Chapter Nine
FROM THE FIRST moment Eric saw Kat standing at the top of the stairs, looking beautiful in a pair of jeans and a tight shirt that showed off every lush curve, he’d wanted to take her in his arms and never let her go.
He’d thought about her all day, and after that amazing kiss they’d shared in the parking lot, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about kissing her again and again, but he’d promised himself he’d take it slow tonight.
This date wasn’t about getting her into bed.
It was about getting to know her and letting her know he wanted more than a quick hookup.
He closed the door behind them and reached for Kat’s hand as they descended the porch steps and he led her toward the yard.
“Where are we going?” Kat asked as they crossed the grassy lawn to the large barn at the foot of the hill.
Eric pulled open the doors, and the scent of leather, hay, and manure assaulted them. He drew in a deep breath. “Smell that? That’s the scent of stability, family, and strength.”
“Because of Hal?” she asked as they walked into the barn.
“Because of all of the Bradens. Their love knows no boundaries, and it’s always been a source of strength for me.” He walked to the stall of an old red mare named Hope. Hope pressed her muzzle into his sternum, and he petted her wide jaw.
“How’re you doing, Hope?” he said to the horse. “Are you ready to give us a ride?”
“Wait, what?” Kat’s eyes widened. “I don’t ride.”
He took her hand in his. “Not yet, but with me and Hope, you’ll do fine. That is, if you trust me to help you conquer your fear of riding.”
“I don’t know,” she said, nervously stepping back.
He pulled her in close and gazed deeply into her eyes.
“Do you think I’d let you get hurt? Trust me, Kat.
I’ll be right there with you, holding you.
I’ll make sure you’re safe.” He turned to Hope, who neighed and nodded her big head, as if confirming his idea was a good one.
“I want to take you someplace special, and horseback is the only way to get there.”
“But…” She trapped her lower lip between her teeth, looking so damn cute he had to press his hands to her cheeks and kiss her.
“I’ll make you a deal. If we get up on the horse and you’re too scared, we’ll end this part of our date and go into town.”
She hooked her finger into the waist of his jeans. “You really won’t let me fall?”
“Never.”
“What if Hope takes off running and you can’t stop her?” The worry in her eyes was palpable.
He gathered her in his arms. “That won’t happen. Hope knows how to take care of her riders, and I know how to take care of you. Trust me?”
She swallowed hard and nodded.
He slid his hand to the nape of her neck and gazed into her blue eyes. God, he loved her eyes, and the way her neck fit perfectly into the curve of his hand.
“I’ve never met anyone like you, Kat. You’re as strong as you are vulnerable. I want to do dirty things to you and protect you at the same time.”
“Your filter is slipping again.” A rosy blush colored her cheeks.
“Yeah, that tends to happen around you.” He led Hope out of the barn.
“Where are we going, anyway?” She petted Hope’s side, and he could see her fingers were trembling a little.
“Let me help you up, and then I’ll tell you.” He hoisted her onto the horse, and she held on to Hope’s neck for dear life. A low laugh escaped Eric’s lungs, earning him a scowl from Kat. “I’m not laughing at you. It was just a loud smile at how cute you are.”
He grabbed a leather backpack he’d packed earlier and shrugged it on, then mounted Hope behind Kat.
“Normally I’d have you sit behind me, but I don’t want you to feel unsafe, and besides, this way I can put my arms around you.
” He circled her waist with one arm and hugged her close, then pressed his lips to her cheek.
“And you can learn how to manage the reins. Okay?”
“Yeah. I think so.”
“You sound a little nervous.”
“Uh-huh. Go, before I change my mind.”
He laughed and showed her how to hold the reins. “Okay. Put your hands on either side lightly so you can feel how I do this. You’re lucky. Hope practically has the entire mountain memorized, so she’s the perfect host for your first lesson.”
Kat leaned her head back against his chest and slid her hands along his forearms. “You’re the perfect host for my first lesson.”
Eric’s heart swelled in his chest. He pressed a kiss to her cheek and reveled in how right the moment felt. How right Kat felt, pressed up against him, putting her faith in him to take care of her.
Rex had long ago cleared the trail so that Jade could ride without worrying about her horse running over felled trees or large rocks, and he’d installed solar lights along the path for evening rides.
