Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Taylor
M y mother put me on my first horse before I could walk. Riding was second nature, like breathing or walking. It had become my first love back when boys still had cooties, and Cole had been my second.
I ran my hand down the side of the brown mare's neck. She was one of the Montgomerys’ breeding horses, and she was absolutely beautiful with her shiny dark brown coat and even darker brown, almost black mane.
Cole stepped closer, eyeing my movements. "You need a hand?" His voice carried a hint of amusement as I gathered the reins in one hand and the saddle horn with the other, shoving my foot into the stirrup.
I rolled my eyes, pulled myself up, and threw my leg over before he made it around the horse. I'd never needed help before, so why would I need help now? "I guess not."
"What about you?" I laughed. "Do you need a hand up, City Boy?"
"Cute." The corner of Cole's mouth quirked up, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"You sure you don't want to take one horse?" I bit my lip, feigning innocence. "You can ride behind me." My eyes danced with mischief as I patted the space behind me on the saddle.
"I'll ride behind you, all right." Cole's low voice sent a shiver down my spine as he effortlessly pulled himself up, swinging his leg over the horse.
I shook my finger at him. "Eh, eh, eh... No starting anything you can't finish..."
He pressed his lips into a tight line, cutting his eyes at me as he situated himself comfortably on the horse. "Oh, you're killing me." I threw my head back with a loud laugh. "How about a bet?" Cole's eyes lit up with that competitive spark I knew all too well, his body leaning slightly forward in anticipation.
"What kind of bet?" My fingers absently stroked the horse's mane as I waited for his response.
"I'll bet I can beat you to the south end near Boggy Creek at the swimming hole. Loser has to go off the old rope swing."
"Deal." I smirked as I leaned forward and tapped the horse with my heels, signaling the horse to go and again to go faster.
"Cheater!" Cole's shout faded behind me as I leaned forward, laughing and urging my horse faster. The wind whipped my hair wildly, drowning out any further protests. Flicking a glance over my shoulder, I smiled as the galloping horse's feet hitting the ground filling the silence. The scent of fresh air surrounded me. I loved being outdoors in the open fields with nothing in front of us but miles and miles of open pasture, and even more than that, I loved being with Cole.
This is my happy place.
Cole caught up quickly, and it turned out the new city boy hadn't forgotten his country boy lifestyle after all, not that I really thought he had. We'd spent too much time doing this exact thing for me to really believe he'd ever forget.
I jerked back on the reins as we neared the creek. The horse slowed to a walk as I guided her around to watch Cole's horse gallop in.
"You cheated." He gave me a pointed glare.
I laughed. "I didn't hear any stipulations on the bet. Did I miss them?"
"You are exactly the same pain in the ass you were back then." Cole's laughter rumbled through the air, a sound that stirred memories of countless summer days spent just like this.
I shrugged. "You still have to jump."
"Okay." He smirked, sliding off his horse. Stepping forward, he reached back, pulling off his shirt and dropping it to the ground before moving to the fly of his jeans.
Fuck me... His biceps and chest flexed as he worked the button of his jeans open and slid his zipper down while trying to kick out his boots simultaneously. If he weren't so hot, it would be funny.
Then it dawned on me that he was going to strip naked to jump in.
"I'm just kidding." The words tumbled out of my mouth, accompanied by a nervous chuckle. My heart raced at the thought of Cole stripping down right here in front of me. I wasn't sure my poor vagina could handle it. "Put your shirt on, and let's ride the fence line."
"You sure?" He shot me a mischievous grin. I loved that grin.
We rode side by side in silence down the fence line for several long minutes, not in an awkward way but in a relaxing, comfortable way. Like we hadn't just spent two years apart. Like he hadn't hated me just three days ago.
"How much longer are you planning to stay in Bridgewater?"
"A few days." Cole's gaze drifted to the horizon, his expression thoughtful. "Kylie and River are here, and I have some business to deal with. Plus, it might be good for my writing to hang out a little and try making some fresh music."
"What's the real deal between you and Kylie?"
He smiled. "Kylie and I are just friends."
"But you said..."
"I said a lot of shit out of anger because I wanted to hurt you like you hurt me. I said a lot of shit I shouldn't have. Kylie and River are my family because they're all I've had for the past two years. They've been the only ones I could count on, well, other than Wyatt, but Kylie and I have never been anything more than friends."
"Why not set her free then?" The words tumbled out before I could stop them.
“Set her free?”
"Yeah, I mean, like, let her know it's okay to date other people and move on with her life."
He laughed. "What the hell makes you think Kylie isn't free?" He cocked his head. "Did Kylie say that?"
"Well, no," I stumbled over my words, trying not to give away anyone's secrets, "but I mean, she follows you around the world."
