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But what really struck me was Evelyn…Evelyn who immediately glowed.
Lit up like the sun breaking at the horizon, casting the brightest rays that cut through the darkness and shined into the hidden places inside this child that seemed so hard to reach.
I eased in front of her, ensuring that Mazzy was calm before I extended my hand. “Come on in. Why don’t we get her bridle on and maybe her saddle, too, so you can take your first ride?”
Not that she would really be riding since I’d be walking around guiding the horse at her side. But to Evelyn, I knew this was what she’d been waiting for.
“You really even mean it?” Hope split through her being.
“I think you’re ready, Evie-Love. What do you say?”
FIFTEEN
CALEB
I wasn’t going to lie. The horse made me fucking nervous. Really fucking nervous. I had my hands shoved in my pockets to keep from marching over and making a bunch of dickhole demands. From getting all overbearing and tyrannical, which was the way I had been taught to run my company, but I was coming to the quick realization that wasn’t the way to raise a child.
Not that I’d put my finger on it by any stretch or had been suddenly enlightened.
But by the sharp look Paisley had given me when I’d followed them into the barn, I knew I was about to cross over a line that would be considered rude.
The viciousness gliding through my senses when I found that fucker Nate eyeing Paisley up and down like she was something to eat didn’t help things. Not when I had the twisted sense that I wanted to stalk up to her, pull her against me, and stake my claim.
This possessiveness over a woman who wasn’t mine welling from the places I needed to keep contained.
So I was really fucking proud of myself that instead of submitting to the urges, I instead rushed up to Paisley when she was both trying to balance Evelyn’s small saddle with one hand and hold onto Mazzy’s lead rope with the other.
“Let me help you with that.” I took the saddle, earning a speculative glance from the woman I hadn’t been able to get off my mind for the entire weekend.
Nights spent tossing in my sheets, dreaming of her riding me where she straddled me on my bed, that wild mane of white hair around her, tits bouncing, pink nipples peeking through the locks.
I locked the thoughts down and followed her out to the corral outside the barn. Evelyn had taken her hand, and she trotted along beside her, grinning up at her every second like she was staring at the sun and couldn’t look away.
“Put that right there on the fence.” She gestured with her chin to the top rail of the corral. I placed the saddle on top of it, watching as Paisley led Mazzy into the corral.
“Okay, let’s brush her down before we get her saddle on.”
“Got it right here.” Evelyn held a pink brush up like a prize.
“You’re on it, aren’t you?”
“I gotta be if I’m going to take the bestest care of my Mazzy.”
Affection spun through Paisley’s expression, and she glanced at me for a split second, a beat of understanding as I looked at the little girl, too.
My guts tied in something I didn’t know how to process.
Unsure of what it was or what it meant.
Evelyn began brushing the horse the way Paisley had shown her, so careful and full of awe, like every time she stroked the brush down the horse’s side, a piece of her mended.
I prayed it would be the case.
Paisley had a larger brush, and she had her arm looped under Mazzy’s neck and was brushing down her back. She quirked a grin at me. “You want to give it a go, bossman?”
“Uh?” I hesitated. I had no idea why.
“Scared?”
“That thing might bite off my finger.”
She laughed.
Laughed a throaty sound that slicked through me like a warm, wicked dream.
Temptation.
“I can assure you this horse will not bite off your finger…unless you’ve been bad.”
Innuendo spun through her words, a tease that she tried to hide in that heart-shaped face that made her look so innocent.
I was pretty sure innocent she was not.
I eased up to her, pushed my mouth to her ear, murmured, “You have no idea, Ms. Dae.”
I didn’t know if it was a warning to push her away or draw her closer.
But a shiver traveled her spine. I wanted to trace it with my finger.
Evelyn was still brushing away, oblivious to the exchange.
Paisley cleared her throat. “Okay, I think we’re ready to get her saddled. First the blanket.”
Evelyn ran over and grabbed it, hoisting it up and groaning as if she were competing in a weightlifting championship, and waddled over to give it to Paisley. She situated it on Mazzy’s back, giving Evelyn instructions, while I got the saddle.
