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“Hudson called me right after he called 911. But they were so deep in the trails.” I shake my head, trying to control my emotions.

“They weren’t made for horse riding, just ATVs.

Dom did his best and got me there, but it was too late.

I remember hearing Hud’s guttural scream as I approached the crash site.

I cradled her body on one side, and he had her on the other, but as soon as she felt my presence, she closed her eyes, and she was gone. ”

She’s looking ahead of us, but I still see the tears that fill Bellamy’s eyes as she squeezes my hand in hers.

“Just like that. The earth shattered underneath my feet, and our world as we knew it changed forever.”

Bellamy turns her body toward mine. “Cash, I can’t even begin to imagine. You’ve been through something no one should ever have to go through.”

“I don’t think I’m the only one,” I whisper, tucking a piece of her wind-blown hair behind her ear.

She closes her eyes briefly. “You’re right, but nothing like the tragedy of losing a sibling.”

“What happened that made thunderstorms so bad for you, Bella?”

Taking a deep breath, her gaze falls to the ground. “My father was abusive. Always toward my mother, but one night during a bad storm, he turned it on me.”

I hate the pain that washes over her. How could anyone do that to their wife, much less their child?

“My mom hid me under my bed and told me not to come out until she came back to get me. But…” She pauses, like she’s going back in time.

“My dad ended up shooting my mom that night, and I was left under the bed for hours and hours, unbeknownst to anyone, until the neighbors started asking the police about me. I was four years old and terrified, especially after my dad had kicked me in the stomach repeatedly earlier in the night.”

Now it’s my turn to be shocked; the thought of a younger Bellamy being treated that way makes me feel sick. And even though it doesn’t excuse her mom’s behavior, I know something like that changes a person.

“So, needless to say, I have PTSD and some other associated disorders when it comes to storms. And as far as what you heard earlier, my mom changed after that. She loves me, and I love her, but she just lost something in herself that night, and I pray that one day, she’ll get it back.”

“Do you think she’ll hurt my dad? Is that what started the argument?”

Recalling the way she came to my family’s defense only adds to the feelings expanding in my chest the more time I spend with her.

“Honestly, Cash, I don’t know. She normally just ends things before they get serious enough that they ask her to marry them.

” Her eyes meet mine, and I see the concern there, like she’s really considering my question and her earlier accusations against her mother.

“I will say, though, she does seem different with your dad. Supposedly, she’s been honest with him about the abuse and my dad being in prison.

We’ve also moved a lot, but never this far away for a man, so maybe she means it.

” Sorrow pinches her expression as she shrugs. “But still…I don’t know.”

I don’t want my dad to get his heart broken, but at least it doesn’t sound like she’s a gold-digging con artist… More like a person with deep-rooted commitment issues because of her traumatic past.

Now, before I can stop myself, I ask the next question that’s been on my mind. “And what about the things she said about me… Do you plan on taking her advice?”

We are so close now, I notice the way her eyes dilate when she sees me unintentionally pull my lips between my teeth. But in true Bellamy fashion, she surprises me with her next move. A sexy smirk quirks her lips as she grabs my cowboy hat off my lap and puts it on top of her head.

She leans in a little closer, eyes right on mine. “The jury’s still out on that one, Stud. Should I listen to her?”

Her flirty tone and the way her attention keeps flashing to my mouth have me doing exactly what I knew I would if we were ever in this position again.

My lips land on hers tentatively, not because I don’t want this more than I want air in my lungs, but because I want to savor every second.

I feel Bellamy’s body melt into mine, and her hands come up to grip my shirt.

Tipping my cowboy hat off her face, I deepen the kiss, cupping her cheeks and relishing how she smiles against me.

My stomach dips, and it feels like a herd of thoroughbreds galloping through it. The blood rushes to my cock, and it twitches in my pants when her tongue tangles with mine.

Fuck the consequences. Fuck the potential stepsibling part of it all. I’ve never wanted anything more in my life.

My hands move down to her hips, and I remind myself to slow down.

I may have realized I want this, no matter what, but she still might need some time to catch up with the notion.

But deep down, I know she’s right there with me; I can feel it in the way her lips move just as hungrily, how her fingers smooth up my chest and into my hair, holding me to her.