He laughed again. This time, it was harder. "It's not me that Kylie follows around the world. It's Wyatt. Kylie and Wyatt have been dating since shortly after she had River."
"Wait…" My face twisted with confusion. "You know that Kylie and Wyatt are a thing?"
"Yeah."
"Does Wyatt know that you know?" I obviously knew the answer to that.
"Did he tell you I didn't know?"
"Yeah, he said you were interfering with their relationship. That you couldn't let her go because you were still hung up on your past."
Staring forward, he huffed out a laugh. "I think we got played." His gaze flashed to me. "Wyatt knew that I knew. The night of my final show, I was mad that he brought you on tour. He pissed me off in the elevator, and I called Kylie my family, and even though she is, I was baiting him. I made it sound like I wanted her back, but I didn't because she was never mine to begin with. I was just pushing his buttons because I was angry, but now I see this was all part of their plan. They wanted me to know the truth. They used the guilt you carried against you."
"But why?"
"To get me out of this rut I've been stuck in, and I think Wyatt wants to propose to Kylie, but he's worried I might care, maybe because of River."
"Sounds like you two need to have a conversation."
"This looks like a good place for lunch," Cole said, changing the subject.
I flicked a glance around, realizing where we were.
It was our oak tree.
One huge lonely oak tree in the middle of an open field next to the creek.
My gaze shifted, meeting his, and I searched his eyes for some recognition that he knew where we were, but if he did, I couldn't tell. There was no way he didn't remember. We'd spent hundreds of hours underneath that tree talking about everything: our futures, our days, each other, what new things we'd learned, everything...
"It's perfect."
It took Cole about five minutes to get the picnic set up, and when he pulled out everything I loved from the basket, I knew it wasn't Bailey who packed it. Bailey and I were close, but not so much that she could pack the perfect picnic for me. I just couldn't figure out why he didn't just say it was him.
We sat silently eating as a cool breeze whipped around us, and by the time we finished eating, any awkwardness had faded, and we were deep in conversation as we lay on our stomachs watching the horses drink from the creek.
"Tell me what you'd do with this place if you were keeping it?"
"Oh, wow, um." I pushed up on my elbows, my gaze shifting around the open space around us. "Well, first, I would restore it back to what it was before my mom died. I'd go back into breeding, training, and selling horses. I'd start doing riding lessons and barrel racing training again. And..." I trailed off.
"And?"
I shook my head, playing with a piece of grass that I'd pulled out of the ground. "It's stupid."
"Tell me."
"When my mom got really sick, and she was bedbound, I would lay in bed with her, and she would tell me everything we were going to do when she got better." I smiled, thinking back. "She wanted to turn my grandparent's old barn into a wedding venue and their old house into a place for the bride and groom."
"You never told me this."
I shook my head. "I never told anyone." My gaze dropped to the grass in my hand. "It was like her and my little secret, and she would get me so excited about it, and when she died, I knew I wanted to make that last dream we made together come true. I thought you and I would go to Nashville, and once you made it, I would stay here and run our ranch while you were on tour." I chuckled. "I actually thought you and I would marry in that barn." I shook my head. "Silly dreams."
"None of those dreams sounded like they included Caleb's bar." I shrugged. "Do you want to run the bar?" My gaze lifted, meeting his. "You have to be honest with me if you want this friendship to work, Taylor."
Blowing out a heavy sigh, I shook my head. "No, but it's all I have right now, and it's the last thing Bailey and you have of your brother."
"Then why not ask Bailey to buy you out?"
I huffed out a humorless laugh. "I wouldn't want to put that burden on her, and I feel like she would feel obligated to take it over."
"Caleb put that burden on you."
"I knew what I was getting into."
"But did you?" His eyes narrowed. "Did you really know this was how it would all turn out?"
"No, but I'm meeting with a realtor tomorrow morning, and with as much interest as I've gotten over the last few months, I imagine this place will sell pretty quickly, so I'll need a place to stay until I figure out what I want to do with my life."
"You know you're always welcome to crash at the Montgomery Ranch."
"I, uh, don't think your mom would agree with that. She still hasn't forgiven me for what I did to you, and she blames me for Caleb not getting treatment."
"That's ridiculous."
I shrugged. "She's grieving." I glanced down at my watch. "Oh shit." I shifted, rolling so that I could push to my feet. "I have to get back to the house, or I won't get the bar opened on time tonight."
He nodded, and I started to pack up quickly.
My gaze shot up when Cole's white stallion neighed loudly, bucking his back feet. "What the..." I stood up as Cole moved quickly to the horse, but it was spooked and took off. "What happened?" My gaze flicked to the opposite side of the tree where the mare was eating grass, completely unfazed by the event.
