Page 21 of Save A Horse (Texas Rose Ranch #1)

Colt

I had woken up with a migraine. I helped my dad with the cows, and then he told me togolie down for a bit. I was really struggling. I knew stress was causing this one, and those were always the worst.

“John called. He needs help with repairing a fence.I’llbe back later.I’lllet Daisy know on my way out.”

“Okay, dad.”

Daisy and I stillhaven’ttalked. I wanted to give her space, and all I have been doing is hopingthat shewill come to me whenshe’sready to talk and hear me out. I did mess up and I would tell her that and own up to my mistake.

I wanted to be back in her presence more than anything. That was all I ever wanted, even as a kid. Hopefully, we can work this out together.

? ? ?

“Hey, Daisy.”Even at seven years old, Daisy had my heart. I was one smitten nine-year-old, and she had no idea.

“Hey, Colt.”

“Whatcha doin'?”

“I’mgoing on an adventure!”

“Can I come?”

“You’realways invited!”She smiled at me, and my heart skipped a beat. I smiled back at her. Her happiness fueled my own. I felt every emotion she felt.

We started walking through the fields. Our parents never really worried about us running off somewhere. We always listened and knew how to get back.Itwas one of the perks of growing up on a ranch, knowing where everythingisbecause you literally spent every waking moment outside.

“Check it out!”Daisy bent down, picking up a rock.

“A rock?”

“Not just any rock, silly.”

“Huh?”I was so confused. All I saw was a rock in her hand.

“Look at it.”She raised the rock up, her fingers grasping it. I took it in.“It looks like a heart. Do you see it?”I looked at it again and saw what she saw.

“Yes! I see it!”

“Iwonder how big our hearts are. Do you thinkthey’rethis big? Or bigger?”

“I don’t know. I think mine’s bigger.”

Of course, mine was bigger. It had to be so much bigger than the rock Daisy was holding because of all the love I had for her. She was everything to me. She just didn’t know it yet.”

? ? ?

The sun was beaminginthrough the window and I lay on my bed, thinking of Daisy and wishingthatthis migraine would ease.

Daisy hadbeen hard at workthe last few days, even more so since before the argument.

I knew what she was doing. She was running away from her problems instead of facing them head-on.

That was typical character for her, but Iwasn’tgoing tosay anything about it.

I knew better. I lay therea whilelonger andcouldn’tscratch the feeling in my chest. I needed to see her, and with my dad being gone and not coming back for a while, this was my perfect opportunity.

I stepped out on the porch, looking around.

Ididn’tsee Daisy anywhere, which usually meant only one thing.

With my hands in my pockets, I made my way to the barn.

Once I got into the line of sight, I could see her.

I took her in as I walked, seeing her perfect curves andthe wayher body fit in those jeans. She was a sight for sore eyes.

Still, I was uneasy.

“Hey, Daisy. Can we talk for a minute?”I was so nervous that I thought I might faint, but I had to have this conversation, and it had to be now. Itcouldn’twait any longer. Time was up. She nodded.

“Sure.”I rolled my neck from one side to the other, breathing out. After all this timehas passed, I should know what to say by now. I should have it all planned out.

“Iwanted to talk to you about all this.”

“Okay?”

“This is my fault, and I own up to that.”Boy, was I stating the obvious.

“Okay.”

“Daisy, could you stop it with the okays? I want you to know why I promised my dad what I did.”Gosh, she was so infuriating sometimes.

“Alright.”I rubbed my head with frustration.

She crossed her arms and continued.“So, why did you promise him that? I mean, do you have any idea how that made me feel? Andyoutelling me that after the night we had…itjustfelt like you were trying to put distance between us. Idon’tlike that.

Idon’twant there to be any distance between us.

”I tried to respond, but Icouldn’tget the words out.

“It’snot like that. I just…this place is my life.

It’smy legacy, too, not just his. I want to take over someday.

You know that. At the time, you and Ihadn’tspoken since right before your mom died, and I barely thought we would talk and be able to get along again once you got here…

at least not like when we were kids. And I definitelydidn’texpect anything else.

I figured work was allboth of uswould be doing this summer. ”

“So that makes it okay? Youdidn’tthink about how this could affect me.”Her words were breaking me.

“You’reright. Ididn’t. I thought it would be good for both of us, you know…to not have anything complicate you being here.”

“Good for both of us?”She was mad, her voice getting louder.

At least my dadwasn’there to hear this.

“It seems like you were making decisions for me, like Icouldn’tmake themon my own.

Youdidn’tconsider how I would feel at all.

”I could hear the catch in her throat as she spoke.

I stepped closer, wanting to touch her, but she rejected my embrace.

“I’m sorry, Daisy.”

“That’sall you keep saying, Colt.”

