“And I would tell you that you’re worthy of love, forgiveness, and happiness. More than worthy, even.”
Josie’s eyes had been fixed on the calf, but at those words, they flicked up to meet Seth’s. Without thinking, he leaned over and took her lips in a soft kiss, a move that was only vaguely familiar after their night together. In answer, she pressed closer, her full mouth against his. Seth chucked the calf bottle to the side of the stall and reached out to grasp the back of Josie’s slender neck to beckon her toward him, his heart ratcheting up to a drum line chorus pace. She met him move for move, her lips both frantic and firm as she crawled over to straddle his lap. She cupped his jaw in her hands and deepened the kiss in such a way that Seth had to repress the low noise that rumbled in his chest.
Kissing Josie was an exploration of his heart and hers, seeing how they responded to the other with their mouths and their movements. They were in sync in so many ways that weren’t just physical. Seth wondered if he had ever met anyone that did that to him before. Or if he’d ever meet anyone like that again once she was back on her feet financially and didn’t need to park on their land. Once she left the ranch—and Seth—for good.
That thought pulled him up to a full stop. His hands dropped from Josie’s waist.
Reading his hesitation, she slunk off his lap. “I’m sorry.”
“No. Please don’t be sorry. I started it. It’s just—I’m realizing the more I kiss you, the more I don’t want to stop.”
The calf wobbled over to Josie’s side and flopped down, and he let out a small moo when he draped his sweet head across her lap. She scratched the baby animal right behind its ears. “If it’s any consolation, I feel the same.”
“Yeah. I guess it is.” Seth jammed his fingers through his hair and raked his scalp. “I just don’t know what’s real and what’s not anymore, Josie.”
She took up his hand and placed it right above her heart. “I’m real.” She said, then moved their hands to the same spot on Seth’s chest. “And you’re real. That can only mean that all of this must be real, too.”
“And is that okay with you if it is? If it’s not all fake feelings and playing the part?”
“Yeah, Seth. It actually is.”
He kissed her cheek and dropped his head to her shoulder while his fingers unwound from hers and moved to pet the calf, stroking along its adorable little face. “I think I’m falling for you, Josie Friar.” His heart lodged in his throat with the brave admission.
“I go by Josie Ford now, remember?” she teased, never missing a beat.
Wouldn’t that be something?, was all Seth could think but this time, he kept that confession to himself.
20
Josie
Josie used the rasp against the thoroughbred’s hoof to smooth out the last bit of uneven surface. She placed the gauge to measure the angle, pleased that it was spot on and balanced like always.
It was good to be back. She hadn’t missed a beat and that was a relief she let puff up her chest with justified pride.
Over the next hour, she molded, fit and nailed a full set of shoes on the newest rescue at Bridgette’s sanctuary. Her muscles ached, but in a good way, and her healed arm didn’t give her any trouble. It was the best case scenario all the way around.
“How much do I owe you for today?” Bridgette had her checkbook out and pen in hand. She leaned up against Seth’s truck that housed all of Josie’s farrier tools in a big, metal storage bin stowed in the bed.
“Seventy-five.” With her teeth, Josie gripped the leather edge of her glove and tugged it off. Immediately, Bridgette’s eyes went to the sparkling cubic zirconia on her left hand that had been concealed until that moment.
“I see you two are really playing this whole charade all the way out.” Her eyes hung on the ring before they lifted to Josie’s.
“It’s not entirely a charade.” Josie turned the stone around with her thumb, insecurity sweeping through her belly. She jammed her hand into her pocket. “I mean, the marriage is, but we aren’t.”
“You’re telling me you and Seth actually have a thing going on?”
“We do. In a way. It’s complicated.”
Bridgette’s head twitched a little as she scribbled out the check, tore it off, and held it out for Josie to take. The small piece of paper fluttered between her fingers. “Isn’t it always?” she said cryptically. “Just be careful, Josie. Seth is a good man. He doesn’t deserve to get hurt.”
“That’s good, because I don’t plan on hurting him.”
Bridgette leveled Josie with a look that embodied a heavy dose of disbelief in that statement. “I’m serious here, Josie. I care about Seth. Maybe not in a romantic way like I used to, but part of me will always love him. You don’t know him the way I do.”
“That’s fair. I don’t.” It was true. They hadn’t known each other long at all, but sometimes a soul recognized something in another’s and that’s all it took. The connection was faster than a head horse out of the gate.
Bridgette’s arms bound across her chest and she pushed off the truck with her backside. “I’ve agreed to keep your little secret, but that all goes out the window if I think there’s any chance you’re doing this for the wrong reasons.”
“I’m not,” Josie said firmly, but her voice didn’t reflect the worry unfurling deep in her stomach.
It was one thing to play house at the ranch, but wearing the ring around town and keeping up appearances in Riverburn—a place she had lived her entire life—was a different story.
Josie ruminated on that the whole drive to the diner and when she pulled up next to Seth who had driven Marcie’s smelly station wagon to meet her there, that churning turned into a full-on swarm of butterflies. He was typing something out on his phone, but he caught her out of his eye and shoved the cell into his coat pocket, then popped open the car door. Before she could place her fingers on the handle, Seth was at her side of the truck to help her down.
“How’d it go?” He took her hand into his as Josie’s foot found the running board. “Your arm’s not sore at all, is it?”
“Actually, no. It feels really good to be using it again. I didn’t realize how much I missed shoeing horses, Seth. It was just like riding a bike.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Happy for you, Josie.”
Seth didn’t release her hand when they walked into the diner, and even when they were guided to their seat by the teenage hostess, he waited until the last minute to let go. Josie slid into the vinyl booth and picked up the flimsy menu, but she had it practically memorized. She didn’t need to look at it. She always ordered the meat loaf with mashed potatoes, no matter the time of year. But today’s crisp, fall weather definitely called for comfort food.
Seth didn’t pick up his menu, either.
“You already know what you want?” she asked, nudging her chin toward the untouched menu.
“Burger and fries will do. You?”
“I always get the meatloaf. It’s so good. Better than homemade.”