Page 27 of Tempting Wyatt

We cover ground quickly—checking fences, making sure cattle aren’t stuck in the creek beds, running through the usual feed and water checks.

I do my best to focus on the work and not on her arms around me.

With each passing hour, she surprises me.

She helps without being asked. Doesn’t complain once.

Caleb and Isaac gripe more than she does.

By the time we finish the morning chores, she’s still smiling, and I’ve somehow managed to keep my temper in check while ranch hands blatantly checked her out at every stop.

“How do you feel about riding?” I ask, shutting off the four-wheeler and leading her toward our family’s private stables.

Ivy’s eyes widen. “Um, I’m a fan of riding.”

A blush rises in her cheeks, and I don’t know if it’s from the heat or because she’s thinking about something else entirely.

Coughing to clear my throat—and my damn head—I nod toward the saddles as we pass through the double doors. “Have you ever ridden a horse before?”

She eyes the curious animals warily. “My mom dated a guy with horses when I was a kid. I rode a few times.”

Sunny lifts his head in the far stall, looking for attention, and Ivy grins as she steps toward him. Buckeye stretches his neck over, too, hunting for affection.

Lucky and Chief must be out in the pasture.

She scratches each of them briefly on the neck, then glances at me. “They like me.”

“These guys have no chill around an attractive woman.”

The second the words leave my lips, she stills. The air between us shifts.

I didn’t mean to say that out loud.

“Guess they can’t all be growly, axe-wielding mountain men,” she teases, smirking up at me.

My gaze drops to her mouth—her full, kissable mouth—and for a split second, all I can think about is how badly I still want to taste her.

Instead, I school my expression and saddle up Sunny. “This is Sutton’s horse. He’s a gentleman. Good for beginners.”

She’s all smiles as I walk him out the door and help her into the saddle. My dick’s pretty excited about her perfect ass in my face as I lift her into the seat, but I do my best to ignore it.

The larger horse in the closest stall snorts loudly.

Ivy laughs from the open doorway. “Who’s that guy?”

“That’s Buckeye. He’s Willow’s but didn’t do well at the equestrian center she runs so he’s here most of the time. Stronger bloodline, but a grumpy asshole sometimes.”

She arches a brow. “So, you have things in common with your livestock then?”

“Cute,” I grunt, mounting my horse, Jameson, and guiding him to move beside her.

She laughs, the sound like wind chimes in the air between us. And I feel it like a punch to the chest.

Just make it through this damn day.

Observant one that she is, she sees the black Arabian in the paddock. “Why is that one off by himself?”

“That’s Lucifer. He was my dad’s horse. Not a social guy. Prefers his space.” She leans over like she might try to head that direction on Sunny, but I block her path.