“But I—”
“And I like you even better now.” He grinned.
More hooked than ever, Claire’s gaze fell to his very kissable lips. He looked as miserable as she was. Maybe more so, as she was at least passionate about her career choice. Eyes straying down from that incredible mouth, she envisioned crawling onto his lap, unzipping that coat, and wrapping her arms around his waist. Caesar snorted and shifted his feet in place to keep pace with Misty.
“Anyway, this is one of my favorite spots. Not that you can tell with all the fog, but the view is spectacular. We should head back. I’m sure Ryder has plans for the two of you for today.”
Claire didn’t argue as she let him pass and lead the way back. Yeah, fun plans alright. Even if she decided to stay with him, which was becoming less appealing by the minute, he would always choose his career over her. As immersed as she’d been in preparing for her career, she did not envision a career-centric life after graduation. “Sure,” she murmured. She just had to get through until dinner tonight, when she could end things and move on to the next phase of her life.
They took the long way back; he didn’t say as much, but she felt it. Caesar too, as he kept trying to veer off in a different direction, cold and ready for a treat back at the stables. Both remained quiet for a while, knowing it was a downright stupid idea to continue on the emotional path they’d been riding. But neither of the humans in the group was in any rush to return to the house and the future that awaited them.
Grady threw his legsover, dismounted, and landed on the ground with a thud. He offered to take care of the horses and saddles so Claire could go in and warm up. She didn’t complain once, despite her desert-acclimated metabolism, but the rapid chattering of her teeth over the last half mile had him worrying for the health of her dentition.
And he needed space. The more time he spent with her, the more time he wanted to spend with her. Each minute made the next that much more painful. What would his mother say when he skipped Claire and Ryder’s wedding? No way he could attend and come out whole.
Stubborn, Claire insisted on staying and helping. “Foothills is a gorgeous place. A far cry from Phoenix.”
Polite conversation. Yes, much safer than letting his imagination wander, wonderingwhat if. “I spent a few days in Phoenix a few years back. Like I was on Mars or something, bleak. I can understand the appeal though. It was sunny every day that I was there.”
And silence. Superficial was safer, but tougher when he was so preoccupied with her every movement. Caesar leaned into her as she brushed his coat after removing the saddle. It was a heavy saddle, and she’d pulled it off the tall stallion and returned it to the tack room without breaking a sweat. Important in her line of work, he supposed.
“I bet you’re a great vet,” he commented as she cooed to Caesar, the massive horse nuzzling, relishing in the praise.
“It’s not easy to convince a horse to take their medicine, so it takes a little TLC sometimes.” She led Caesar back to his stall and locked it behind her. Clearly craving a little more attention, the horse put his head out and nudged her for a little more of that sweet-talk. The horse sighed longingly. Grady did too. Claire rewarded Caesar with a chin rub.
Unable to resist, Grady walked over and stood next to her, with the excuse of bringing Caesar another carrot. They stood inches away. It may as well be miles for all the difference it made. She was still his brother’s fiancée. Which he told himself no less than every five minutes, because every four minutes, his imagination wandered, considering how soft that skin really was, how those lush lips might feel against his.
Still, the electricity between them crackled and zapped like a broken power line, ripped apart in a storm. Inches away, he couldn’t resist the magnetic pull. He shoved his hands in his pockets and closed his eyes, needing to convince himself to back away.
After one last pat for Caesar, Claire turned abruptly. She must not have realized just how close she was standing, and pressed her hands on his chest to steady herself instead of smacking into him.
Her lips parted slightly, inviting, and she leaned a fraction of an inch closer.
Desperate for one taste before accepting the loss of eternity with Claire, taking one last risk, consequences be damned, he leaned in, closing the distance before either had a chance to hesitate. Chest rising and falling in rhythm with his, her gaze trained on his mouth, she waited.
A reminder that he shouldn’t have needed, her phone buzzed in her pocket. He parked his tongue in his teeth and stepped back.
Claire jerked back and bit that lip he had almost gotten a taste of. Her eyes-of-many-colors were heavy with regret—that it had nearly happened or had been interrupted, he couldn’t be sure. And he hated that he’d put her in the position of having to decide.
Caesar nudged him and snorted a reprimand in his ear.
I know, old boy. I know. Just once.
Claire glared at her phone as she read the screen. “Dammit,” she muttered under her breath. “Sorry. Ryder’s done with his meeting.”
Grady tried not to jump for joy at her displeasure in hearing from Ryder, not actually wanting her to be unhappy, but still...
“Grady, I—” She trailed off and backed away, not leaving him a clue about what she wanted to say.
He was hoping for,I’m leaving Ryder, because you’re the only one for me, but he suspected it wasDon’t get any ideas, you jerk.
“It’s ok. I... yeah. Go join your fiancé.”
Her head whipped around and she glared at him. “Fiancé?”
“Yeah. Congratulations, by the way.” He tried to sound genuine, but it was really tough when he’d been within a breath of kissing her.
She let out a feral growl, stomped her foot, and stormed out of the stables. Huh. Something was definitely afoot at the Circle K.
