Page 98 of Blue Jean Summer

I knew I was.

Each morning, I rose far more tired than I had been when I went to bed. I couldn’t stop looking at her long enough to actually fall asleep, but just being in her presence gave me the respite I desperately needed.

Catherine’s gentle companionship swept away my grief like an autumn breeze rustling through fallen leaves. The rise and fall of her chest was the altar where I laid my burdens. She had become the quiet place where I found refuge.

Catherine had come to the estate to help me save it, but I would have given every penny to my name and every blade of grass in the valley just to have her close.

And she had no idea.

Catherine paused at the stall closest to the entrance where Dorothy the calf was happily snoozing away. “It’s hard work being adorable, isn’t it?” she cooed.

I quickly finished getting Elvis tacked up. “Takes one to know one.”

The barn cat weaved through Catherine’s ankles as she left Dorothy to sleep and joined me. “Why, Hayes Wilder. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you like me.”

“I’ve always liked you,” I said rather nonchalantly.

Catherine rolled her eyes, but it was paired with a good-natured smile. “I don’t mean like that.”

I caught her around the waist and planted a hard kiss square on her mouth. “I know exactly what you meant, Cath.” I backed her up against the wall, trusting the horse to wait there for a second. Catherine gasped into my mouth as I kissed her again. “I’ve always liked you, but from the second you swore in the middle of the funeral, I’ve been obsessed with you.”

Catherine hooked her fingers in my belt loops and yanked my hips to hers as she nipped my lip.

I wrapped my hand around her throat and slowly smoothed it up the graceful column until I cupped her jaw. “That wasn’t very nice.”

Mischief twinkled in those heart-stopping eyes. “I never said I was nice.”

I kissed the corner of her mouth. “That so?”

“Maybe you should let me show you.” She reached down and squeezed the outline of my cock.

I almost came in my fucking jeans. “Cameras,” I whispered against her lips.

“Take me on a ride, then,” she whispered in reply, giving my dick one last squeeze.

She slipped out from between me and the wall and skipped over to Elvis like nothing had happened.

“I’m gonna need a minute,” I muttered as I adjusted the front of my jeans.

Elvis glared at me.

Getting Maisey ready to ride was a sobering task, cooling my simmering blood in an instant. She was so damn giddy to go on a ride that she tripped over her own feet coming out of the stall. Catherine kept her occupied with gentle hands and words while I got her secured in the cross ties to safely tack her up.

Since Elvis was more experienced, I rigged the basket to his saddle. Even though there was a mounting block for Catherine to use, I stole the opportunity to help her up…and grab her ass.

Catherine and I meandered through the lower pastures as the sun began to settle below the mountains. We rode side by side, her on Elvis and me on Maisey, and headed for the far side of the estate, where the mountains were quickly cloaking the valley in a veil.

“I know it wasn’t that long ago, but this feels a lot different than the last time we went riding,” she said, finally breaking the silence.

I knew exactly what she meant. The marriage had gone exactly to plan but had been nothing like I expected.

We made our way to the edge of the foothills. But instead of heading up to the kissing rock, we found an open spot in the valley close to the old hitching post that marked the trailhead.

I secured the horses, trusting Elvis to babysit Maisey. Catherine stood tall and regal, staring down the wide expanse of the valley. I watched her as I unfastened the picnic basket and blanket from Elvis and spread it out.

“My, my,” Catherine said, turning around and surveying my handiwork. “This is quite the setup.”

I wasn’t sure if that was a good comment or a disappointed one, so I kept rearranging the snacks I had pilfered from the kitchen back at the house.