“Well, honey, the only constant in life is change.” He keeps his eyes trained to the yard. “Especially when you least expect it.”
“Ain’t that the damn truth,” I scoff. “And sometimes, when you can’t understand why something’s happened, you find out later that it’s because this big ol’ universe has a whole new path for you.”
“I kinda liked my old path.” I take another sip of Jo’s delicious coffee.
“Well, here’s what I say.” He side-eyes me. “When you have a stone in the road like this and you stumble, you just make that little misstep part of your big dance.”
Dean turns his twinkling eyes to me as I face him.
“It’s that simple?” I ask.
“It’s that simple. No matter what path life decides to take you on, you just have to go with it. Always give a hundred percent is my motto.” He lets out a little chuckle as if in afterthought. “Unless you’re donating blood, of course.”
I chuckle back. “Of course.”
Feeling refreshed after my caffeine fix and chat with Dean, I decide a walk in the woods is exactly what I need. With my feet tucked into a pair of CeCe’s worn-in cowboy boots, a pair of Jo’s comfortable jeans, and a soft white sweater, I set out through the trails we all grew up on. CeCe, Ginger, and I used to camp out here, telling ghost stories, our tent loaded with snacks. More times than not, Cole and his friends would come out at some point to scare the shit out of us, and we’d all end up laughing and talking until the early hours of the morning.
I smile at the memories as I meander down the lazily mulched and narrow horse trails. They’re flanked by woods on either side and the creek runs through the trees to the left of me. I’m not sure how far I’ve gone when I hear the echo of branches cracking behind me. Turning quickly, a sliver of fear runs up my spine as I realize how early it still is. I have no idea what could be out here at this time.
I’ve made it quite a way from the cabins on the Ashbys’ vast property, but I’m pretty sure that if I keep going I’ll soon come to the clearing where one of their maintenance cabins sits.
When I hear the crunching again, I freeze before spinning on my heel to search the space. There’s no sound but my breath as my heart beats faster. When I hear it again, coming from the thick pines that line the path to my right, I suck in a breath and prepare to bolt just as I see a flash of gray. At first I thinkmaybe it’s a dog, but then I realize it has to be something bigger. I’m hoping it’s just a coyote, but it could be a small black bear …
I scream and clap before breaking into a sprint, but I don’t get very far before a thick, leaf-covered root trips me up and throws me into the dirt.
My breathing is erratic and panic engulfs me at the thought of the unknown chasing me. Just as I’m scrambling to stand, I hear the steady, even gallop of a horse and a long, sharp whistle. I manage to pull myself up onto my knees and, as I tilt my head to the sky, I find myself staring up into deep gray eyes. My mouth drops open as I curse my luck. Because sitting atop one of the Ashbys’ deep chocolate Morgans, in fitted light jeans, a cream-colored long-sleeved Henley that hugs his muscular arms while he grips his reins tight, is Asher. In a cowboy hat. And he looks … just as pissed off as last night.
“The hell are you doing out here, woman?” he grunts out.
“R-running from a coyote … or something, who knows,” I answer, moving to stand while swiping dirt and mulch from my sweater.
Asher extends a long, corded arm downward and his scarred and calloused hand feels smooth and warm over mine as I take it, allowing him to help me up. Angry or not, I’d rather face him than a wild animal.
“I meant, what are you doing in the damn woods alone so early?”
“I was trying to clear my head,” I offer as a thought occurs to me. “What areyoudoing out here?”
His jaw tics as he watches me pull a twig from my hair. “Same.”
I don’t say anything but, surprisingly, Asher goes to fill the silence. “I’m working on the cabins today with Wade. I like to ride. This ranch just feels …”
“Home?” I finish without thought, cocking my head as Ilook up at him.
Asher just nods. “Come on then, I’ll take you back.” “Oh … I can walk,” I say. The idea of being that close to him …
Asher’s eyebrow raises. “Aye,” he half growls. “Looking to provoke a bear while you’re out here too?”
I think I already did.
“So sweet to know how much you care,” I mutter, but decide not to argue as I let him help me up onto the back of his large horse.
“We don’t need to add a concussion to your injuries today,” Asher growls as I wrap my arms around his chiseled waist and will my heart to calm as I breathe him in. I wonder briefly if this is what it would feel like to ride on the back of his Harley, the one I’ve seen him around town on.
When he reaches back to tug both my thighs, pulling me closer, an impossible thrill runs through me. Inhaling his delicious spicy scent, I feel safe pressed against his warm, muscled back and I hate it. He pats the horse’s neck and mutters a command before we take off on a light, easy trot through the woods. Asher doesn’t speak as we ride, so I take in the pretty scenery that surrounds us. Wild violet blankets the forest floor and silver pines—the towering trees this ranch was named for—sway in the spring breeze as my hair blows behind me. I take another deep breath in. The power emanating from this man calls to me, even though I know it shouldn’t. Dark, controlling, broody, and fully closed off. Exactly the kind of man I keep telling myself I shouldn’t want, the kind of man I have no future with. It’s hard to tell if he’s annoyed with me or if he’s just committed to speaking fewer than five words at a time, yet I still fight the pull to him.
“Here we go,” he says as we approach the cabins. I dismount first; once again Asher extends his hand to hold me steady. He’s easy and comfortable on this horse, and on these trails,and it shows.
A moment of silence passes between us. But I don’t have time to feel awkward because Asher is already tightening his grip on the reins, looking down at me.
