Slow Hands (Makes My Heart Race Book 3)

by Hope Ford

  When he loosens his arms, I step back from him.

  “C’mon, I’ll walk you home.”

  We walk hand in hand the rest of the way to my house and he’s about to leave me at the front door. “Will you ride with me again next weekend?”

  With a sparkle in my eyes and excitement in my heart, I tell him, “Yes.”

  I watch him then, the whole way down my driveway, down the road and then up his driveway, until he’s almost completely out of sight. But before he goes around the corner, he stops and turns to me, waving in the distance. I wave back. Maybe I should be embarrassed that I’m caught staring at him again. But right now, my lips still tingling from his kiss, I don’t mind at all.

  6

  Michael

  On Tuesday, much to my attorney’s delight, I made it to my meeting with the new client, Malcolm Day. He signed the papers and I should be thrilled, maybe even go out and celebrate. But instead, all I can do is think about Juliette and counting down the hours until I see her again this weekend.

  I didn’t get her number, I didn’t even think about it at the time, but now I’m wishing I had. But thinking about it, this is probably for the best. Just the way she is and with her past, I know I need to take it slow. But every time I think about her curvy body in my arms and her lips on mine, it jumbles all my thoughts. Because I don’t want to take my time with her. She makes me want to dive right in and experience it all.

  Roger walks into my office, forcing my thoughts of Juliette away. “That went well. Want to celebrate? I’ll buy you a beer.”

  I laugh. “You didn’t have any doubts, did you? I told you it would work out.”

  He just shrugs his shoulders, but I can tell he actually has been worried about it. “I think I’m going to work a while longer, maybe try to head home Thursday instead of Friday.”

  Roger sits down on the couch in my office and folds his hands together. “What is going on with you and that ranch, man? You have the life here in the city. And I saw Belinda. She said you broke it off with her a few weeks ago. What’s going on?”

  I roll my eyes and get up from my chair to look out at the city. “Belinda was more interested in my money than me. That’s not what I want anymore. I want to settle down, maybe even have kids one day. I don’t know. It’s like when I’m here, I’m a jumble. But back at the ranch, it all falls into place. I’m home there, Roger.”

  “But the business…” he starts.

  I look at Roger and I know he’s the closest thing to a friend I’ve got. But I can’t help but wonder whether if we didn’t have this business between us, we would still be friends. “I know. The business is here… in the city. I’m not giving it up, but I am done sacrificing my wants because of it. I’m going to try and have them both, for however long it lasts.”

  I can tell he doesn’t like it because already I’m wondering about the future of my company. A month I’ve been going back and forth and already I’m thinking of ways to spend more time there. In the beginning, I never dreamed I would give up my company… now I’m not so sure.

  We talk for a few more minutes, and Roger leaves. I put him and Juliette out of my thoughts and try to focus. But all I can think about is her. When she was in front of me on Vlad, my arms around her, I could have died a happy man. She worried about being too big, but compared to me, she’s just right. The v of my legs fit like a glove around her wide, curvy hips. And her hand, so small in my own, made me feel more protective of anything or anyone I’ve ever felt in my life. It’s probably good that I don’t have her number, because I’d probably embarrass myself by how many times I’d call her or text her. I shake my head as if that’s going to put her out of my mind. I bear down on my projects because the sooner I get everything done, the sooner I get back to Hewitt Ranch… and to Juliette.

  Juliette

  The whole week I can’t stop thinking of Michael. The kiss he gave me still curls my toes when I think about it. There are so many reasons I want to jump head first into this, but I can’t. I’m not going to let myself. My ex-husband, Tyler, did a number on me and I can’t even imagine trusting someone again, not like that. I once thought that I would be with Tyler forever. Even when we seemed to distance ourselves from each other, I never thought of getting a divorce. It wasn’t until I found him with my sister that I knew it was over. That was almost a year ago and I still haven’t talked to either one of them.

  I bury myself in my work, writing blog posts and scheduling everything out. I spend the evenings thinking about Michael and wondering what he is doing in the city. I want to believe that he’s thinking of me, but I don’t dare get my hopes up. No successful, sexy, muscular, tan, delicious hunk like Michael is ever going to be into me. Not like that. And probably the sooner I deal with it and accept it, the better off I’ll be.

  “Damn you, Tyler. Damn you, Sherry,” I say out loud. I was a confident, self-assured woman before my divorce. What I’ve let the two of them do to me, make me feel, I know it’s not right. I know I’m the only one still hurting from it. They’re probably happy as can be together. And I know I need to find a way past this. I need to realize my worth and find a way to be happy again.

  7

  Michael

  I knock on her door and stand back. I was able to make it back late last night, so first thing this morning, I got up and got ready. I tried to wait until a decent hour before I rode Vlad over to Juliette’s. I had to give extra attention to Mr. Blue this morning because I don’t think he understood why I was riding Vlad instead of him.

  I knock again, my excitement taking over. When she opens the door with no makeup on and her hair in a pony tail, she looks so beautiful. I release a breath and the weight of the world lifts from my shoulders. I don’t know if being away from her all this week made me wonder If my feelings for her was a fluke or what they were, but being here, seeing her, I know I’m right. I want this woman as my own.

