Page 78 of Here With Me

She goes up on her tiptoes until our mouths collide. Her warmth sends a chill down my body as she fists my shirt and presses her breasts against me.

“You’re bein’ a stubborn mule,” she murmurs when we’re only an inch apart.

My hand slides down and grabs a handful of her ass, pulling up her dress with the movement and feeling her thin cotton panties. “One of us has to be rational.”

“Your dick wants to stay.” She wiggles her body against me, and I hold her hips firmly in place to stop her.

“Exactly, and that’s the opposite of goin’ slow.”

She sticks out her lower lip in a faux pout, and I shake my head.

“We didn’t go slow the first time,” she reminds me.

“And you deserved better than a hookup in a camper, so I need to make it up to you now.”

“Okay, fair enough. Wine and dine me, then fuck me against every inch of my house. Deal?”

I cough, choking on air and shock. “Deal.”

She smiles, and I kiss her forehead, lingering for a moment to inhale her floral shampoo. “Sweet dreams, Goldie. I’ll call ya tomorrow when I finish at the Monroes.”

It takes all my willpower to walk back to her truck and not change my mind. I want nothing more than to bury myself deep inside her all night, but I’ve never been good at relationships. If I’m risking everything for happiness and love, I’m doing it right this time.

ChapterSeventeen

Noah

Seven o’clock comes quick when you don’t fall asleep until two in the morning.

But it was worth it to be with Fisher and finally discuss the elephant in the room. We were fools to think we could just be friends after the night we shared. Though it could come back to bite us in the ass, I’m hopeful we’ll be able to figure out how to tell Jase and my family.

At least for now, we can focus on getting to know each other without everyone else’s commentary.

I haven’t stopped smiling since I woke up, and given that I’m dealing with a feisty shit, that says a lot about how I’m feeling. Not even Craig Sanders could sour my mood today, even after everything he said last night.

“C’mon, Piper. We can do this!” I rub her neck and then adjust the reins and dig my heels. She’s been a little stubborn, but we’re working through it.

She takes off, jumps over the first rail, and smoothly gallops to the second, where she does another perfect leap. When we reach the third rail, the highest one, she tenses up, and I know she’s going to hit it before she does.

“Alright, girl. Let’s try that again.” I direct her back to the second one and restart. Once she’s in position, I kick and raise the reins higher right before she leaps and clears it.

“Yes!”

Piper’s an Appaloosa I started jump-training a couple of weeks ago. Her owner, Harlow, is new to jumping, so we’re starting easy. She’s only sixteen, but her older sister, Delilah, used to date Waylon, so I offered cheap lessons to get her started. Figured it was the least I could do for their family for having to deal with my brother. Harlow comes for riding lessons a few times a week, and I work with Piper in between.

I train her for another hour, going back and correcting her jumps and finding a rhythm. Once I bring her to the barn, Ruby brushes her for me so I can go to the family barn and take Donut for a walk. With the craziness of this past week, I haven’t had time, and he’s getting moody.

When I check the time on my phone, a text from Jase pops up.

Jase

I’d like to get dinner with you again. Just the two of us.

I re-read his message, and my first reaction is to send the vomit emoji. Instead of offending him, I go with honesty.

Noah

I’m pretty busy until the fundraiser.