"Trigger's a newer stallion," Cole said, watching as the horse disappeared into the distance. "He's still training. Bailey said he's... He's a little sensitive and gets spooked easily." He pulled his cap off and shoved a hand through his hair before replacing the cap backward. "Guess I didn't realize how easily."
I laughed, and then I laughed harder. He cocked a brow at me. "So, you brought a horse that's easily spooked all the way out here."
"Trigger and Jewels were the only options today."
I laughed again, almost uncontrollably. "So, now we have to ride back together. On one horse." It wasn't a question, and the situation wasn't funny, but I couldn't stop laughing because if I did, I might cry.
"Is it that funny?" He couldn't help but smile. My laughing slowed. "I guess it is pretty funny."
Of course, it was. I hadn't had sex in over two years, and now I was going to take one of the most intimate rides with a man I wanted but couldn't have after I told him this morning to keep his hands to himself.
"If you don't want to ride back with me..."
"No." I held up a hand, cutting him off mid-sentence. My heart raced, but I forced my voice to remain steady. "It's fine. We should go, though."
He nodded. "Just leave everything here. I'll ride back out and grab it after I drop you off."
I turned, dropping the few things in my arms, and when I twisted back, Cole was already on Jewel. "Uh, I'm riding in the fro..." My words cut off when I realized that meant his hands would be on me. "I'll ride in the..." I stopped again, realizing my hands would be on him. "Shit."
With a cocky smirk, he leaned forward, extending his hand.
I could do this.
Taking his hand, I shoved a foot in the stirrup, and he pulled. I wasn't even all the way up when I realized I'd used the wrong foot the wrong way, and I landed on his lap facing him.
"This works too." A low chuckle rumbled in Cole's chest, sending vibrations through me where our bodies touched. Before I could protest, his arm snaked around my waist, pulling me close. With a gentle nudge to the horse's sides, we were off.
Our bodies flush against each other, my hips slamming into his with every gallop and the stubble of his face brushing over the tender skin of my shoulder.
He pulled the horse to a slow walk, and as his grip loosened around my waist, I realized that slower was so much worse. Our hips moved together in sync, my chest brushing against his and the heat of his breath fanning across the shell of my ear. My body was acutely aware of every move we made.
"I've missed this." Cole's words were barely a whisper, his breath warm against my ear. His arm tightened almost imperceptibly around my waist, as if he feared I might slip away.
"What?" I twisted in his arms as I met his gaze. A mix of confusion and something else - something I wasn't ready to name - flickered in my chest. "Riding reverse cowgirl on a horse?" The words came out more breathless than I'd intended, tinged with nervous laughter.
He choked out a laugh. "No." He shook his head. "This. Us. Being out here together."
"Yeah." A smile tugged at my lips, nostalgia washing over me in a warm wave. My fingers absently traced patterns on Cole's arm, still wrapped around my waist. "It felt like old times." I paused, heat rising to my cheeks as memories flooded back. "Well, minus all the kissing and sex."
He pulled back on the reins, stopping Jewels in the same spot he'd picked me up.
"We did do a lot of that, didn't we?" I laughed.
"Yeah, you don't realize how much until it's gone."
"I should probably go get ready for work." The words came out reluctantly, even as I shifted in Cole's arms. My body seemed to protest the idea of putting distance between us, but my rational mind knew better.
"Go out with me tonight." Cole's words came out in a rush, his eyes searching mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. His hand, still resting lightly on my waist, seemed to burn through the fabric of my shirt.
Pressing my lips into a thin line, I shook my head. "I have to work tonight."
"Bailey can handle it." His thumb traced small circles on my hip, a gesture so subtle I wasn't sure he was even aware of it. The familiar touch sent shivers down my spine, threatening to erode my resolve.
"Bailey is on baby watch." My fingers fidgeted with the hem of my shirt.
"I got a text a little bit ago that Molly had the baby."
"Then she's going to want to be there with Molly." I shook my head, a mix of exasperation and amusement coloring my tone. My resolve was weakening, and judging by the knowing look in Cole's eyes, he could tell.
"I already asked, and she said yes." He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my cheek. The scent of his cologne - familiar yet somehow new - enveloped me, making it hard to think straight.
"Of course she did." I rolled my eyes, but couldn't suppress the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. My hand came to rest on Cole's chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm.
"So, will you go out on a date with me tonight?" His eyes never left mine, a mix of hope and nervousness flickering in their depths.
"Yeah." I nodded, a smile spreading across my face, mirroring the one blooming on Cole's.
"Okay. I'll pick you up at seven."
"On a horse?"
He huffed out a laugh. "No. We'll take my truck."
"See you at seven."