  “Sorry to come over so early. I didn’t have your number,” I admit to her.

  She opens the door wider, and when she sees Vlad standing in her front yard, she squeals, causing the horse to look up at us. “Are we going riding?”

  I laugh and my heart does a little flip in my chest. “I was hoping you would go with me for another ride.”

  She looks down at her pink toenails and bare feet. “Let me get my shoes.”

  She runs back into her house, but I go down to Vlad and pet him, telling him how important the ride is today and for him to be a good boy. He nickers at me, like he understands everything I’m saying.

  She runs out of her house and down the steps. “I’m ready.”

  I help her into the saddle, but she does just fine on her own. I think I just want my hands on her. When I climb up the horse and settle behind her, my arms around her and holding the reins, I feel whole again.

  We ride for a while on Vlad, and then we go over to my ranch and I ride Blue while she rides Vlad next to me. She’s gaining confidence and with that confidence she’s opening up, letter her guard down and showing me her personality more and more. She’s funny, heartfelt, compassionate and a hard worker. We ride for an hour before we end up back at the barn and she insists on taking care of both horses even though I have hands that are hired to do it.

  The more time I spend with her, the more the truth comes to mind. I know it’s not just some passing crush. There is some real chemistry between us. “Go out with me.”

  She looks surprised and untrusting. “Why?”

  I put my hand on her shoulder and then slide it to her neck, holding her still so she’ll look at me. I know it must be the hurt feelings from her stupid ex-husband that has her behaving like this. But I’m not going to let that stop me. “Isn’t it obvious? I like you. My favorite part of the whole day was having you in my arms on the back of Vlad. I’ve thought about you all week and got done early so I could come home and see you. I almost showed up at your doorstep at midnight last night because I couldn’t wait to see you. Go to a movie with
me.”

  She wants to say yes. I can see it in her eyes, but she softly nods her head at me. I may want to hear the words, but at least she agreed.

  I run my fingers through her ponytail. “I’ll be by to pick you up at six.”

  Juliette

  After I agreed to the date, I bolt. He offers to walk me home, but I insist I’m fine and I hightail it out of there. The whole week I prepared myself for this to be some kind of joke and to not get my hopes up. But going by the feel of him at my back and the look in his eyes, this is not a joke. He really likes me.

  By the time I get home, I slam through the door and barely look at the stack of letters by the couch. Once they were all I thought about, wondering what in the world they could be writing to me. I pick up one and look at the return address with Tyler’s name on it. I shake my head and drop the letter, refusing to let him ruin this for me.

  I grab a glass of water and chug it down. I look out of the window and see Michael talking to a few of the hands beside the barn. I could stand there all day and watch him and it’s almost as if he sees me when he lifts his head and looks my way. He stares here for a few seconds before turning back to the men in front of him.

  He likes me. He wants to spend time… with me. I take a deep breath and let those thoughts settle in my heart like a hot, splendid kiss. With warmth surrounding me, I go to shower and get ready, knowing that even though he could break my heart, I can’t not go. It’s like I’m drawn to him and I have to see where this goes.

  8

  Michael

  I tell myself over and over that I need to be patient and take things slow with Juliette. Even though she’s opened up so much to me, I can tell she’s still a little skittish.

  But all thoughts of taking it slow flee from my mind when I see her. She has on a short flowing skirt that comes to her knees, a v-neck T-shirt and white tennis shoes. She looks young and refreshing. I’m used to women that wear binding clothes and too much makeup. Juliette’s not like that and looking at her now, I know that she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

  I can tell she’s nervous. I tell her she’s beautiful, but she’s not hearing my compliments. Damn, your ex-husband. What did he do to you? I scream in my head.

  I try to keep it low key, but once we’re seated in the theater, she grows even more nervous. She’s looking around at the people around us as if she’s worried about how they’re going to react to her being with me. I want her to have fun and enjoy our time together, so I put my arm around her. She’s stiff already, but her back stiffens even more. I lean over and whisper into her ear, “Relax.”

  She softens into my side and the movie starts. In the darkness of the theater, she seems to relax even more and we both get caught up in the film. But no matter how entertaining it is, I can’t get the thought of the beautiful woman next to me out of my mind. I do my best to keep my hands off her, but watching her, the way she laughs at the funny parts, jumps at the scary, and covers her heart with her hand when the couple on the screen kiss, I know I’m falling hard for her and I get a little braver. I kiss her neck and then I touch her chin, forcing her to look at me and kiss her lips.

  She pulls back suddenly and whispers, “There are too many people.”

  I put my hand on her thigh and squeeze it. “I don’t give a shit about any of them. I only care about you and what you want.”

  I know I say the right thing, because joy shines in her eyes.

  I slide my hand up her leg. “I know I told you we can go slow, but I also need you to know that I want you, Juliette. Only you.”

