“That’s what’s so great about being on horseback. You can see out-of-the-way places that you might not, otherwise.”
“Exactly.” He was more pleased than he wanted to admit that she’d taken to riding with such enthusiasm. He loved being out here, and sharing the experience with her had been… nice. He wanted to be angry with Alex for upsetting the status quo, but Alex had his reasons, and Jack understood that. Jack had a protective streak, too.
He looked over at Josie. “Ready to go?”
Her gray eyes sparkled with anticipation. “Yep.”
“Then squeeze with your legs and heels and Destiny will get the message.” Jack only had to nudge Bandit and make a clucking sound for the big horse to stretch into a canter. Destiny was on the lazy side, but he also liked to keep up with whatever horse was alongside.
Jack took off and glanced over to find Josie right beside him, her cheeks pink and her eyes alight with joy as Destiny broke into a canter. At that moment Jack realized Josie’s happiness had become very important to him. He remembered feeling that way ten months ago, but then his father’s death had deadened so many emotions, including his feelings for Josie.
Now those feelings were coming back, and it was exactly like the tingling in his hand or his foot when circulation returned after that part of him had fallen asleep. He couldn’t decide whether he liked the sensation or not. In his experience, too much of that tingling sensation could be dangerous.
But here was Josie riding along beside him, full of life, and sexier than any woman he’d ever known. Being with her made him forget about his responsibilities for a little while and just be. For that he was grateful.
As they reached the tree line, he called over to her so she’d slow down. If she couldn’t do it alone, he was prepared to grab Destiny’s bridle and help her, but she’d kept her feet in the stirrups and one hand on the reins. She guided Destiny into a walk with no help from him.
“You’re catching on,” he said.
“I hope so. There’s not much time left.”
“We still have almost a week before the wedding.”
“Right. Is that the path?” She pointed to a narrow trail through the trees.
“That’s it. Head on down that path. I’ll be right behind you.”
“Then you can coach me. I want to try trotting again.”
“Don’t torture yourself, Josie. You can work on that another day.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “I want to learn it now. I’m inspired after that canter. Just watch me, okay?”
“If you say so.” Jack would have preferred a leisurely pace as they approached the clearing he’d chosen for today’s rendezvous. Jouncing along on Destiny’s back didn’t seem like an appropriate prelude to good sex. But what did he know? Maybe Josie would find it stimulating.
She urged Destiny into a trot, and at first her sexy bottom slapped the saddle the way it had the past two days of riding lessons.
Jack cringed every time she came down and hoped she wasn’t damaging any sensitive parts. “Push your feet into the stirrups and keep your heels down,” he said. “Then sink your center of gravity into your seat, relax your lower back, and grip through your entire leg.”
Her heels came down as she tucked her tailbone under her and sat up straight. And then, miracle of miracles, she stopped bouncing. Instead she moved that delicious behind in rhythm with the horse.
Watching her was so damned erotic that he wondered if he’d make it to the clearing without closing the distance between them and pulling her off her horse. She moved easily back and forth, back and forth, and it was way too much like sex for his comfort.
“Jack, I’m doing it!”
“Yes, you sure are.” She was doing it for him, too. His balls ached something fierce. “Congratulations. You’re becoming quite a rider.”
“I had no idea this could be so much fun. I’m thinking I need to buy a horse.”
“Now that’s just plain silly. We have horses galore at the ranch. Destiny’s yours to ride whenever you want, and now that you’re more comfortable in the saddle, you can try out some of the others.”
“Thank you, Jack, but I… I might need my own.”
“I can understand that, but at least you could stable your horse at the ranch.” Jack liked that idea a lot.
The Last Chance didn’t normally stable horses that didn’t belong to the ranch, but Jack was willing to make an exception in Josie’s case. Having a horse in the Last Chance barn would give her a reason to come out often. Going for rides together could become a common thing.
“We’ll see.” She guided Destiny into the clearing. “Oh, Jack, this is lovely.”
He had to admit she was right. A canopy of pine and oak sheltered an area filled with wildflowers and ferns. A tiny stream ran along the far edge of the clearing before disappearing beneath the undergrowth. Water gurgling over smooth stones made a slurping sound that sounded a little bit like two people having sex.
Outdoor sex took him back to his younger days, before he’d had access to indoor recreational opportunities. With Josie’s brother in residence, he didn’t have a lot of choice now, but the natural setting had turned out great. It suited Josie.
It suited him, too, come to think of it. He’d forgotten how liberating it could be to make love out in the open with a breeze caressing his bare skin. He was eager to get that program started.
Josie dismounted and tied Destiny by separating the reins and looping them around the trunk of a tree. The horse would have to uproot the whole damn tree to get loose today. Jack smiled. Josie obviously didn’t want to be interrupted.
Maybe last night had been only a blip on the radar, nothing to worry about. Josie was acting as if nothing was wrong, as if they’d continue the plan of getting together every morning for a riding lesson and great sex. Jack tied Bandit to a tree and took the blanket, the brownies and the bottled water out of his saddle bag.
“You should put the blanket over here, by the stream,” Josie said. “The water sounds like—”
“I know. Like sex.” Today they had plenty of time and wouldn’t have to rush. His body had started to hum in anticipation, and he enjoyed the buildup of tension. This was good. Very good.
Setting the plastic bag of brownies and the water bottles to one side, he shook out the blanket and laid it close to the stream. “How’s that?”
“Perfect.” Bracing herself against a tree, she pulled off her boots and socks.
He did the same and had to laugh at what they were doing. “We’re like two married people getting ready for bed.” He said it without thinking, but once the words were out, he wanted them back, especially after he saw her expression. “That was stupid. Forget it.”
“But it’s true.” She walked over to him barefoot. “In some ways it’s as if we’ve known each other forever.” She cupped his face in both hands. “But in other ways, we don’t know each other at all.”
“Ah, Josie.” He pulled her close and gazed into her eyes. Something about the way she was looking at him was unsettling, but he was afraid to put a name to it.
Instead he sought to recreate the magic they’d once known. “Let’s take your hair down.”