He glanced at Lily, with a smile so bright it was almost immediately blinding. He'd enjoyed their ride out but he knew it meant more to her than just a little jaunt into the woods.
"Finn took me out for a little trail ride," she started. She glanced back at him and what he read in her eyes made his heart race more than the feel of her soft, willing body under his earlier. If Ella hadn't known before, she would know now. And everyone else, too, probably. To hell with it.
"Oh yeah?" That was Caine, lifting his head from the drawing station with the kids. Finn very specifically remembered a conversation early in his horse training career where he'd informed his father that trail rides for pleasure were useless and a waste of time when a horse could learn whatever they needed outside of the round pen on the acreage, working cattle. He wasn't the only one who recalled the conversation, apparently.
"Yeah, out to a stream and back. The back of the Montgomery property, right?" She glanced at him, and he nodded back at her.
"And how was that?" Emma asked, smiling. She might have been the only other person in the room who realized just how important that 'little' ride today had been to Lily.
"It was amazing," she said, her voice lifting and her eyes bright.
His family picked up their enthusiastic discussion of her distance riding and he was able to sit back and watch her in a completely different light than the last time he had observed her interacting with his family. Instead of being irritated by the way his mother looked at her like she might be new daughter-in-law material and being rubbed the wrong way by the easy way Lily played along with Caine's relentless teasing, he appreciated it
And when she slipped away to the washroom while everyone was cleaning up after dinner, he met her in the same hall he'd come upon her in on her first night there, and that was entirely different, too. With the memory of her warm body pressed underneath his still right at the edge of his mind, he tugged her to him, covering her mouth with his in the darkness of the hallway, spreading his fingers across her hair to cradle the back of her neck and bring her closer still.
She responded quickly, her body pressed tight to his, opening to him almost immediately even though he'd taken her by surprise. She was too sweet for words, and he wanted her—badly. It was the first time he could remember wanting something or someone like this in the last five years. Hyper aware when he heard movement from the end of the hall, he lifted his head and stepped back, ending the kiss as quickly as he had initiated it. Just because it was easy to stop didn't mean his body appreciated it.
"You go back first," he whispered, propelling her, still starry-eyed from the embrace, back toward the kitchen while he let out a long breath, running his hands over the front of his shirt. As he settled himself, his eyes cast over the picture he'd caught her looking at on that first night—he and Sunny the day they'd been married. Something twisted in his chest. He couldn't do this much longer, but he didn't want to stop.
—TWENTY-EIGHT—
"Daylight's burning, Dane!" Finn admonished his older brother as he watched him cross the yard with two travel mugs in tow.
"Hey, do you want coffee or do you not want coffee?" Dane asked, balancing the mugs as he opened the passenger door of Finn's truck and climbed inside.
"What I wanted was to not have to load those colts by myself," Finn scowled, but took the mug his brother offered anyway.
"You still want a steady supply of Ren's coffee, you best quit grumping." Dane inclined his head toward Finn, and the younger brother conceded… for now. Little did Dane know that Finn had found coffee just a little bit sweeter right in his own home.
"Alright, alright."
He shifted the truck into gear and made a wide arc in the yard, driving slowly past his house just as Lily emerged onto the porch with her laptop in hand. Pulling in close, he rolled down his window.
"Hey Lily," Dane said, leaning ahead to speak past Finn.
"Sure you don't wanna come?" Finn asked, hanging his arm out the window and tapping the outside of the truck's door lightly. "Lots of room."
Her dimples appeared with the soft smile that spread over her features and hit him right in the heart. Harder than he expected. "I'd love to but I've got lots of editing to do. And Emma and I are gonna do a girls' night tonight. Don't wait up."
"Alright," he waved and pulled away, rolling up the window.
"You're sweet on that girl," Dane said, as they were pulling out of the driveway.
Finn's gaze cut briefly to his brother but then returned his focus to the road. He already had his mama on his case; she could sniff out a blooming relationship… or whatever this was, from a mile away, the last thing he needed was Dane following suit.
"Then she's sweet on you."
He didn't qualify that statement with a response either, guiding the truck onto Three Rivers' main drag and toward the highway.
"You know, it's gonna be a hell of a long drive if you don't talk to me," Dane continued.
"It's a hell of a long drive even if I do," he replied, leaning forward to turn on the radio. His favorite oldies country station filtered through the speakers of the truck and he settled back in his seat, ignoring the prying gaze of his brother as they cruised along past the commercial center of their small town.
"Well, if you don't wanna talk, you can listen."
"I don't know how listening is any better than talking, but I can't stop you." Finn shook his head, guiding the truck onto the highway. The drive to the Reicher Ranch was about an hour in each direction, and it was going to be a long trip if his brother harped about Lily the entire time.
"Wouldn't you rather get this off your chest now than when mama backs you into a corner?"
He did have a point there. Glancing back at Dane, Finn let out a resigned sigh.
"She's a nice girl, and I'm attracted to her. And that's all there is to tell."
"Bullshit."
Finn shook his head. "No, really. That's it."
"Well, what are you waiting for?"
