Page 16 of Pretty Little Scars

“Don’tyouhave other plans? Fence to fix, or something to butcher, or animals to feed?”

“We’ll feed the animals, my crew is out riding fence, and I don’t butcher much of anything here.”

My shoulders sag.

“What’s wrong, Duchess?”

He steps toward me, almost close enough to touch, but he doesn’t reach for me. This man is really good at respecting my boundaries, which only makes me like him even more. His voice is soft and not at all taunting. He sounds concerned.

“I might be just a little intimidated,” I finally admit, and I refuse to look him in the eyes because damn it, this is a vulnerable thing for me, and I’m not good at being vulnerable.

“Hey, look at me.” I press my lips together and finally look up into his gorgeous green eyes.Why do they have to be my favorite color?“There’s no need to be intimidated. Ellie’s the sweetest, and I’ll be right next to you. Don’t worry, I’ve got you. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

My feet stay planted where they are at his words.

I’ve got you.

God, I almost believe him.

Finally, I nod, and he leads me to the animal, who’s as sweet as can be.

Tucker shows me how to saddle the horse, and then we lead her out to a nearby empty pasture.

“Here, I’ll help you up.”

“Wait.” I take a step back, and Tucker lifts an eyebrow. “So soon?”

“We’re not here to stand around and admire Ellie, although she’s pretty enough. We’re here for you to ride her.”

“Right.” I lick my lips and push my hands down my jeans. Why are my palms sweaty? “Okay.”

“I have to touch you to help you up. I’ll just grip your waist.”

I nod and step closer. “Okay. That’s fine. How do I do this?”

He shows me how to put my foot in the stirrup and grip onto the saddle horn.

“I’m going to touch your waist now, okay?”

He’s right behind me. I can feel the heat of his body, and I instinctively want to lean back into him. Instead, I bite my lip and nod, and then his big hands are bracketing my waist, and he boosts me up into the saddle.

“Loop your leg over,” he says calmly as my heart goes into overdrive, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to die. “And slide your foot in the other stirrup. Good. You look like a natural up there.”

I can’t breathe, I’m so fucking nervous.

“Duchess.”

I shake my head. I can’t look at him. I can’t move. It’s so high up, and I feel like I’m going to fall any second.

“Take a breath for me. Come on, you’ll pass out and fall off. I need you to breathe, Darby. I swear, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

He rubs his hand up my thigh, and I immediately pull in a breath. I don’t want to shake his touch off at all. In fact, when he pulls away, I miss it.

His voice, his very presence iscalming.

It’s like he soothes my overactive nervous system.

“Are you afraid of heights?” he asks.It would be great if he could just talk to me all the time. Not just now, but ... always.