuse to touch her. To put my hands on her hips, press my body against hers from behind, feel her curves under my palms without it being weird or threatening. It's manipulative as hell, and I know it, but I can't seem to stop myself.
I want her. Want her in a way I haven't wanted anyone in years, maybe ever. The way she looks at me with those wary green eyes. The way her body fills out those tight jeans. The curve of her stomach, the fullness of her breasts, the thickness of her thighs. Everything about her makes my cock hard and my hands ache to touch.
But I can't just grab her. Can't corner her in the cottage or make demands or take what I want. She's vulnerable, exhausted, running from something. The last thing she needs is another man trying to use her.
So, I'm doing this instead. Teaching her to ride. Using the excuse of instruction to get close to her, to feel her body against mine, to pretend for a few minutes that she's mine to touch.
It's fucked up. I know it's fucked up. But I'm doing it anyway.
"First thing," I say, leading Daisy to the mounting block, "is getting on. Left foot in the stirrup, swing your right leg over."
Lily approaches the horse cautiously, her eyes darting between Daisy and the corral where Tucker's playing with Rosie and Emma. Making sure her daughter's safe. Good mother instincts.
She puts her foot in the stirrup and tries to pull herself up, but she doesn't have the upper body strength. Her arms shake, and she falls back, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
"It's okay," I tell her. "Most people can't do it without help the first time. Here." I move behind her, my hands settling on her waist. Fuck. Even through the cardigan and her shirt, I can feel how soft she is. How perfectly curved. "On three. One, two, three."
I lift, and she swings her leg over, settling into the saddle with a small gasp. Her hands immediately grip the saddle horn, knuckles white.
"That's good," I murmur, adjusting the stirrups for her shorter legs. My fingers brush her calf through her jeans, and I swear I feel her shiver. "How does it feel?"
"High." Her voice is tight with nerves. "Really high."
"You're doing great." I move to Daisy's head, stroking her neck to keep her calm. "Just breathe. Daisy can feel your tension. The more relaxed you are, the calmer she'll be."
Lily takes a shaky breath, then another. Slowly, her grip on the saddle horn loosens. She's trying. That's more than most people do on their first time.
"Good girl," I say without thinking, and her eyes snap to mine. Fuck. Did I just call her a good girl? Like she's a horse or a dog or—
Her pupils dilate. Her lips part slightly. And I realize she liked it.
Fuck!
I clear my throat and focus on the horse. "Okay. I'm going to lead you around the corral a few times. Just get used to the movement. Keep your back straight, shoulders relaxed."
