Chapter 31
Hadley
“Jeans, Sunshine.” I slip into my Wranglers and shoulder my shirt onto my back, buttoning it up.
“Oh, yeah...” She rolls out of bed in nothing but panties, and for the length of a handful of heartbeats I strongly consider ushering her right back under the covers and planting myself between her legs.
“Might be a little awkward riding a horse without them,” I rasp, my cock hardening by the second. I give her my best smile.
“Oh, um... you remember, I can’t actually ride.”
“That so?” I know I’m being inane, but I like the buzz the banter between us gives me. Who the hell am I?
“Yep, wasn’t exactly the pony-in-the-backyard type growing up.”
“That’s okay. You ride with me, then. For your lesson. Then I’ll put you on Patsy. A bomb could go off under her tail, and she wouldn’t budge an inch.”
“Is that alright, if I ride with you for a bit?”
She stands and slides on her jeans. I’m almost sorry to see her perfect body covered up.
“Of course.”
She nods and walks to the bathroom, and I pad down the hallway.
At the front door, I pull my boots on, sliding my jeans over the high tops. I shove my old work hat on my head. My light Stetson I’ve had for years. It’s more ragged than anything else I own, but I can’t part with it. I roll my sleeves up as I wait by the front door. My knee smarts but I ignore it. Some things are worth a little pain.
Maggie pads toward me in jeans, a light blue T-shirt, and her cap on her head, aviators perched on top of the hat’s brim.
She looks like she damn well belongs here.
“Hadley Jones, this is you in your work clothes?”
I chuckle. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Oh, my poor ovaries,” she mutters.
“Focus, baby; we’ve got places to be.” I fold myself around her and distract her with kisses down her neck. She giggles, hands grabbing my face as she leans back. As I release her, she perks up, and I can practically see the light bulb appear over her head.
“Oh, can I grab my camera?”
“Sure.”
She skips back down the hall, swaying with every step. My body aches to be close to hers. Never in the history of mankind has a cowboy been so happy about having to share his horse.
“Got it, let’s go.” Maggie’s a little breathless as she waltzes past me, heading out the door. I know the feeling. I adjust my hat and close the door behind us.
Over at the horse field, I can hear the chatter through the open window where Gemma and Nia are trying desperately to conceal themselves with the curtains. They’re up damn early, gossips.
I call over one of the old mares.
Maggie points to Chester. “Oh, he’s gorgeous.”
I huff a laugh. “You wouldn’t think that if you were ridin’ him.”
“Why?” She looks at me, worried.
“He’s a joker. Likes to try his best to toss me off any chance he gets.”