Again, Dane's question went unanswered as Finn's eyes cut across the space between them. He was relieved when his brother shut up and turned up the radio.
They drove in silence the rest of the way to Reicher's, and pulled in slowly. It was only mid-afternoon but these trips usually took a while. They'd deliver the colts they'd ridden and worked with and pick up a few to bring home to start in on. Because this was the last trip of the season, there was always a celebratory beer and reflection on how the year had been for them. Grant Reicher bred some top notch quarter horses, and the families had a standing contract that went back to his father's colt-breaking days. When the horses sold, Reicher gave them a cut. For anyone else, it might be risky, but without the solid minds and good training foundations the Baylors put on the horses, they would only be worth half as much and Caine Baylor's long standing friendship with the man meant he always treated the boys more than fair.
The old man himself lifted his hat off his head in greeting as he came from the barn. He was a tall, rugged, barrel chested man with a penchant for big belt buckles. Reicher spit a wad of tobacco off to the side while Finn turned the rig wide, backing slowly toward the barn, then waved his hat to guide him, signaling for him to back closer, closer, until he made the cut-off sign and Finn put the truck into park, killing the engine. He glanced at Dane, steeling himself. Their employer was a big personality with a lot to say.
"You ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
"Dane, Finn." The older man greeted them, reaching out to shake their hands one at a time. "How ya been, boys?"
"Oh finer than frog's hair," Dane stepped in.
"Your daddy tells me you got another one on the way." The white haired man grinned slyly at Dane. "You got plans for a baseball team over there, boy?"
Chuckling, Dane shook his head. Grant Reicher was one to talk, with five grown children of his own. "Well, ya know. Many hands make light work on a ranch."
"That's damn right. What about you, Finn?
Anyone special?" The normally jolly man's tone got about as somber as it could get when he spoke to Finn. Reicher meant well. Every damn person he ran into meant well. It didn't stop the rub of being asked every time you saw someone.
"No, sir. Too busy with these horses of yours." He nodded toward the trailer, happy to derail the train of conversation. Reicher never missed an opportunity to talk up his horses, even to the Baylors, who knew how good they were.
"That's right, and I wish I could send a trailer full home with you tonight."
"Well, let's empty the trailer before we try to fill it up again," Finn teased. They took the winter off from the Reicher work, and snow wasn't quite ready to fly, but it would be before they finished winterizing the ranch. "Besides, we still have those two younger fillies to work with still at home."
Nodding, Grant stepped back while Finn and Dane opened the trailer. The four horse slant load afforded them the time to unload each horse and fill their owner in on the details while they led them into the barn and a waiting empty stall. On the third trip out, Finn caught sight of Chase, one of the oldest Reicher sons, on a little bay horse, coming in from their back forty. The short powerhouse of a horse looked familiar, and Finn paused by the edge of the barn while Dane unloaded the last colt.
"Hey, is that…"
"Tank?" Grant appeared beside him. "Sure is. Hell of a horse."
"I thought you sold him."
The older man winked knowingly. "Nobody offered me the right price for him. So he stayed. Super quiet, smart as a whip and reliable."
"Oh yeah, we had him in…what…three, four years ago?" Dane spoke behind them. "The year Gage broke his arm, I think. Actually, I think he was the horse I was working when it happened."
Chase rode over to the group of men, raising his hand in greeting. Though they'd known one another their whole lives, the hour's drive hadn't fostered much but a friendly acquaintance. "Hey boys."
"Chase," Finn said, nodding in greeting. "Tank looks good."
"He's a pussycat," Chase agreed, reaching down to pet the gelding's neck before he swung down off him easily. "Surefooted and smart, bonus points for being close to the ground in case you part ways."
"Kid broke, would you say?" Finn asked, catching the movement of Dane shaking his head in his peripheral vision. An idea had rooted in Finn's mind.
"I don't see why he couldn't be. Not many kids around here to ride him, but I'd expect he's got what it takes."
Finn glanced back at Grant. "So what's the right price?"
*
A couple beer and a couple hours later, when they were on the highway headed home, Dane finally asked.
"So are you gonna talk now?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Finn shook his head.
"Well, I know he's not a graduation present for Kerri, she has Kit."
Finn nodded in agreement.
"And Gage isn't ready to move up from Buckshot yet."
Finn shook his head in return.
"And you have no plans to replace Jet anytime soon."
"Damn straight."
"And we're not really in the business of buying broke horses."
It had taken some intense negotiation that never really amounted to any firm figure, but Grant had conceded they could take Tank on a trial and they'd 'work it out' if it turned out he was what they'd need. Finn suspected the horse would be just about perfect for what he intended, but wasn't sure the gift would be received in the spirit it was offered.
"Nope. But I happen to know a girl who needs a broke horse."
"I knew you were sweet on Lily!"
"I'm just trying to help her out. She wants to ride and I don't know if that horse of hers will ever be suitable for her to ride with the condition her body's in. I just want to offer her an alternative."
"Shoot," Dane looked out the window for a second, like he was collecting his thoughts. "I've seen you tell clients to find new horses. I've seen you give a riding lesson or two in your life. I've never seen you move someone who's 'just a client' into your house, and buy her a horse. This shit's serious."
