Page 49 of Second Chance Saloon

Jackie elbowed him in the side. “Hey, cowboy, eyes here. You already have a girl who’s trouble.”

Mitch put both his hands on her hips, eyes locking with hers. “Don’t I know that. So much trouble. Mostly when I can’t stop thinking about her.”

Jackie swallowed a laugh and dragged her teeth over her bottom lip. She laced her hands behind his neck. “That sounds uncomfortable.”

Mitch’s lips lingered inches away from the corner of her mouth. “You have no idea.” His warm breath tickled her skin, awakening an electric ball of lightning inside her gut. “What do you think I could do to remedy that?” he rasped, his nose brushing against her cheek.

Jackie curled the fingers of one hand into the fabric of his hood, while pushing the other into his thick waves. “Come to the ranch with me next weekend? Mimi’s away. We’ll have the place to ourselves.”

Her suggestive tone wrapped her words into the cocoon of an unspoken promise. She didn’t say what she meant, but she knew he’d understood. It had been coming for a while, and it wasn’t like she didn’t try to further their physical connection. They never went all the way, pulling up for breath and untangling themselves whenever things got too heated.

Jackie was so ready for it, for him; she only hoped he felt the same way.

Mitch drew in a shaky breath, his chest rising and falling against hers.

She tightened her embrace, moving her head just enough to put her lips on his.

His mouth opened slowly to welcome her tongue, one of his hands pressing harder into her hip and the other traveling to her back.

She pulled on his hair, eliciting a low groan from him, which she swallowed. Her heart rammed against her chest, rubbery knees at risk of giving in.

He tasted like chlorine and the spearmint chewing gum he liked, and she didn’t care that she hated water and swimming. Because even if she was to fall in the water again and drown, if this was the way she would disappear from the face of the earth, she’d want to do it exactly like that: in his strong arms.

Whistling and heckling broke the spell. They jumped apart, Jackie scoffing at three of Mitch’s teammates.

“Get a room, Craigton!” one of the guys said, all of them laughing.

Mitch didn’t seem flustered at all. He glanced at them with disinterest. “Like you do for dates with your hand, Glancy?”

More laughter boomed across the lobby, when some girls started giggling. Jackie didn’t even attempt to listen to what they were saying among themselves. It didn’t matter. She wasn’t bothered by silly remarks like that.

They waited until the group disappeared outside. Then, Mitch turned back to Jackie. “We should probably head back.”

“So … us, ranch, next weekend?” Jackie asked, a slow smile hooking her lips. “I won’t take no for an answer.”

Mitch laughed, dropping a kiss on the tip of her nose. “You’re impossible. Of course it’s a yes. It’ll always be a yes when you ask—you should know that by now.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Jackie

Mitch insisted on walking Jackie back to her room after dinner, and the ready-made excuse she’d held on to for the entire night escaped her the moment he looked at her the same way he used to when something wasn’t up for discussion.

Rea came rushing toward them the moment they entered the lobby. “Miss van Moetlier—I mean, Jackie! I’ve been looking for you, so glad you’re here.”

“What’s wrong, Rea?”

Rea gasped for breath. “It’s Lina. She’s foaling, but it’s been half an hour already and her water hasn’t broken yet. I honestly didn’t understand much of what my dad was saying, but Mom wants you to come. She says you might know what to do.”

Mitch frowned. “Lina’s a horse?”

Rea’s eyes widened like she hadn’t seen him standing there before.

Jackie glanced at him. “She’s a mare. Rea’s parents run the horseback-riding excursions I mentioned earlier.” She swallowed, worry lines creasing her forehead. “Is there another vet who could come help?”

Rea shook her head. “Mom tried calling the practice, but they’re closed now. We didn’t think she was going into labor until our vet was back. No idea what to do.”

Mitch squared his shoulders. “I can help. How far is it?”