He pauses to look me over with eyes I know can see right through my bullshit, and shakes his head. “The way you look at her, it’s... different. Youreallylike her.”
There’s something calm about his tone that makes me drop the act, and I sigh. “Yeah. I do.”
His chuckle is warm and full of understanding. “Good for you, son. It’s about damn time you let a woman break through that unbreakable shell of yours.”
I frown and shove my hands in my pockets, mirroring his stance. It’s crazy how easily he’s always been able to read me.
Hollis sighs and claps a big, calloused hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “It’s a good thing, Jax. Letting someone in. Just… don’t overthink it, okay? Now go,” he growls fondly, giving me a little shove. “Have fun.”
Taking his advice to heart, I grin and shove him back.
After he leaves, I watch Sasha for a couple of more minutes. By the time we’re ready to head out, she looks more confident, stroking Maverick’s neck and murmuring softly to him.
“Almost ready,” I say, walking over as she adjusts the stirrups. “Just need to grab something.”
Remembering a pair of cowboy hats I stored in the tack room the last time I visited, I grab them and my horse.
“You remember how to mount?” I ask, leading Ember over.
Sasha nods, grips the saddle horn and shoves her foot in the stirrup, swinging herself up with surprising grace. “Like riding a bike,” she says with a grin, adjusting herself in the saddle.
Handing her one of the hats, I put mine on, mount Ember and settle in. “Ready?”
“Lead the way,cowboy,” she teases.
We start off at an easy pace, following a well-worn trailthat winds through the forest before it opens up to sprawling meadows. I keep glancing over, watching how she moves, her body relaxed and confident.
She catches me looking, she raises an eyebrow. “What?”
I shrug, unable to keep the smile from my face. “You look good on a horse, is all.”
Her cheeks flush, and she turns her attention back to the trail a pleased smile playing on her lips.
After about an hour, the trail opens up onto a vast meadow. Wildflowers in purple and yellow dot the landscape, swaying gently in the breeze. Mountains rise majestically in the distance, their peaks still dusted with snow despite the summer heat.
“This is gorgeous.”
“It sure is,” I grin.
We keep going for another half-hour before stopping near a creek so the horses can drink. Then I rummage through my saddlebag, pulling out a folded blanket and a small insulated pack I had Meg prepare for us after secretly asking her for a favor the day before.
After our break, we pack everything up and ride for a little while longer. When it gets close to lunchtime, we turn around and head back, arriving just in time to hang out with a bunch of kids visiting from an elementary school.
By the end of the day, we’re both practically dead on our feet, so we grab a quick dinner at the cafeteria before heading back to the cabin. The kids who were here for therapy sessions ran us both ragged with questions and requests to see various tricks with the horses.
“I had no idea you were so good with kids,” Sasha says as we step inside.
I kick the door shut behind us with a tired sigh. “They’re not so different from drunk adults,” I joke, heading to the fridge. “Want a glassof wine?”
“God, yes.” Flopping onto the couch, she tilts her head back against the cushions, kicks off her shoes and groans. “My whole body is killing me. Especially my thighs. I haven’t ridden in so long.”
I grab two glasses and a bottle of wine, trying not to think about how much I want her thighs bracketing my head as I take a seat next to her on the couch.
Pouring us each a glass, I sit back with a heavy, thankful sigh. “You know… There’s a hot tub out back. I think we should take advantage of it. It’ll help with the soreness.”
She rolls her head to look at me and grins. “Let’s do it.”
twenty-six