Feels Like Home

“No shit.” He climbed down off the horse.

“Are you giving up?” She couldn’t believe it, but everyone had a different tolerance for frustration.

“Hell, no, I’m not giving up.” Taking hold of Destiny’s bridle, he started off at a brisk walk. “Gotta get my hat.”

“Oh.” She smiled to herself. She’d suspected he might have the makings of a cowboy. And sure enough, he did.

AFTER THAT DEBACLE, RAFE listened more carefully to Meg’s instructions, and eventually he began to sense the rhythm of the trot. He still bounced a little, but he didn’t lose his stirrups or his hat, which was progress.

Next she taught him to canter around the perimeter of the corral.

He remembered the term canter from yesterday. When he’d accused her of running straight at him, she’d protested that she was only cantering. Now he understood why riders would want to do that. He could canter all day long.

“That’s good!” she called out. “I think you’re ready for the outside world.”

He thought so, too. To his surprise, the corral had started to feel confining. He wouldn’t claim to be a natural at riding, but he’d caught on a lot faster than he’d expected.

Meg opened the gate. “Wait here by the corral while I get Spilled Milk. Then we’ll be off.” She gazed up at him. “You’re doing great. Really wonderful for your first time. How do you feel?”

“Terrific.” It was the God’s truth. He’d ridden motorcycles, but this was better, more … real. He liked the view from the back of a horse, the sense of partnership he felt, and the visceral thrill of going fast in tandem with this powerful animal.

“You’ll be sore tomorrow, but maybe not too bad. I recommend a soak in a hot bath later on.”

“I’ll do that. You haven’t led me astray so far.”

“Give me time.” She winked at him and sauntered away.

What the hell? He stared after her, his brain buzzing with what had obviously been a suggestive remark. And in case he’d been too dense to pick up on it, she’d followed it with a wink.

Digging his cell phone out of his jeans pocket, he speed-dialed his brother.

Wyatt answered immediately. “What’s up, bro?”

“What if Meg has the hots for me?”

“She does?”

“I think she might, yeah.”

Wyatt let out a gusty sigh. “Figures.”

“Look, I don’t want to cause— Whoops, gotta go. Here she comes.” He disconnected and shoved the phone back in his front pocket. He’d thought of leaving it behind, but the jeans fit tight enough that he wouldn’t lose it, and he was used to having his phone with him at all times.

Her eyes narrowed as she approached on Spilled Milk. “Keeping up with stock prices?”

With a sense of shock, he realized that he hadn’t thought of his job once since waking up this morning. Normally he’d have checked the market several times by now. “No. I had to ask Wyatt about something.”

The disapproval faded from her green eyes. “Best man stuff?”

“Yeah, kind of.”

“I know the preparations are important, but could I ask you a big favor?”

“Sure.”

“Would you mind turning off your phone during the ride? We have a bright, sunny day to enjoy some gorgeous scenery. I hate to think of it being interrupted by a cell phone chime.”

“I can do that.” He took out the phone and noticed there was a text message from Wyatt. He’d read it later. Turning off the power, he tucked the phone away again.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He met her gaze. Her eyes glowed with happy anticipation. She was looking forward to this ride, looking forward to spending time alone with him. Wyatt and Emmett might be worried about a potential involvement, but she seemed to have no such fears.

He allowed himself to imagine what it would be like to kiss her, and fire licked through his veins. Wyatt had said she was a big girl who made her own choices, and for some reason, she’d chosen a private ride.

Unless he was mistaken, and he rarely was when it came to a woman’s interest, she was giving him the green light. Only a fool would ignore that kind of opportunity. Rafe’s body warmed to the possibilities as his expectations shifted. He was no fool.

“I’ll lead because I know the path, but if you have any problems at all, sing out. I’ll keep tabs on you from time to time.”

He grinned. “To make sure I’m not being dragged to my death?”

“Yeah, stuff like that. Let’s ride.” Turning Spilled Milk, she started away from the barn at a brisk trot.

Rafe enjoyed the sight of her ass rising and falling in sync with her horse. Although he was glad she wasn’t babying him, he hoped the entire ride wouldn’t be a trotting marathon. He still bounced. Even with the bouncing, though, he was filled with elation at the prospect of riding out into the open field … and what might follow once they were truly all alone.

The sun warmed his shoulders and the mountains thrust pristine white peaks into a sky so blue it looked painted on. To think he’d planned to spend the day working. Tightness in his chest that he hadn’t realized was there began to loosen.

They stopped briefly so Meg could deal with a gate that led to the wide-open spaces.

“Do you know if all of this is Chance land?” he asked as she leaned down from her horse to fasten the gate behind them.

“Yes, it is.” She moved past him so she was once again in the lead. “Archie Chance won it in a card game in the thirties.”

“That sounds like a myth. Things like that don’t really happen.”

“I guess they do in Wyoming. Ready for some cantering?”

“You know it.”

“Then let’s go!” She urged her horse forward.

Destiny didn’t need any nudging as he set off in pursuit of Spilled Milk. A gust of wind nearly took Rafe’s hat, and he used one hand to anchor it. At first he held the reins and the saddle horn with his other hand, but as his body adjusted to the horse’s rhythm, he let go of the horn and held the reins like a real cowboy would.

He was riding! If he hadn’t been worried about spooking the horses, he’d have let out a whoop of delight. What a rush. He couldn’t believe he’d gone twenty-nine years without experiencing this. Sharing it with a sexy woman like Meg made it even better.

Before he was ready for the canter to be over, she slowed her horse, and Destiny fell back to a trot, and eventually a walk.

“That was fun,” he said. “I could do that again.”