Page 91 of Paper Horses

I heard his heavy footfalls, noting that he hadn’t taken his boots off like he normally did. Within seconds he was hovering over me, a gorgeous grin lifting his lips.

“You are the turn-on, Olivia.”

Bringing his face to mine, I kissed him, crinkling my nose. “You smell like horses and hay.”

“Spent the morning mucking out the stalls. What do you want me to smell like?”

“You.”

He drew back, his eyes roving over the hair I’d thrown into another messy bun. Not that I would ever admit to Tori that I liked it that way. With a nod to my hair, he said, “You wearing it like that for me or because you like it?”

I reached to my neck, touching a loose curl. “Why does it matter?”

“Because it does. Now answer the question.”

“I’d rather not say because it might get back to my sister-in-law, and I’ll never hear the end of it. I already have the cat socks to contend with.”

A tug at the corner of his mouth had my stomach tumbling.

“So it’s not something you’re forcing yourself to do?”

Smiling, I shook my head. “No. I kind of like it. Although I would never go out like this.”

“That’s my girl.”

And those tumbles turned to trembles.

“What if I’d told you it was for you?”

“Then I’d tell you to take it down and wear it the way you want. I’m all for you pushing your boundaries, but only if it makes you happy.”

This man. How had I gone so many years without him in my life?

“It does, and I’m compromising on the rest.” I gestured to the blouse I had worn to complement the jeans.

“I see that.” His eyes made their way down my body, appraising it in a way that made my insides warm. “And I like it.”

“Because it makes me look good?”

He lowered his head with a shake. “Olivia, you always look good. I like it because it makes you happy, and seeing you happy has always been my favorite thing.”

I captured his face in my hands and tugged his mouth to mine, kissing him again. As his arm came around me, I slung my arms over his neck. Nibbling on my lip, he said, “Get some boots on and grab my coat. I’m taking you riding.”

I leaned my head back, seeing the sheen in his eyes that made them shimmer.

“Is that a new kink? Should I wear your cowboy hat, too?”

“Damn, you’re as dirty as I am. No, but you’d look pretty sexy in just your boots and my hat. Let’s try that tonight instead of those flimsy things you call pajamas.”

He scooped my arms from his neck, picked me up by the waist, and plopped my feet on the floor.

“Oh, you’re serious.”

“Course I am. When am I not serious?”

“But I’m going through the details for the ranch. Tori sent me numbers, and it looks like Gabe set us up with enough money to make it work. I need to send him a list of prime contenders to woo when I get back in town.”

Hands rubbing up my arm, he narrowed his eyes at me. “First of all, you said us, which I like.” I had. As if I were part of the ranch, part of his life, a permanent part. “And second, what’s this about wooing?”