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“Stop acting like you’re bad for me. Like there’s something wrong with you.” My eyes were drawn to her hands, which fisted at her sides. “We can’t be together, you’re right. But don’t give me this crap about it being because of you. Because I’m innocent, and that makes you what—evil?” She shook her head, and her shoulders shuddered as the words moved from her lips. “I don’t buy it.” She took a step closer. “I don’t buy it. Do you hear me?” Her voice cracked, and I wondered if she’d cry. “You’re amazing. Sweet and funny.” Her hands opened, palms up. “Caring and kind. So, no, I don’t buy what you’re trying to sell me. If you don’t want me because—”
In one step I closed the gap between us and swung my arm around her hip. I pulled her against me as my mouth lowered to meet hers. I fisted a handful of her hair, tipping her head up gently to deepen the kiss.
I couldn’t get enough of her. Her tongue slipped into my mouth, and I lost control. I stepped forward too fast, needing her more than I needed air, more than I needed anything. Our lips broke free as she stumbled back against the wall. I pressed a hand to her shoulder and kissed her again as she caressed my naked chest, her fingers blazing trails of fire over my skin.
Her hand went to the waistband of my pants, but I grabbed hold of her wrist, knowing we couldn’t do this right now. Not in this room.
I stopped kissing her and lowered my forehead to the top of hers, resting it there as I tried to catch my breath.
“We should get dressed. The kids are waiting.”
She started to turn, and I could see the disappointment in her eyes. I reached back for her, stopping her. “Tonight, Anna. Tonight.” I was a fecking idiot but damned if I’d let her get away.
She looked up at me, wetting her lips, and I had to remind myself once again where we were.
“If you change your mind I won’t blame you because I’m not lying when I tell you I’m no good.” She had to know what she was getting herself into. She needed to understand that I was a lost feckin’ cause.
Her fingers over my heart held me still. “I guess that’ll be for me to decide,” she whispered.
* * *
The kids were in heaven. After two hours of intense lessons they were out on a trail, all on their horses, trailing one after the other down the path.
Anna was on horseback ahead of me. I’d been having trouble focusing on anything other than her in her brown leather cowboy boots the last few hours. She’d assumed a teaching position alongside the two owners, adding information about the breed of horses, and so forth. It was nice seeing her in her element.
Her horse was galloping, and her long hair flowed back, catching in the sunlight like strands of gold. “Anna,” I called, attempting to catch up with her as I gently tapped at the sides of the horse with my boots, urging the horse to pick up speed.
She tugged at the reins a little, slowing down. She glanced over her shoulder at me, shooting me a wide smile.
The horse beneath me slowed next to her, maintaining her pace. “You’re amazing.”
“And apparently, you’re one of those annoying people who are good at everything!”
Ha. I was doing my best to act like I knew what the hell I was doing, but I’d much rather be riding a motorcycle. Being on the back of something alive—something with a mind of its own—made me nervous. And I wasn’t used to being nervous.
She tipped her left shoulder up and rolled her eyes at me. “Can you sing, too?”
“No. Not even a little.”
“I don’t know if I believe you.”
“You’ll have to take my word for it because it’s something you’ll never be invited to judge for yourself.”
“You don’t even sing in the shower?”
“Not even there.”
Although she could judge me in the shower all she liked.
“Hm.” She chuckled and looked forward at the path as the kids trotted ahead of us. The trail was tucked into the woods, shaded from the light and a little cooler than the open field. “You cold?” Her thin jean jacket probably wasn’t giving her much warmth. When would the woman learn to check the weather?
“Don’t even think about being chivalrous again.”
“God forbid,” I teased.
We rounded a bend on the path that moved us back out into the sun. “What’s your favorite part about riding? You like the speed, don’t you? Admit it. When the horse runs—you love it, right?”
“Are you kidding, love? If this horse starts running, I might have a damn heart attack,” I admitted, decidedly not caring if this made me any less macho. To hell with macho.
