Page 5 of 40 and Flirting (with Disaster) (Silver Foxes of Black Wolf’s Bluff #5)

Five

J amie reached to grasp JD’s hand for a firm shake as the two men met on the threshold of Bourbon he doubted anyone else was aware of her reactions, but he was so fine-tuned to her every movement that he couldn’t miss them if he’d tried.

“A horse?” she asked. “You have a horse named Baby?”

“I do.” He grinned. “Want me to whip out the photos on my phone?”

She laughed. “Tell me about her. She’s having a baby? Is she your only horse?”

Erin jumped in. “Jamie owns a farm between Gatlinburg and Black Wolf’s Bluff. Flying Horse Ranch? How many horses do you have now?”

He shrugged. “A couple dozen. The number fluctuates between births and the sales we make.” He added, for Iris’s benefit, “I breed American Quarter Horses.”

Something seemed to click into place for her. “And you own the Carousel, right?”

His mouth quirked in a grin. “Right.”

Her laugh did strange things to his heart. “‘Flying Horse Ranch.’ That makes so much sense.” She paused as their server arrived with everyone’s drinks. “So, how did you get into horse breeding?”

“I moved to the area a good thirty years ago now.” Had it really been so long?

Time flew when you were getting old, he guessed.

“I bought the land because I like my space, and because I wanted horses for pleasure. I never expected to breed them, but I caught the bug with my very first quarter horse and”—he shrugged, a tingle shooting through him as his shoulder contacted Iris’s—“the rest is history.”

“Was Baby your first?” Iris asked.

He chuckled. “No, that was a bay named Cerberus. Ironic since he was the gentlest gelding I’ve ever owned.

I fell in love with the breed then, slowly built my herd, expanded the farm…

” He glanced around, realizing he might be monopolizing the conversation, but the others talked around them, leaving him and Iris in their own little world.

What had he been saying? Oh.

“Baby’s official name is Daddy’s Girl.” He grinned. “She was born ten years ago on the farm, and the minute I laid eyes on her”—his gaze met Iris’s, and a sense of déjà vu came over him—“I fell in love.”

His voice had gone husky; he couldn’t help it. The words hung in the air between them, full of suggestion, until the arrival of the server with their food interrupted them.

The conversation flowed around the table as the group ate, and Jamie took a back seat, wanting to learn more about Iris now that he finally had the chance.

He’d caught glimpses at a couple of social functions, civic events where the city council of Black Wolf’s Bluff were present, and through the conversations with Erin about her friends, but it wasn’t the same as watching Iris actually interact with others, getting to interact with him herself.

Those few moments last December had sparked his interest, but tonight opened up a whole different view of the woman beside him, one he both admired and wanted even more than he had before.

Good food and good company had the evening passing far sooner than he wanted it to.

As the checks were collected, talk turned to where each couple was headed for the night.

JD and Lily needed to drive back to Black Wolf’s Bluff in preparation for an early morning meeting Lily couldn’t miss.

Carter and Erin had a sitter for Thad, and had rented a suite to enjoy some time on their own.

Claire, Scarlett, and Iris were all staying in town, at a hotel just down the street, which was also where Jamie had reserved a room.

He no longer enjoyed traveling through the night if he didn’t have to; better to rest in a nice warm bed and travel the next day, in his opinion.

Tonight that decision was a good one for a whole other reason.

“Let me escort you ladies to the hotel.”

Erin’s wink was discreetly hidden from her friends, and he silently thanked her for suggesting the location for his overnight stay.

Hugs were shared all around, and then he found himself walking up the sidewalk with Iris at his side, Scarlett and Claire slightly ahead of them in what he was fairly certain was a strategic plan to give him some alone time with their friend.

Iris shivered at his side. “Cold?” The evening had cooled off significantly after the day’s summer heat.

She shot him a wry smile. “Tonight is cooler than I expected.”

Without comment he slid his blazer from his shoulders and wrapped it casually around hers. Iris protested even as she snuggled into the collar’s warmth.

“No worries,” he assured her. “I’m sure if I get too chilly, you’ll keep me warm.”

He loved the fact that he could provoke that pretty pink color in her cheeks with just the right words.

Iris walked on in silence for a moment, then surprised him by stopping on the sidewalk and turning to face him. “Thank you.”

“I told you, I’m fine in the cold.”

“Not for that,” she said. “For…” She glanced at her friends up ahead, then back at him. “I never got a chance to thank you for that night.”

Ah. “You don’t have to thank me for that, Iris.”

She glanced down at her hands, clutched around her purse.

“I do. I—” She seemed to struggle to form the words she wanted, but Jamie waited patiently, wanting to hear them, wanting to know her every thought.

“I’ve never told anyone exactly what Kirk said to me that night.

I never wanted anyone to know.” She met his eyes, uncertainty in hers.

“I hated for a long time that you’d heard them.

Hated that anyone knew what he wanted of me. ”

He stepped close, his hand rising without thought to cup her cheek. “What he wanted is on him, Iris, not you. It’s a reflection of his own internal lack.” He rubbed his thumb up and down her soft skin. “You are everything you need to be, just as you are.”

Her eyes closed, and she leaned into his touch. After a moment her spine stiffened and she opened her eyes. Determination filled them.

“Jamie?”

“Hmm?” Those pretty gray eyes drew him in, stealing his words.

And then she spoke again, and his voice deserted him completely.

“Would you kiss me?”