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“It was nice to meet you too,” Maeve says, lifting her hand in a half-hearted wave. She looks almost disappointed. Or maybe I’m just flattering myself.
“See you soon, buddy,” Cade says.
There’s a twinkle in my friend’s eyes, a happiness, and a stab of guilt rips through my chest. Cade has been waiting for this day for a long time. Ever since he found out he had a sister, he’s been waiting for the day he could get her away from their abusive parents and give her a better life. I can’t ruin this for him. Not that I’d ever stand a chance with a curvy angel like Maeve anyway. I need to bury these crazy feelings right now and treat Maeve just like a man is supposed to treat his best friend’s younger sister. But as I watch them turn away and begin the walk back to Cade’s cabin, Maeve looks back at me. Our eyes meet for barely a second before she turns away, but it’s enough to start my heart pounding like horse hooves against my ribcage. I stand like a statue in the middle of the snow-coated paddock, my face turning numb from the cold as I watch Maeve’s retreating figure. I don’t take my eyes off her until she finally slips into Cade’s cabin and out of sight.
4
Maeve
My brother’s cabin feels even cozier as night draws in. I snuggle up in front of the roaring fire in the living room, trying to focus on the book in my hands. But I just can’t absorb the words. My mind is too full of Jackson Ryder’s sexy blue eyes, and it’s not easy to lose myself in a fantasy story when my real-life fantasy is just a short walk across the pastures. Our meeting earlier keeps replaying in my mind, and it doesn’t help that I can see Jackson’s farmhouse from the cabin, the lights glowing against the night sky. I can’t stop myself from glancing out of the window again and again, staring at those lights as if I might catch a glimpse of Jackson if I watch for long enough.
“What do you keep looking at?” Cade asks when I peer up from my book for the third time in a minute. He’s sitting at the table whittling something out of a hunk of wood, watching me with a raised eyebrow.
“Nothing,” I lie, trying to sound nonchalant. I turn away from the window and finally give up on my book, closing it. “I think I’m going to head to bed.”
“Alright. Well goodnight, kiddo. Sleep well.”
I smile. “Thanks, old man.”
Once I’m finally curled up in bed, I close my eyes, desperate to sleep. But Jackson Ryder is determined to keep me awake. The memory of him riding his horse is enough to keep sleep at bay, and I let out a sigh. I should be focusing on my new life in Crave County, not fantasizing about my brother’s best friend and how sexy he looks riding a horse.
But I can’t help it.
A familiar tingling is building between my legs, a throbbing need that makes me groan with frustration.
No way am I going to masturbate over my brother’s best friend.
The ache is enough to drive me crazy, and eventually, I slip two fingers into my panties, seeking out my clit. I suck in a breath as I start to rub in circles, heightening my pleasure. My mind wanders, flooding with images of Jackson on top of me, naked, driving into me, fucking me, filling me. It’s so wrong, but I’m too close to an orgasm to care. I stifle my moans, clamping my free hand over my mouth as I come with a throb of pleasure, shuddering as my orgasm washes over me. The pulsing between my legs gradually weakens until I’m spent, and immediately, the guilt hits me.
What the hell was I thinking? This mountain air must be messing with my head.
Touching myself did little to relieve the aching between my legs, and I toss and turn for hours, unable to get comfortable. It’s a long time before I drift off, and once I’m finally pulled into a restless sleep, my dreams are dominated by a handsome figure on horseback with blue eyes that twinkle at me like diamonds in the sun.
* * *
I wake up early the next morning, even earlier than Cade, and I force myself out of bed with a resigned yawn. I’m still groggy and tired, and I decide to take a quick walk to wake myself up before breakfast. I wrap up warm and grab a book, just in case, before scribbling a quick note to Cade telling him I’m heading out.
It’s a cold morning, but the sun is bright as I head out into the fresh mountain air. I could go in any direction, but my feet are already carrying me automatically toward Blaze Valley Ranch, back to the spot where I first set eyes on Jackson Ryder. I’ve decided to push my crazy fantasies from last night to the back of my mind, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting another glimpse of the cowboy who has taken over my thoughts.
I’m not sure where Cade’s land ends and Jackson’s begins; it all just looks like one big snowy blanket, and I stop for a second to admire the view. From somewhere in the distance, I can hear a rhythmic crunching sound, and I frown as I look for the source. The sound is getting closer, and I whip around, my heart sinking into my stomach. A wild horse is galloping toward me at top speed, riderless and spooked. It’s so close that I can feel the ground shudder beneath my feet. With a strangled cry, I throw myself aside, desperately trying to avoid the horse’s path. I feel my knee scrape against the frozen ground as I fall, but I’m too shocked to look. I’m too busy watching the frantic animal barreling past me. Before I can catch my breath, another horse streaks past, its rider, Jackson, swinging a rope.
What the heck is happening?
I watch in awe as Jackson chases the runaway horse and swings the rope above his head before tossing it forward. The lasso lands perfectly around the runaway horse’s neck, and Jackson pulls the horse to a stop before dismounting his own animal. He approaches the runaway gently, staying it with a soft touch until it’s placid once more. As soon as the horse is calm, Jackson turns and runs toward me, his handsome face crumpled with worry.
“Shit, are you okay?” he asks, kneeling down beside me on the ground. “Are you hurt?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think so.”
“Thank God.” Jackson sighs. “I’m really sorry. Artemis spooks pretty easily. I saw you jump out of the way to avoid her, and I would have come to check on you straight away, but I couldn’t risk the horse coming toward you again. I had to calm her down first.”
I swallow hard, my heart hammering as Jackson helps me up off the ground, making me feel weightless as he sets me back on my feet. I’m praying he can’t see the evidence of last night written all over my expression.
“I’m okay,” I assure him shyly. “Really.”
Jackson gives me a once over and grimaces, his eyes on my leg. “You’re not okay. You’re bleeding.”
I follow his gaze, looking down at my leg. The fall ripped my jeans at the knee, and blood is seeping from the grazed skin, staining the denim.
