Page 32

“ W hat time will you be back?” Darby asks as she drinks her protein shake.

I slide open the curtain that looks out into the parking lot from our living room window, keeping my eye out for Cash’s truck. Turning back to face where Darby and Berkley are in the kitchen, I tell them, “He has to be back by tonight’s practice, so probably around dinnertime, I’d say.”

Our parents asked us to come by today and check on things at the ranch because they were going to be away.

“Well, it’s a gorgeous day today. It was so nice during my morning run… Maybe one day you’ll actually join me,” Berkley teases as she redoes her long blonde hair up into a messy bun.

“I wouldn’t hold your breath on that one.”

They both chuckle. By now, they already know if it’s not dealing with horses, I'm more of a sit-in-the-stands-holding-a-beer type of athlete. I stare out the window again, practically bouncing with anticipation.

“Did you drink too much coffee this morning? I swear, you’re bouncing right now,” Darby calls me out with a curious look in her eye.

“I’m just itching to ride. That’s all.” Tone it down a notch, Bell. Clearly, you’re being obvious.

“Yeah, excited to ride your stepbrother,” Berkley says, and Darby practically snorts her chocolate shake all over the kitchen floor.

Nah I did that this morning before he snuck out of my room.

“Oh, you shush. I haven’t ridden in over a week… I'm excited to go,” I retort, hoping my excuse placates them.

“Okay, keep telling yourself that…” Berkley smiles at me.

I give them both a look that says, I’ll never tell and stick my tongue out. Even though I’ve never really worried about what anyone else thinks when it comes to Cash and me besides our family, I love knowing my friends couldn’t care less if I was hooking up with my stepbrother or not.

“Well, Jackie was coming to spend the night, so I'm cooking chicken and dumplings for dinner. That’s why I was asking what time you’d be back,” Darby says to change the subject.

“Yaaas, I’ll definitely be here,” I say, just as I see Cash pull up, and my phone chimes with a text. “Cash is here. See you guys later.”

Grabbing my bag, I head out the door toward Cash, ignoring whatever remarks they're making as I leave. I can hardly contain the smile that crosses my face when I approach his pickup.

He rolls down his window when I get closer. “See something you like?” he asks with a smirk. I'm sure referring to the stupid-ass grin on my face.

“Maybe.” I wink as I hop into the passenger seat.

The drive to Cane Creek takes about thirty minutes.

Of course, I fill the time with my renditions of my favorite songs playing through the speakers, singing my heart out.

Whenever I peek at Cash in the driver's seat, he smiles at me with a sparkle in his eyes.

My stomach flips at the expression, the one neither of us has ever said but both feel deep in our cores.

I love this man.

Cash’s hand reaches across the center console, his finger running along my bracelet.

“Do you ever take this thing off?” he asks.

“Not unless I absolutely have to. I love it,” I reply, looking down at where his hand still traces the stones.

“Good,” he says with a grin, and I smile back at him when his pinkie curls around mine in a silent promise. Like the one we made that first summer, except now it encompasses so much more. Promise not to break my heart, promise to stay strong even when things get tough…promise you’ll always be mine.

Am I ready for this? Am I prepared to not worry about anyone else in the aftermath?

We sit in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, his hand never leaving mine, and I relish the feeling of being able to do these things again.

“Are you excited for your season to start? According to the Howler Report, you guys are looking better than ever this year,” I ask.

“I actually am. Team’s looking really good, and with Maverick leading us, there’s no doubt we’ll do great…” The way his face lights up when he talks about his brother’s success always makes me smile.

“He really is going after those NHL dreams of his…”

“He sure is, and it’s well deserved. He eats, sleeps and breathes that shit,” Cash says, pride written all over his face.

“What about you? Are you still not going to pursue it?” I’m genuinely interested in his response.

It's funny because, even though we’ve been around each other these last few years, we haven’t had these intimate conversations like we used to.

It was always something I cherished most about our relationship.

He shakes his head. “Nah, I love hockey, but I’m not in love with it like he is.”

“I understand. So you still planning on taking over Cane Creek… Give Cal a break?”

He grins at me, quickly meeting my eyes before looking back at the road. “Something like that. But I may want to take it in another direction instead of just breeding and trading horses.”

“Oh, yeah? You gonna leave me with that?”

