Page 57 of Sunrise & Serenity

For a moment, the only sounds are the thud of Cozy’s hooves in the dirt and the creaking of leather. Eventually, though, Sage speaks again. “Will you tell me what happened?” Her voice is reserved, uncertain in a way that doesn’t fit her.

When I don’t answer right away, she tightens her hold on the reins enough to slow Cozy to a walk again.

I rub my hand across my mouth. What am I trying to hide? My injury’s no secret, as much as I don’t enjoy talking about it. So I nod. “Do two full circuits at a trot, and I’ll tell you.”

Her brows shoot up, as if she was expecting a different answer. But she straightens in the saddle and urges Cozy forward again.

This time, she moves with the mare almost immediately, making it all the way around, and flashing me a triumphant smirk as she finishes the first circuit.

I circle my finger in the air. “Keep going.”

When she finally comes to a stop in front of me, her smile is bright with accomplishment.

I distract myself from it by patting Cozy’s neck. “Good job.”

“I’d like to think you’re including me in that sentiment,” Sage says. “But I’m pretty sure you’re only talking to Cozy.”

Her mouth is tilted in amusement, but there’s something almost wistful in her eyes. The look sends me flashing back to her confession the other night, that her parents never told her they were proud. I’m an asshole. I’ve been barking orders at her for the last hour because I’m pissed about my attraction to her, while she’s been hell-bent on succeeding at an activity she wasn’t interested in doing in the first place.

“City.” I squint one eye as I look up at her. “If I had a coffee right now, I’d give it to you.”

She blinks at me, then lets out a peal of laughter. “Before or after you give Cozy a mint? No, wait. Don’t answer that. I’ll take what I can get.”

The corners of my mouth tilt up as I soak up the warmth of her amusement. I want to believe it’s because she’s the only woman other than my sister I’m spending time with, but I can’t deny that the more I’m around her, the more I enjoy her company.

I hold Cozy still as Sage swings her leg over and dismounts. The move is much more graceful than the first time she did it.

Which means I have no reason to wrap my fingers around her arm and turn her to face me.

But I do it anyway.

As her eyes meet mine, she wets her lips, and my body goes on full alert. I force myself to merely brush a loose strand of hair from her cheek, a featherlight touch that still feels too intimate.

“You did good, Sage.” My voice is lower, rougher than it has any right to be.

Her breath catches, her body swaying toward me. Fuck, when did wanting a woman start feeling so damn dangerous?

“Holden,” she breathes.

“Mmm?” I can’t stop staring at her mouth. So soft and pink. Would it really hurt to just kiss her? I’ve always been better at actions than words. I could show her how seeing her smile eases something inside me.

I could let her know exactly how proud I am in a way that would leave no doubt.

But it wouldn’t end there. And unlike on the circuit, there’d be no moving on tomorrow or the next day. She’d be a temptation too hard to resist, living right next door. At least until she leaves—or I do.

I step back and clear my throat. “You wanted to know about my shoulder?”

A flash of hurt crosses her face, and I curse myself for making things worse instead of better. But a moment later, her mouth tilts into a smile.

I don’t like that I can’t tell whether it’s real.

“I believe that was the deal,” she says.

I nod, take Cozy’s reins, and gesture toward the gate. “There’s not much to tell,” I say as we start walking.

Rick was there when the doctor gave me the news—he was the one who broke it to my sponsors. I told my family the bare minimum when I showed up here and said I was hanging up my bull-riding hat. But other than that, I’ve barely talked about it.

Maybe because it still hurts like a punch to the gut.