  The feel of her soft skin under my rough palm is like nothing I’ve ever touched before. I stroke my finger back and forth, teasing her before moving higher. She sits perfectly still, and when I reach the wet cloth of her underwear between her legs, she gasps and closes her legs tightly, putting my arm in a vise.

  She grabs my hand and moves it back to her thigh. I shake my head, smiling at her. “Slow it is. You’re worth it.” I kiss her forehead before turning back to the movie, one hand at her back and one on her thigh. I can still feel her wetness on my fingertips and I want to bring it to my mouth and taste it right then and there, but I know if I do, she would be even more worried about what the people around us thought. No, I may not taste her yet, but I will, and the thought of it has my heart hammering in my chest.

  When she turns to me, snuggling further into my arm, I know I made the right decision. I can do this. I can go slow with her. I repeat it to myself over and over, hoping that the bulge in my pants goes down before I have to get up and walk out of here.

  Juliette

  I can’t stop thinking the rest of the movie. I wish I was braver. His sexy voice and his soft but demanding touch makes me think all kinds of things. The way he said “You’re worth it” is driving me crazy. I wanted to let him keep sliding his hand up my skirt, but I’d been too afraid of what others would say. And as we walk out of the theater, I see a few people I know, and they look at Michael and then me curiously. Did they see him kiss me? What will they say when he grows tired of me and I’d let him touch me so intimately in public?

  Some of my joy and excitement is lost as I let my worries of what others think take away from my experience. Hand in hand we walk to his truck. I know Michael’s disappointed, but he does his best to not let it show. He talks the whole way to my house, and he asks me everything, almost like he’s doing all he can to know everything about me. I tell him my favorite color, my favorite food, where I’ve always wanted to travel to, everything. And he seems to soak it all in. He repeats it all back to me, like he’s committing it to memory.

  He walks me up to my door, and I want to invite him in, but I don’t have the nerve to do it. He kisses me, deep, hungry kisses that jumble all my thoughts and make me think that maybe this is real. Maybe we can make a go of it. With his arms around me and his lips on mine, I almost feel invincible. I want to say to hell with all of it and give in to my desires, but I don’t. I can’t. And as I stand there, still dazed, my lips swollen and my heart racing, he’s walking away, telling me he’ll see me tomorrow. I wave bye to him and watch him limp away, wondering if he’s as affected by me as I am by him.

  9

  Michael

  After another restless night, I show up at her door in the middle of the morning. As soon as she opens the door, I still get tongue tied looking at how beautiful she is. She laughs, leaning against the door. “Do you want to come in?”

  I nod my head. “Can I borrow a cup of sugar?”

  She says sure but looks at me strangely before turning around. I follow her into her kitchen and watch as she pulls the cupboard open and fills up a cup for me. She goes to hand it to me, and I take the cup and set it on the counter next to her. I pull her into my arms and kiss her deeply. A growl, deep in my chest, leaves me just before I pull back. “That’s the sweet sugar I was aching for.”

  I pull her in for another kiss and it’s the stuff that dreams are made of. I’m already way over my head with her, thinking of forever and it just doesn’t seem long enough. No matter what I do, I can’t get her out of my mind.

  When I pull away, I know if I don’t leave now, I’m not going to be taking it slow with her. And that’s what she needs. She doesn’t need me to push her into this relationship. I want her too much, I care about her too much to force it on her before she’s ready. I give her one more kiss and tell her I’m leaving.

  She stutters, “Uh, what about the sugar?” She holds up the cup.

  I look at her over my shoulder. “I got the sugar I wanted.”

  She sets the cup back down, smiling ear to ear, and follows me back to the door. When I walk by the couch, there’s a table, piled high with letters. “What are all these?”

  She shrugs her shoulders like she doesn’t care, but I can hear it in her voice. “Some are from my sister. Some are from my ex-husband.”

  I’m surprised by the jolt of jealousy that goes through me. She’s not on
ly kept the letters but hasn’t opened them. Does she still love her ex-husband?

  “I can throw them away for you if you want,” I tell her.

  She shakes her head. “No. No, don’t throw them away.”

  We stand there in awkward silence looking back at one another. I want to ask her more about them, what it means that she’s kept them and even more that she doesn’t want to get rid of them, but I don’t. Maybe I’m afraid of her answer. What if she does tell me that she still loves her ex-husband? What would I do then? Could I walk away from her? I don’t think so.

  Nodding my head, I lower my eyes so she doesn’t see the confusion and questions that are tormenting me. “I’ll see you later, sweet Juliette.”

  And then I’m gone. I don’t wait for her response, and for the first time, I don’t look back to see if she’s watching me. I don’t think my heart could handle it if she’s not.

  Juliette

  As soon as he’s gone, I’m looking at the offensive letters on the table. I haven’t read them. I don’t want to read them, but for some reason, I can’t get rid of them. Even now, after everything Tyler’s done to me, I’m still letting him destroy what little happiness I do have.

  I pick up one of the letters and tell myself, Just throw them away. Do something. Quit letting them pile up on the entry table. But I don’t. Maybe I’m punishing myself. Maybe I want to keep these letters as a reminder to myself of how good life can be and change in an instant.