Slow Ride Home (The Grady Legacy)
Page 31
“I said I was surprised you didn’t insist on a more spirited horse.” For the first time since she’d left the month before, hope set his blood zinging. “But either way my idea gives you a lot of practice, doesn’t it? It’s a win-win for us both.”
“Us both? How do you win, cowboy?”
“Because you’re back in my life.” He cupped her face and rested his forehead against hers. “And I intend to prove to you every single day that you can trust me. That we’ll make a great team. Is it a deal?”
“Deal.”
* * *
One week later
Allie pulled her car in front of the Bull’s Hollow trailer to find Ben standing on the stairs where he’d been that first day she’d arrived. Her pulse sped up to see him wearing the same hat and same pair of dusty chaps. Though she’d never admit it to Kathy or anyone else, she’d convinced him to wear nothing but his chaps for her three nights before. Of course as part of their negotiation she’d had to agree that turnabout was fair play and tonight it was her turn to go bare-assed in leather.
“Hey there, cowboy. What’s with the cryptic message?”
He sauntered down the stairs to meet her halfway and swung her into his arms, planting a long and deep kiss upon her, leaving her no doubt of his love. Or his lust. “I missed you.”
“You just saw me this morning.” She snatched his hat and clamped it on her own head only to have it slide down over her eyes. “You’ve got a big head, you know that?”
“Only when you’re around.” He pressed his erection against her.
“Later,” she whispered, aware that Gabe and Jake were standing at the stable door watching them. “Now,” she said louder, “what was so important I had to leave the office early?”
He reclaimed his hat and pulled a red bandana from his pocket. “This.”
She shrieked, just a little, when he wrapped it around her eyes. “Ben! People are watching, this is not the place to get kinky.”
“Oh, ye of little faith. Besides, I plan on getting thoroughly kinky with you later when I’ve got you back at the house.” He picked her up again and turned around a few times so she lost all sense of direction then carried her...somewhere, she wasn’t sure where.
From the smell, they were in the stable.
Once he’d loosened the bandana, she pushed the fabric off her eyes and found herself face-to-face with a horse. The most beautiful roan mare with a flaxen mane and tail. And a white diamond-shaped blaze.
“Meet Diamond,” Ben said, grinning.
“Oh, she’s beautiful!” Allie held out her hand for Diamond to sniff. Once the horse accepted her, she scratched behind the mare’s neck.
“She’s about three years old.” Ben explained. “Jake found her at a rescue farm just outside Barnett Springs.”
“She’s a registered sabino paint,” Jake added. He eyed Allie against the horse. “Yeah, I think she’s about the right height for you. She handles real well too. Leads well, doesn’t spook easily.”
Ben handed her a piece of carrot that Diamond neatly picked from her palm.
“Was she abused? Is that why she’s a rescue?” Allie asked, inspecting the mare’s legs for evidence of injuries.
“Nope,” Jake answered, “the owners just couldn’t afford her anymore, so Nikki—that’s the lady who runs the rescue farm—has been looking after her ever since.”
“We had the farrier out yesterday, and Diamond stood like a real trooper for him,” Gabe added.
“Pity you’re all dressed up in those fancy lawyer clothes or I’d say you could take her out for a ride.”
“I’ve got a spare set of sweats in the office,” Jake offered. “And your boots are still in the tack room from the last time you took Buttercup out.”
Allie raced to the office, beating Jake easily, waiting impatiently as he dug out the clothes. He held the sweat pants and T-shirt to her. “Thanks, Jake, you’re a lifesaver.”
He shrugged and ducked his head. “Remember that next time Ben and I get in an argument will you? I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Ben can be as stubborn as a mule.”
“He likes to argue.” So did she, and it generally ended in really hot sex.
He pushed open the door, then stopped. “I’m real glad you two are finally back together. You’re good for him.”
“Thanks, Jake.” Once he closed the door, Allie changed in what had to be record time. She dashed back to the stables where Ben had Diamond tacked out and ready to ride, while Gabe held Rusher’s reins beside the roan mare. “You’re comin’ with me?”
“Gotta make sure you’ve got a good seat.” His grin widened as he laced his fingers and held his hands down to give her a boost into the saddle.
She raised an eyebrow. “I have an excellent seat.”
“Don’t I know it,” he murmured so only she could hear. He swung himself into Rusher’s saddle with an ease she envied.
It would take her a few days, or maybe a few weeks before she retrained her muscle memory, but she’d get there. With a cluck to Diamond and a press of her heels, she urged the mare to follow Ben and Rusher out of the barn. They rode for fifteen minutes, Ben offering her the occasional correction before he finally gave her the okay to urge the mare into a trot, then a gallop.
They followed the path that led to Amaleen Creek. As they let the horses stop to take a drink, Ben lifted her from the saddle and led her to the same spot they’d made love before. When she turned to face him, he held out his hand. Nestled in his palm was a blue velvet jewelry box.
“Don’t worry. It’s not a ring. This time.”
Wondering what he’d bought her, she took the box and opened it. Not jewelry but an antique compass, one she recognized as his great-grandfather’s. Ben lifted it from the satin lining and turned it over. “I had them engrave the coordinates to the Hollow’s gates. So you’ll always be able to find your way home.”
Home. Widening her eyes to stop the tears that threatened to fall, she leaped into his arms. “It’ll always be home as long as you’re here with me, cowboy.”
“That’s good, because I plan to be here a long time, darlin’. Now how about we take a slow ride home?”
* * * * *
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Society says Nikki must choose between the two men she loves. Is Nikki strong enough to break all the rules in order to find happiness?
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About the Author
Leah is the only woman in a houseful of males that includes her college-sweetheart husband, two sons, a Shih Tzu named Seamus and Turtle the cat. She loves escaping the ever-multiplying dust bunnies by opening up her laptop to write about sexy heroes and the women who challenge them. Reviewers have awarded Leah’s books numerous Top Pick and Recommended Reads designations as well as nominated them as Best Contemporary Romance, Best Erotic Romance and Best Ménage à Trois or More. Leah has also been nominated as Favorite Author and Best Erotic Romance Author.
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ISBN-13: 9781426897351
SLOW RIDE HOME
Copyright © 2013 by Leah Braemel
Edited by Angela James
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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