Page 79 of Someone to Hold

Normal is an underrated way of being in life. People like me or Teddy, with our flash and bigger-than-life adventures, get all the attention. But it’s people like Molly who make the world a better, more beautiful place. In her case, one bright bloom at a time.

“I’m going to tell Laurel that I can ride just as good as her,” Luke says, squaring his shoulders.

“Not everything between you two has to be a competition,” Molly reminds him. “You can both be good riders.”

“We are,” he clarifies, then grins. “Only I’m better.”

He runs out of the barn, and I open the gate to the arena to lead Gumdrop back to his stall.

I tip my hat toward Molly. “You have a standing offer for riding lessons.”

“I think you’ve given me plenty of lessons,” she says, deadpan.

I throw back my head and laugh. “You give as good as you getin that area, sweetheart.” After glancing past her to ensure the coast is clear, I lean in and kiss her.

She sighs and sways closer to me, and immediately my body shifts into high gear.

“Last night was amazing,” I say against her mouth.

She pulls back and searches my gaze. “I was worried when I woke up and you were gone.”

Gumdrop nudges my back, but I keep my focus on the woman in front of me. “Worried about what?”

“Just…you were gone.”

“But I came back.” I smile. “With a horse. I got the coffee ready and watered everything in the greenhouse so you wouldn’t have to.”

Her mouth lifts at one corner. “But you didn’t leave me a note.”

I shake my head. “I figured you knew I’d be back.”

“Sure, because your horse and your trailer are here, and you owe?—”

“No, Molly. I’d be back because of you. Sure, I left to get the horse, but also because I thought you could use some sleep after I kept you up half the night.” The real truth is that I forced myself to leave. To prove that I could when everything inside me wanted to stay.

“I didn’t mind,” she says, and I kiss her again.

“You’re the reason I came back. Not a debt. You.”

She draws in a slow breath. “Next time, leave a note.”

“Next time I’m going to wake you up kissing my way down your body so there’s no question in your mind of where I want to be.”

“That would be okay,” she says, like we’re discussing the weather.

I lead Gumdrop into his stall, give him a scoop of oats, plus one for Fancy because I can’t ignore my girl.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I tell Molly as I reach out and linkour fingers together. “And I’ve got to tell you, it fucking kills me not to be able to touch you whenever I want. I was never good at keeping secrets.”

I feel the change in her immediately, the tightness that grips her.

“I’m not ready for my kids to know.”

I press a finger to her lips. “I understand.”

And I do, even though I hate it, because it’s a reminder she isn’t mine. This is just some la-la-land fantasy we’re playing at, but it’s bound to end, and I’m afraid it’s going to end with my heart in a thousand torn and tattered pieces in the dirt.

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