He smirks. “I have a few things I’ve been rolling around in my mind…”

I smile and roll my eyes playfully, just as Cash’s truck passes under the Cane Creek Ranch sign that indicates the beginning of their property.

I remember the first day I saw that sign, and I laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Cash asks.

“I was just thinking of the first time I saw that Cane Creek Ranch sign. I was so nervous. I remember not loving the thought of moving in with two teenage boys.”

“Oh, is that so? And what do you think about that now?” Cash asks, mischief shining in his eyes.

“Guess y’all have grown on me. It only took three years,” I tease, and he immediately reaches his hand and starts to tickle my side. I try to scoot away from his reach, but it’s no use. I laugh till I can barely breathe.

“You’re lucky you’re sitting right now. I would spank that ass of yours just for saying that.”

His words have me shifting in my seat and planting a seed of an idea for later.

Bring it on, cowboy.

“I whooped your ass today. You’re losing your touch,” I yell to Cash as we trot through the arena toward the barn. Mia’s whinnies fill the air. “That’s right, girl, we kicked their butts. You did so good today,” I say to her, patting her neck as she stops for me to get off.

We had a nice ride around the fields after we worked together to clean out the stalls.

When Cash hops off Dom beside me, he grabs me by the hips and pulls me in close, sealing his lips over mine. As his fingers tangle in my hair at the back of my neck, I melt into him. The kiss is quick, but by the way my lips tingle and my body heats, it feels anything but.

Cash swats my ass as he steps away. The warmth spreads through me, and I swear the tension building inside of me is now at its peak.

I don’t know how much more I can take. “I’m not losing my touch…

I was distracted by this fine ass bouncing in the saddle in front of me.

Maybe I purposefully stayed behind so I could admire the view.

” He winks as he unfastens Dom’s buckles.

“Yeah, yeah,” I say, smiling at his playfulness as I make quick work of Mia’s saddle.

I wait outside the stables, fanning myself with my hat as Cash finishes up inside.

Even though we’re nearing the end of September, it’s still pretty hot under the Carolina sun.

I watch as Cash exits the doors and lifts the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Exposing his ridiculously toned stomach.

He catches me staring yet again and smirks.

“Eyes up here, Bobcat.” He motions upward with his fingers with a knowing look.

My eye roll elicits a chuckle from him.

I grab my water bottle and take a big swig, not caring in the slightest when a decent amount falls onto my chest. It's so refreshing that I tip some more over the top of my head, letting the cool water coast down my back and chest. An indiscernible noise has me peeking over in Cash’s direction and catching the heat in his eyes.

Oh, I'm going to tease the hell out of him.

It’s then that I realize the top portion of my white shirt is now slicked to my skin. I quirk my eyebrow at him, giving him the exact words he teased me with. “See something you like?”

He licks his lips and grabs his cock that’s now pressing against the seam of his Levi’s. “Baby, you know I more than like what I see.”

His words have me eager to get back up to the house… I have an idea.

Putting forward my best acting skills, I fan myself, feigning innocence. “It's so hot...”

I take a step away from the post I was leaning against, my hands gripping the bottom of my wet shirt. Making sure Cash’s gaze follows my every motion, I slowly lift it up and over my head. His eyes heat as I hold the shirt in my hand, dragging the fabric across my chest and stomach.

Cash’s reaction fuels me further. My hands go to the button of my cutoffs, making a show of unfastening them.

“Be careful…” Cash growls.

A sly smirk takes over as I reply coyly, “Of what?”

I shimmy my shorts down and over my boots, watching Cash’s fists clench and then open, as if he’s trying to hold back. Give me all you got.

Even though the stables are far enough from Gigi and Papaw’s house that they would never be able to see what I'm doing, I'm beyond thankful they’re out searching for a tractor part a few cities over.

I turn from him, exposing my lacey thong, and head in the direction of the house while I slowly count in my head.

One.

Two.

Thre—

The fast crunch of the dirt sounds behind me, and I smile, knowing he’s chasing after me. I take off running to the house.

I don’t dare peek over my shoulder, afraid the sight of him will distract me. My core throbs in excitement of what’s to come once he catches me…

Moments later, I’m crashing through the kitchen door. I yelp when I feel Cash’s hands grip my waist, flip me around, and throw me over his shoulder.

The sting of his palm slapping my ass has me gasping.