“I didn’t say stop, darlin’,” I murmur, voice low and rough. “But you should know—I’m piss poor at takin’ orders.”
“Ain’t that the fuckin’ truth,” Griff hollers, stomping up with Dusty’s reins in one hand and a grin on his face. “I’m takin’ him out to warm him up.”
“NO! You’ll break the poor bastard’s back!” Wilder cries, throwing himself onto his mare's back—a new one I haven’t met yet.
Everyone gasps, and I prepare to grab Georgia and haul her to safety if Wilder sets off a chain reaction. The mare rears slightly, but he coos and pats her neck, and to everyone's shock, she settles.
“Oh wow,” Emmy says, eyes wide and practically swooning. “You’re a natural.”
Griff scoffs. “Or he’s just full of shit. Asshole spent three summers ridin’ with me in Tennessee.”
Emmy’s head snaps to Wilder. “You said you’d never ridden before!”
His cheeks go pink, but the dick just winks.
“No, baby girl. I said I’ve never riddenyou.” He clicks his tongue and guides the mare down the barn aisle like he was born in a saddle. “But I’ve got a feeling that’s about to change.”
Emmy squeals and climbs on her own horse, galloping after him. Wiki chases her. And just like that, I’m left standing in the middle of the barn…
Alone with Georgia Walker.
Exactly where we shouldn’t be.
“So,” she drawls, rocking back on her boots, brows high. “Was there a reason you barreled over here like a—”
“Rabid hyena?” I mutter.
A beat, and then a giggle bursts from her ruby-stained lips. A smile sneaks up on me at the light sound, but I shake my head, sighing. My hands slip into the deep pockets of my jacket, and I pull out an apple, banana, and a bag of almonds.
My big hands hold the loot between us like an offering, and I look away, jaw ticking.
“What’s this?” she asks. “For the horse? Wiki said she just had—”
“No,” I grunt, digging a few pills from the pocket of my jeans. “You need to take somethin’ for that hip before you ride. Looked up what’s safe for your stomach. Internet said acetaminophen, but not to take it on an empty stomach.”
I didn’t miss the way she limped around my house, or every flinch and twinge from her hip. Must have hurt it slamming the breaks when she went in the ditch. I make a mental note to teach her how to safely coast when caught in the mud.
The I ask myself when the fuck I started caring enough to do something like that.
“Wh-what?” She looks shocked, a little confused, and maybe like she might cry. “Where did you…when…”
“It’s not a big deal,” I grumble, thrusting them at her. “I ran by the Big House on my way here.”
“Kade…”
“It’s a snack, not a million dollar condo!” I bark, cheeks burning red-hot. “Eat the fuckin’ food, or I’ll give it to the horse.”
When she still doesn't take a single thing, I step into her, shoving each item into her pockets.
She sucks in a breath, staring up at me, all wide eyes and thrumming pulse. Her breaths puff against my jaw, and I can see a slight tremble in her frame. I’m half worried I might kiss herinto submission, but a bigger part of me’s worried she’s going to pass out, or fuck, fall off the horse from the pain.
Gripping her chin, I drag our faces closer and pinch tight enough to make sure she’s listening.
“You may hate my guts, Georgia Walker, but I’ll be damned if I watch you slide off one of my fuckin’ horses because you’re too stubborn, or self-conscious to eat in front of me.” I swallow hard, eyes flicking between hers. “Don’t know when it happened, but I care about you and your wellbeing. Take care of yourself, I’ll be forced to do it for you. Got me?”
“Okay,” she finally breathes, nodding once. “I got you.”
My fingers hover a beat longer than necessary and her eyes drop to my mouth where they linger.