Finn felt his jaw tighten of its own volition. More than anything, he wanted out from under his brother's scrutiny, and he needed a few minutes to figure out how he was going to tell Lily he might not be able to help her horse before he landed with a replacement.
"Alright, alright. I figured those beers might loosen you up but I guess I was wrong."
A tight laugh was all that emerged from Finn.
"Okay, just listen for another minute. I think I recall somebody in this very truck telling me once that life was way too short not to grab onto happy when you find it. And I haven't seen you smile about anybody the way you did when we pulled out of the yard. I think Sunny would want you to grab onto that happy. Or explore it a little, at least. See if it's as good as it looks.
"Nobody just shows up at our ranch for no reason. And whether it was Emma and Nate plotting against you or divine intervention, you might pay attention to what's right in front of you. Nobody's saying you have to marry the girl, but you might open yourself up to having a little fun. Getting a little of the happy you deserve."
Finn could remember the conversation his brother referenced as if it were yesterday. At the time, they'd still been telling everyone Ren was just an employee, but he'd known something was brewing between the pair for at least a couple of weeks before he found them wrapped up in one another on the porch of the big house. She'd given him a big, heartfelt hug afterward that had cemented her place in the family as far as he was concerned.
"You might be right."
—TWENTY-NINE—
Finn let himself into his cabin and closed the door quietly behind him. All the lights were off, but the full moon spilled blue light across the wooden floors, lighting his way. Not that he needed it. He knew the layout of this place like the back of his hand.
Lily must have still been at Noah and Emma's—he'd spotted lights on in their kitchen when they'd driven by, and her bedroom door was closed. Doing his best to avoid the squeaky floorboard just in case, he skirted past her door and into the washroom to grab a quick shower to wash off the grime of the day of travel. He emerged with a towel wrapped around his waist and nearly jumped out of his skin when Lily's door opened.
"Hey," he said softly, even though the only two residents of the house were clearly awake. She smiled a little drowsy smile, brushing her loose hair away from her eyes. "I told you not to wait up."
She shrugged, leaning her shoulder against the door frame. She was wearing that oversized t-shirt that exposed one smooth, soft-looking shoulder, her bare thighs poking out from underneath. It was entirely too dangerous to stand this close to her with so little separating them, with his brother's words today ringing in his ears. He might not have been receptive earlier, but that was some top notch subliminal message planting Dane had performed.
"I wasn't sleeping yet."
"You should be. Aren't you going back to Cutter's in the morning?"
"Afternoon." She smiled and shrugged again, that bare, creamy shoulder lifting. It begged to be tasted. Another dangerous thought. And before he could convince himself to just go to bed, he closed the space between them and traced his fingertips along the curve of her soft skin, to her jaw, tilting her chin up. Her bow-shaped lips parted, releasing a quick breath at the same time that everything between his heart and his groin tightened.
Instead of taking that invitation, he crooked his arm around her shoulder, drawing her closer and gathering her hair in his fist at the base of her neck, tugging gently as he dropped his mouth onto the skin he'd just been wondering about. As he'd imagined, she tasted of sugar and vanilla and a raw femininity he'd gone without for far too long. She tipped her head to allow him easier access as he released her hair and let his hand drift down her spine until he reached the small of her back, pressing her body against his much like he had in the hall in the big house. Only this time, there was so much less between them. He heard h
er draw a sharp breath and then he shifted up, their mouths crashing together like that was all the oxygen they needed.
Lily led the kiss, and the pair of them, into her bedroom, backing until she hit the bed, then broke the kiss to fall onto the mattress. He hesitated a moment, then nearly choked when she sat up, slipping her fingers underneath the hastily knotted towel. He should have been doing a victory dance; she was getting dangerously close to a muscle that had practically atrophied from lack of use since his wife died, and it was responding appropriately, but all he could do was draw in a sharp breath when she made contact with bare skin. His head dropped back and his knees threatened to buckle.
"Shit, Lily." She squeezed lightly and he nearly came undone. Pushing her onto her back, his mouth and body shifted over hers, demanding. If she was going to offer, he would take. Because he hadn't let himself take, hadn't let himself want like this in so long.
His heart thundered in his chest as she spread her knees to make a space that cradled him perfectly, notching his hardness against the soft warmth of her center. Two layers of fabric was too many. He shifted back to push her tee up over her rib cage, following the path with his tongue, pausing at her navel before he moved upward, her shirt bunched in his fists as he revealed the creamy whiteness of her torso inch by inch. She tightened her knees around his hips; one side decidedly stronger than the other, just as she'd said when she'd been riding Buckshot, and lifted her arms, motioning for him to dispose of the shirt altogether.
Carefully, he divested her of the soft fabric, and then sank back on his knees to take her in. She was delightfully soft and rounded in all the places that mattered. Her creamy skin was marred by some scarring around her hips and he could see part of a tattoo at her bikini line. He didn't know where to start—at the dusky pink panties that barely covered anything, or her pert, rosy nipples, straining upward like they were vying for his attention. He felt like a man offered a buffet after five years of starvation.
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