“Because Idon’tknow what else to say. Ididn’tmean to hurt you.

I care about you so much. I always have.

But Ican’tlet my dad down.It’sjust..

.complicated.”I wish she wouldjusttell me what she wants…

what she needs.I’lltell her anything she needs to hear to get us back tothe waywe were. I just can't lose Daisy again.

“Complicateddoesn’teven begin to describe this. I know youdon’twant to upset your dad, Colt. I know that. But where does that leave me? Where does that leave us?”I knew she was hurt, and this was breaking my heart so much to see her in this kind of pain. I wanted it to end.

“Daisy…”

“Spit it out already, Colt, becauseI’mgetting tired ofhearing I’msorry. Give me more than that.”

“Ihad feelings for you as a kid, and I have feelings for you now.”I had finally confessed the feelings I had buried deep inside. It felt like a proclamation.

“You had feelings for me back then?”I nodded. I waited to see if she would say anything, but shedidn’t, so I continued.

“Idon’twant to pick a side, Daisy. I want to find a balance. We can figure this out together, butthere’ssomething I have to do first.”I wanted her…right then,right there, right now.

“In the middle of a conversation like this, what could you possibly have to do?”I came so close to her, whispering in her ear.

“This.”

I cupped her face into my hands, bringing her lips to meet mine. I wanted every ounce of herat thismoment, and nothing was about to stand in my way. I backed her against the barn doors. I kissed her, starting from her neck and working my way down to her lips. They were still as soft as ever.

“Come on.”I took her hand and led her to the house, making our way into the kitchen for what I had on my mind.

“What are we doing?”

“You’llsee.”I gave her a minute to figure out what wasgoing on, then replied.“How about a little fun?”I winked at her and she giggled.I took the ice cream from the freezer,allpart of my plan.

“Let’smake this interesting.”She grabbed the can of whipped cream from the fridge.“Take off your shirt.”I whipped around to face her, realizing that she was catching on. I slipped my shirt off, feelinga littlesweat as it lightly stuck to my body.

She sprayed a generous amount of whipped cream onto my chest. It was cool against my skin, and I laughed a little.

“You think you can handle this?”I teased.

She bit her lip and placed a hand behind my neck. I wanted to kiss her, but she backed away right when it was about to happen. Gosh, she was being a tease, and it was working. She drew circles on my skin where the whipped cream was.

“Maybe I want to add more.”

“Oh, really? Show me what you got.”

She leaned in again, licking off some of the whipped cream she had put on my chest. I laughed.

Iwas really turned onright now, feeling her touch and seeing her worship me like she was doing.

Once she cleaned the whipped cream from me, I took her hand and pulled her closer. I loved the way it felt to touch her.

“What’snext, Daisy?”She grabbed the tub of ice cream.

“I’mnot done just yet.”

She held up the ice cream like a trophy. She took the spoon and plopped some down on my bare chest, and I gasped. She ran her fingers through the ice cream.

“How’s this working for you, cowboy?"She has started calling me that as a teenager, and it was my favorite nickname. I moaned a little as she licked the remnants off my chest.

“You’regoing to pay for this.” As she finished cleaning my chest, I laughed, then kissed her.

I kiss her hard, wanting to taste every single bit of her.

“Alright,it’syour turn now.”I picked her up and put her on the counter.

I needed her there. I took the tub of ice cream from her hands, using the spoon to scoop some out.

I pointed the spoon at her shirt. It had to come off.

“Come on now.Don’tmake me beg.You know I will.

”I would beg. I would worship her if she asked me to .

“Maybe I want you to beg.”I got on my knees and peered up at her. She was hitting all the right buttons.

“Come on,darlin’. Let me get a little taste.”She pointed at the tub of ice cream I was still holding.

“What are you going to do with that?”I winked at her, getting back up on my feet. Igot closer toher and watched her closely as she took off her shirt, examining every layer of her bare skin.

“Don’t worry. You’ll enjoy this as much as I did.”

I put the tub on the counter beside her and leaned in closer.

I propped myself on opposite sides of her, moving closer to her.

I went in for a kiss and pulled back just as I was centimeters away, just as she had done to me.

I started licking off the ice cream from her body, starting with her neck.

I remained there for a bit, loving the taste.

“Ihave one last surprise for you.”I walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of chocolate sauce.“Youdidn’tthinkI’dlet you get off so easily with being a tease earlier, did you?”

I squeezed the bottle and let the syrup drip down her chest. I stopped it with my lips before it rolled down her body too far. I kissed her chest where the sauce stopped, then licked her in one motion all the way up to her neck and back down again. Her taste was indescribable.

I slid the bottle across the counter and pulled her close. I wanted to consume her...devour her. We fit perfectly together. I was so glad to have this back.