“Shit. I’m sorr?—”
He catches himself and attempts to move his hand, but mine stops him.
“That’s okay,” I whisper, running my thumb up the web of his hand, my eyes never leaving his. But that’s when his sight drifts, homing in on our hands conjoined at my most intimate spot.
I draw our hands higher to the cusp of my hip, and massage the sore spot at a leisurely pace. The hiss that escapes his lips couldn’t be missed from across the ranch. “The ring dug into my hip on the way up.”
Easton’s Adam's apple bobs, a gulp sliding down his corded throat in anticipation. I love how unpredictable I am to him.
He nods slowly. “I didn’t mean to touch you ther?—”
“I like your hands on me, Ranger. You should do it more often.”
As expected, his eyes bulge, confirming just how uptight and tense he really is. “We should get started.” He slips his hand from underneath mine and heads toward his horse, ready to be on our way.
I wouldn’t call my attempt a success, but it was definitely progress.
“Were you ever gonna tell me how profesh you are on a horse?”
Something that looks a lot like a smile crests his face. “Figured you could find out for yourself. Kinda how I discovered how much of a fucking liar you are, lost girl.”
Damn. He’s good.
I pull back the reins to slow Beavis down, Easton following suit with Butthead. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m a rookie at best.”
“Lies, lies, lies, woman. You maneuver that horse better than some equestrian trainers I know.”
I grin. “You caught me. Told you I liked your hands on me.” I wink, knowing the simple act will send him into a blind spiral. He’s too easy to fluster.
But what is making him so hesitant with everything?
I don’t get it. It can’t be his brother’s death. Not when it comes to a woman, at least. Does it have to do with the woman…with Sydney?
I’ve done everything I can to make him feel comfortable. He deserves that. And I’d like to think he is, but there’s a disconnect, and it’s driving me crazy not to know what it is.
“Yeah…about that. Sorry for acting so…weird.”
I wave him off. “Don’t be. I think we’ve already established how bold I can be.”
“I know. It’s just, I haven’t exactly had the easiest year, and things are hard for me. Things that shouldn’t be, and I’m ashamed to admit.”
That may be the most vague sentence I’ve ever heard.
“You don’t owe me an explanation, Easton. Never. But I like you, and I think we could have fun together.”
“Fun?” he drawls out, voice hoarse and breathy. Almost like he can’t believe what he’s hearing. “Define fun, Collie.”
I smirk. “I think you know what I mean. I could use some relief, and by the looks of it, you could too.”
“You’re gonna have to break that down for me, lost girl.”
“You’re tense. And I can tell you’ve got some demons going on in that hot head of yours. No judgment. That’s your business. But maybe we could both benefit and take those things out on each other. We are married, after all.” I wink.
“You and your fucking winks will be the death of me,” he exhales. “But I don’t know if I can.”
I don’t know why it never occurred to me that he could be seeing someone. Possibly the Sydney woman I’ve heard about too many times for my liking, actually. I mean, it would be a little strange given he intended to come here alone, without said woman. But still. At the back of my mind, Sydney is clearly someone important to him, right? Enough for her name to be on his extra boarding pass. And enough for her name to be the one Naomi and Ernest assumed I was at the ranch.
Everything just feels off.
