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“Yes, I—” I snap my mouth shut. Do I want to admit this to him? “I had complications after having Olive, and my heart became enlarged and damaged. I am lucky to be alive, but the only problem was that I needed a heart transplant. I was waiting, and Eli wouldn’t bring Olive to me, so I’m guessing that’s where I ran into you. Not long after that, I got my transplant. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.” Moving my hand from his, I swipe away the dampness on my cheek. “But hey, you don’t want to hear my sob story.”
“I mean, you probably already know mine since it was blasted all over the news. I’m happy to listen if you’ve never talked to anyone about it. I’m more than happy to be that person for you.” He gifts me a grin that stirs something in my stomach, causing butterflies.
“How about I race you to the creek, and then we can talk?” Without his reply, I give Holly a little kick, and she takes off at a slow gallop. Dolly catches on and quickly follows.
“What the—” Sebastian cries, and I glance back to see him scrambling to stay in his saddle. We aren’t going that fast, so he has plenty of time to make his adjustments to stay put. Laughter bubbles from my mouth as a rush of exhilaration is doused over me.
It’s been so long.
Too long.
“YOU PLANNED THAT, DIDN’T YOU?”My nerves rattle around inside me like a heap of loose nuts and bolts on an old truck. She got me good, and that laugh was magic to my ears. If my near-death experience makes her giggle, I’m sure I could stop that by taking her on a hot lap in one of the safety vehicles on the track.
Dolly follows at a good speed. Thank goodness for the little knobby thing on the saddle—it stopped me from toppling from my seat. This isn’t the easiest thing I’ve done. Give me a Formula One car and track any day over a horse.
We come to a little stream about two feet wide. Medium-size greenery and some tall trees are scattered along the bank which borders the blue-green water. This is what I call heaven. I’m so glad I came here. I’ll have to bring the girls down and maybe have a picnic.
“This place is beautiful.” I sigh. The sun sparkles as it hits the clear water.
Dee slips off the horse gracefully. I attempt to follow her moves, but my foot catches in the stirrup. I jump around on one leg until I manage to get my foot loose and then fall in the dirt. A cloud of dust surrounds me as the dirt settles onto my jeans.
Delilah laughs—she practically cackles. Her arms wrap around her stomach as she drops to her knees, full-on belly-laughing. Getting up, I race toward her and scoop her up. She stops laughing.
“What are you doing?” she cries while still giggling. It’s then she realizes, stops, and tries to get out of my arms. I grip her tightly against my chest. Her heat radiates through me, stirring something within me as if shaking the invisible dust and cobwebs from my withered heart and giving it life again—giving me life again. Joy at the connection with another woman.What would Anna-Beth think?
“Put me down,” she cries again, pulling me back to the present.
“Okay, I’ll put you down.” Stopping at the creek edge, I bend over and drop her into the shallow water—jeans, boots, and all. She screams and bolts upright, then lunges for me, taking my hand and yanking me toward the water.
Once in the water, she moves closer to the bank and stands in front of me. Before I can stop her, Delilah pushes me in the chest, causing me to stumble backward into the deeper part of the water, and every part of me is drenched—clothes, runners, and all.
Oh, she’s going to get it now. She runs away behind the horses, and we do this silly little dance as she avoids me. “I’m going to get you, eventually.” I laugh.
“Are you, though? I mean, I could jump on Holly and take off. You haven’t seen any of my skills yet.” She waggles her eyebrows playfully. The stir of desire comes in hot and fast. I rush her, and after a moment, I get a hold of her arms. Throwing her over my shoulder, I go back to the creek’s sandy bank.
“Now you’re in for it.” I run into the water and drop her from my shoulder. She gets up, her hair wet and sticking all over her face. She wipes it away. I laugh at her swamp-monster look as she wraps her arms around me and tries to pull me down. My hands slide around her.
Everything slows as I take in our position. Her big blue eyes are wide and glittering with happiness. They shift from my eyes to my mouth and back up again. Ever so slowly, so as not to frighten her, I lean into her and bump her nose with mine. Her eyelids flutter closed and then open. Our breaths mingle. Tenderly, I brush my mouth over hers, a featherlight kiss on her strawberry-pink lips, and her body trembles beneath my touch. I tighten my hold on her, pulling her against me. The gentle sound of rushing water is the only sound around us.
Delilah pushes up on her tiptoes. Our mouths crush harder together. Our tongues dance and taste each other. This moment isn’t what I was expecting today. But why does it feel so right?
A HUNGER I HAVEN’T FELTin a long time bubbles to the surface, and I want Sebastian’s kisses and touches all to myself. Eli had stopped being sweet and gentle almost as soon as we left the ranch. Sebastian ignites a flame that had been extinguished almost three years ago.
The kiss slows, and he pulls away. His hands stay resting on my hips, and I relish his possessiveness.
“I’m sorry,” we both say in unison, then chuckle.
“I wasn’t expecting anything like that to happen,” he says as he reaches up and moves my damp hair from my face, then glides his thumb down my cheek.
“Neither was I,” I admit while I internally freak out. I kissed Sebastian-freaking-King. I must be dreaming. “I think you’re going to have to pinch me because I’m not sure if this is real. These things don’t happen to me. It’s like a scene from a Hallmark movie.” And now I have a moment to process, freak out. My thoughts turn back to Eli and that hole of emotions I haven’t dealt with yet. I’m not sure how to.
Am I a bad person for not mourning him properly? I haven’t even read his suicide note. The police read it, and when they could, they gave it back to me. When I moved back to the ranch, I shoved it in the darkest part of my wardrobe. That’s not dealing with it—it’s hoping it will go away. It’s not like Ihaveto know what it says.
My palms rest on Sebastian’s firm chest. I can’t bring myself to look at him. Shame washes over me so fast that it blindsides me.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have,” I mumble and drop my hands from his chest and make a move to go around him. His grip tightens, and he pulls me back in front of him. He uses one finger and lifts my chin to meet his heated gaze. There’s a fire blazing in his eyes.
“You don’t need to be sorry. I should be. It’s clearly too soon, but I couldn’t help myself. It’s like there’s an invisible rope pulling me toward you, and I don’t know how to cut it. I’ve wanted to hang out with you since the day I arrived.”