“This trail runs all the way to the river,” Eric explained as they entered the forest. The last rays of sunlight peeked through the trees, illuminating the dirt trail.
“When the sun goes down, won’t Hope have a hard time seeing?”
“When it gets a little darker, the solar lights that Rex installed will come on.” He pointed out lights attached to the trees. “Safety first, remember?”
They rode up the mountain, serenaded by the sounds of the breeze rustling through the trees and skittering along the ground.
Eric felt Kat’s body relax against him. He hated not being able to see her face, but he was learning to take his cues from her body language and from changes in her breathing.
“Feeling more at ease?”
“Yes, thank you. Hope is so gentle, and you make me feel safe.”
“Thank you. Hope is a doll. Hal bought her for his wife, Adriana, when she first got sick. He swears he can communicate with Adriana through the horse.” He had never understood how a man could love a woman so much that he refused to let her go, even after death, and he’d never been one to believe in love at first sight, but every minute he spent with Kat made him question those beliefs.
“Hal’s heart belongs to Adriana,” Kat said. “He probably sees her in everything and everyone he loves, don’t you think?”
“Maybe so. Can you hold the reins for a minute?”
“Sure, but what if I do something wrong?” She pressed her back to his chest, like she needed the contact and reassurance.
“You won’t. Just hold them gently. Don’t tug in one direction or another.
” He released the reins and wound his arms around her waist. “I just needed a minute to be closer to you.” He rested his cheek against hers.
“Don’t you love being out here, without the noise of the city or commitments nagging at you? ”
A happy sigh escaped Kat’s lips as Hope followed the trail around a wide bend. The smell of damp earth and chillier air enveloped them as the river came into view.
“I’ve always loved it here,” Kat said. “But I like it even more being here with you.”
“Me too. I think you’d like my property in Sweetwater. I’ll have to take you there sometime. We can skinny-dip in the lake.” He felt her bristle against him.
“I don’t do deep water.”
Eric tightened his hold around her middle, thinking of the little girl from his past. “Just another thing we can overcome together.”
As the sun set, the lights on the trees came to life, illuminating the trail down to the river. He held tightly to Kat as they descended the mountainous slope, and when they reached level ground, Eric helped Kat off of Hope.
“How’d you do?” He brushed her hair away from her face so he could see her eyes and felt himself getting lost in the emotions he saw there.
“That was remarkably romantic. I never knew riding a horse could be romantic, but that was…” She sighed a contented, dreamy sigh that tugged at his heart. “Wonderful.”
He touched his forehead to hers and breathed her in. “I’m so glad. And there’s more romance where that came from.” He kissed her softly, loving the sweet sound of appreciation she made.
Together they unpacked the backpack and spread a blanket out on the ground. Kat took out the sandwiches he’d made while she was getting ready for their date.
“When did you have time to make these?”
“Right after I picked up your flowers.” He smiled, watching her move to Hope’s side. She looked thoughtfully at the horse.
“Don’t we have to tie her to a tree or something?” She petted Hope.
“Any other horse, maybe, but not Hope. She never takes off. I swear sometimes I think Hal is right about her ability to understand humans.” He removed a bottle of wine and two plastic wineglasses from the backpack.
“You thought of everything,” she said as she came to his side.
Eric held up one finger as he took candles out of the side pockets of the backpack.
“Now all we need are candleholders.” He scanned the ground and found two big, flat rocks and placed them by the edge of the blanket.
He set the wide-based candles on them and pulled a lighter from his pocket.
“Feel free to lavish me with praise now,” he said as he lit them.
She rolled her eyes, and he tugged her against him, making her laugh.
He loved her laugh. Hell, there was no denying how much he loved everything about her.
She was sassy and sharp, and the way she looked at him made his stomach go all sorts of funky, in a very good way.
It occurred to him that he should probably be freaked out by how quickly he’d become taken with her, especially since he’d felt himself falling for her from the moment he first set eyes on her.
But freaking out wasn’t anywhere near his radar screen.
He wanted to bring her deeper into his life, to drive full speed ahead into the feelings she stirred in him.
He pressed his lips to hers, and they sank down to the blanket side by side. He handed her a sandwich and poured the wine. “To our first date.”