I imagine picking her up by her tiny waist and making her straddle me like a saddle, feeling her grind against me, knowing how turned on I am for her.

Fuck, my dick is rock hard. My hands roam more, lowering to her ass, and the moan crawling up her throat only encourages me further as I squeeze lightly.

Slow down.

I try to remind myself until the staccato of Dom’s whinny has Bellamy pulling back.

We look at the horses, and both are just fine. Dom is just being an attention whore.

Cock-block, I tell him with my eyes, but in all reality, I know we needed the distraction, because my brain wasn’t connecting with my lips or hands about slowing my roll.

I adjust my pants, not caring if she notices.

She quickly looks away, but I don’t miss the way she tries to calm her breathing, her cheeks a pretty shade of pink.

Her heaving chest does nothing to stop my imagination from running wild with what’s under that shirt.

The glimpse I got of her breasts, all wet and bouncy as she flew down the Slip ‘N Slide, only has me wanting more.

Bellamy straightens my hat on her head and doesn’t skip a beat as she stands up. “Well, cowboy, I think you just helped make my decision.”

My eyebrows pinch, and I tilt my head slightly, standing up with her.

“About my mom’s warning.” She raises her eyebrows suggestively.

I smirk, chuckling. “Oh, yeah? What’s the verdict, Bella?”

“That kiss was too good to give up just yet.” Lifting onto her tiptoes, she runs her thumb over my bottom lip and, fuck, if her response doesn’t relieve me.

“One more question,” Bellamy whispers.

I nod, signaling for her to ask it.

“Why did you start calling me Bella?” She bites her lip, likely knowing exactly why.

I place one more chaste kiss on her lips before walking backwards toward Dom. Not taking my eyes off hers, I say, “Because you’re beautiful.”

After blazing through the fields for another twenty minutes, we decide to head back toward the barn.

I notice Mav standing out by the fence, probably looking for me and Bellamy.

It’s not until we get closer and I see the emotion in his eyes as he watches Bellamy on Mia’s horse that I second-guess my decision from earlier.

Shit, maybe I should have run this by him and Dad. That was inconsiderate of me not to think about how he would feel seeing someone else riding Mia. Bellamy must notice too, because she looks over her shoulder at me for reassurance. I try my best to give it with a tight smile and nod.

We stop in front of Mav, and the unshed tears in his eyes are almost my undoing until a big, genuine grin takes over his face.

He nods happily, walking over to Mia and petting her. “I honestly don’t think there’s anyone more fit to ride Mia than Bellamy.”

Mav pats my leg from where I’m still sitting on top of Dom. “I'm proud of you, bubs.”

I know he understands how hard the decision was to allow someone other than us two to take Mia out for a ride. Some people may not get it, but to us, we have this fear of change and letting Jules go.

I’m starting to see that she’ll always be with us, no matter what.

“I have a feeling Bellamy and Jules would have been two peas in a pod,” Mav says, and I see the way Bellamy lights up at that.

I was thinking the same thing at the pond party the other day. All the prissy girls turned their noses up at the Slip ‘N Slide, but Bellamy was down without question. Jules would have been right there with her, caring more about having fun than acting cool.

She was beautiful and girlie in her own way, but she had two older brothers and a guy best friend to keep up with. Where we went, she went.

I miss her so fucking much.

Bellamy stays quiet, probably not quite sure what to say, but because she somehow always knows how to read me, she chimes in, “Who’s down for a swim? It’s hot as hell today.”

“Sounds good to me.” Mav reaches up to give her a high-five.

A mischievous smile takes over her face. “I’m in a racing mood," she says before taking off and calling over her shoulder, “Last one to the pond is a rotten egg!”

“Real mature,” I call out, laughing to myself.

“It’s good to see you smiling so much,” Mav says, the words hitting me right in the chest.

My mind flits back to that kiss, and I know once wasn’t enough. The sweet taste of her lips, their softness, how she held on to me and kissed me back, is going to invade my thoughts until the next time.

I begin to deny it, but decide against it. “I might like it too.” And then I’m taking off after her.

I forgot what happiness felt like. It’s like I’ve been living on a cloud of suppressed emotions and memories for the last year and a half.

Until Bellamy Ann Clark infiltrated my every waking thought.