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Out of habit, Dax moved to her side and reached for her. It was something he’d done for Brielle and several of the Callahan women over the years when he was charged with the brush down after a ride. Sarah stared at him like he’d grown antlers.
“What?”
“I’ll help you down.”
She shooed him off. “I can do it myself, thank you.” Sarah rose up and moved to take her right foot from the stirrup, but something caught. The momentum put her off balance and she teetered, a small sound of surprise escaping her lips. Dax’s arms shot out and wrapped around her waist before she had a chance to tumble from the saddle.
Still, Sarah fell against him, their bodies colliding until he could put her securely on her feet. Her hands remained on his shoulders and she stared at him with wide, nervous eyes. It wouldn’t have been a fall that caused another concussion, but he could understand why she might be a little shaken.
Where his hands held her at her waist, a spark ignited. The energy flowed from her body into his. Time slowed as he gazed at her, waiting for her to react to him even a little. Her big, brown eyes looked just like a doe in the woods and she remained frozen. Was she experiencing what he was in this moment?
His focus lowered to her mouth as she brought in her lower lip between her teeth. The quiet intimacy that clung around them seemed to nudge him into a completely new train of thought. He could steal a kiss, bridge the gap where he lackedreallyknowing her.
Dax dipped his head, lowering slowly, getting closer and closer to her as his fingers dug into her soft waistline. Sarah blinked rapidly and she swallowed but didn’t pull away from him. Was this it then? Was he really doing what Brielle had accused him of? Could the walls be crumbling right before his eyes?
She lifted on her toes and exhaled through parted lips. Two more inches and their lips would graze against each other. His pulse roared through his body. There was nothing wrong with developing a relationship with this woman. There was nothing to hold him back, not really.
A stall door about fifteen feet away from them burst open and a cowboy backed out, leading a horse, saddled and ready to go.
Sarah tore out of his grasp, her face flushed and her eyes darting to the ground.
Sean glanced from Dax to Sarah and back. His eyes narrowed and he adjusted his hat. Clearing his throat, he nodded to them. “Dax. Sarah.”
Dax swallowed at the lump in his throat. “Sean. I thought you were out at the country club today. Aren’t you training a fresh set of horses?” He could see it in the way Sean hesitated. He probably thought something shady was going on between himself and Sarah. Well, nothing was and based on the way Sarah continued to edge away from him, nothing would.
Sean gave Dax a short nod. “I was. But Adeline mentioned that a few pastures needed to be checked, and I finished early so I thought—”
“We already checked on them.” Dax moved swiftly past Sarah, a scowl on his face. He retrieved the reins of each horse they’d ridden and gave Sean a pointed look. “While we appreciate you helping out here and there, the Callahan ranch is in good hands, I assure you.”
“I never said it wasn’t.” His mouth twitched, spreading into a small smile. Sean’s brows remained pinched. “May I suggest going on a date outside of working hours? Then you might not be interrupted in such an awkward manner.”
Sarah’s blush darkened and her eyes flew open as she shook her head. “I—we—we’re not—”
Sean held up a hand. “There aren’t any rules prohibiting you two from dating. I merely make the suggestion because you’re going to find it hard to get some privacy in here.” He flashed Dax a smile and led the horse toward the door.
Dax bristled. “Like I said, the pastures checked out. You don’t have to—”
He waved toward Dax with a dismissive hand. “I’m here. She’s saddled. I’m sure we can find something to do.” He disappeared out into the sunlight, the clopping sound of his horse’s hooves dissipating.
Dax watched him until Sean could no longer be seen, the reins still in his hands. When he turned to face Sarah, she leaned against the stall door a few feet away. One foot was propped up against the frame behind her and she had her arms folded. She avoided his gaze, but he didn’t expect anything else.
He led the first horse into a stall, turning her around and then shutting the door. When he got the other horse into her stall, he reached for the belt beneath the saddle, letting himself go on autopilot.
They’d nearly kissed. His body still hummed with nervous energy. It probably shouldn’t have gotten that close. Thankfully, Sean had interrupted them when he had. Dax was Sarah’s supervisor. That was enough to make their relationship a bad idea, right?
Right.
He grabbed the brush, praying that Sarah would leave and go find something else to do. With the way he was feeling, he wasn’t sure how he’d react to her if she stayed. He needed to clear his head.
“Dax?”
Dang it.
17
Sarah
Ialmost kissed him! Oh my goodness, I almost kissed Dax Heaton. What am I doing?
