Page 26 of The One He Desires

“I think you’ll be good. Jeans are preferred, but we’re not going too far, and we need to hit the road so we don’t miss our time slot.”

I nod and quickly grab the second outfit from a small tote bag before we leave my apartment. Jitters cause my stomach to flip and spin during the journey from my apartment to where Sincere is parked. Calmness happens when Sincere opens the passenger door of his vehicle and waits for me to secure the seat belt before he moves to the driver’s side. I’m not sure how this is going to go, but I’m excited. Horseback riding on a first date? Sign me up. I have a feeling that Sincere is about to move the bar for new experiences.

“So where is Clem Stables? I wasn’t aware that we had a place for horseback riding here.”

“We don’t. We’re heading to the outskirts of Ribax.”

“Wait, you’re taking me across city lines?”

While the question makes its way out of my mouth, it’s not from fear or anything of that sort. I just have never had a man put this kind of thought into a first date. Sincere is definitely about to have me side-eyeing my exes, because they played in my face. Hell, I have a feeling that Sincere is about to have me erasing them from my memory bank. When Milan asks me about dating, I’ll use Sincere to measure what she should expect a man to do for her. A low chuckle from Sincere vibrates in my core as a smirk surfaces.

“Is that going to be a problem?”

“Not at all. I was just curious.”

“Ah. There’s nothing wrong with that. Thanks for confirming that I needed to think out of the box for what we did today.”

That you did, Mr. Esquire.

“You’re welcome.”

I sit back and enjoy the scenery on our drive to the first destination. Being with Sincere right now has a new meaning since I know that he put real thought into our time together. Happy feelings make me so comfortable that I lose sight of how long the drive takes. But excitement bounces in my body when Sincere turns onto a dirt road surrounded by trees. The closer we get to the front entrance, the more merriment rises within me. I hop out of the vehicle the second Sincere is parked as I jog to the wooden fence where several horses are grazing. Awe fills me because I have never seen a horse up close, and the ones I’m looking at now are so beautiful.

“I’m not sure what you’re used to, but don’t do that again, Journee.” Sincere’s voice sounds behind me, and I turn to see the disappointment in his countenance that matches his eyes.

Oop! See, this isn’t the peasants you’re used to, girl.

“Sorry about that.” Those three words are all I have, because explaining the low caliber I’m used to feels like overexplaining, as I’m sure he’s already come to the same conclusion.

“No worries. Come on, Mrs. Clem is waiting for us.” He extends his hand for me to take as the light returns to his eyes.

My heart thumps wildly in my chest with every step we take, and I see an older Black woman with a short, natural, tapered cut waiting for us. The salt and pepper in her hair gives her a regal look, and the smile she wears eases my nerves within seconds of reaching her.

“Welcome to Clem Stables. I’m Clementine Roberts.”

I display a matching welcome smile as I shake the outstretched hand of Mrs. Clem. Her energy is that of an old-school auntie, and it settles me into the calm I need to get through this experience. The next seconds bleed into minutes as Mrs. Clem goes through instructions, tips, and everything Sincere and I will need to know. What shocks me is when a handler walks out a black horse with a black-and-gray-streaked tail. Its coat is beautiful and shines brighter than a new penny. I can’t help but watch the horse like a hawk for a few seconds before my forehead wrinkles when I don’t see another one being led out.

“Are we taking turns riding? I’m not sure that I’m going to be comfortable with that.” I turn to Sincere as his eyes fill with merriment as he smirks.

“Nope. We’re riding together.”

“Oh.” The single word hangs on my lips like a pause as I nod in understanding and agreement.

Sincere removes the smidgen of space between us as he whispers for my ears only.

“If she bucks, she’ll have twice the weight, and I’ll fall first so I can catch you.”

While cheesy and a line I know I shouldn’t swoon over, I can’t help it. A rush of warmth spreads across my chest, and all I can do is nod. Knowing Sincere will be with me, falling doesn’t sound like a bad thing. Fantasies push me to lose sight of the next few minutes until Sincere reaches out his hand to help me climb onto the horse.

“Now, Ida is a great judge of character and one of my best for new riders. She should give you an experience without any trauma. Stay on the trail, and I’ll see you when you return,” Mrs. Clem instructs.

We were a few paces into the slow trot of this trail when something dawned on me that I had to speak on.

“Did you call this horse Ida?” The humor in my tone and low giggles can’t be helped as I wonder what made Mrs. Clem name her horse such a Black girl name.

“Yep. All of them have Black folks’ names according to the website. There’s an older one named Jethro. Poor horse is brown with gray all in his mane.”

My giggles increase at the name Jethro for a horse because Mrs. Clem is a wild one for that. But then reality returns when my eyes land on how muscular Sincere’s thighs are as he easily steers Ida. My arms tighten around his body for no reason other than to feel and bask in his physique. I’m not sure what he does in his free time, but if I had to guess, I would say he spends some of it lifting weights.