Chapter 24 #2
He nodded. “A short one. She’s got some good muscle now and she’s remembering her training. She was broke before, it’s just been a while since she’s been under saddle. It’s time to start working her, a little bit at a time.”
I squinted, a little afraid to get my hopes up. “And I can ride her?”
Hawk turned and pulled me forward so he could wrap his arms around my waist. He looked up at me, his blue eyes soft in the late afternoon light.
“You can. You’ve come a long way too. Besides, it’ll be a short, easy ride. We have to build her up slowly, right?”
I nodded fast, then grabbed his hand, speed walking toward B4.
Hawk let out a deep chuckle and hurried to match his strides to mine.
Once we made it to her stall, I couldn’t wait to get her tacked up.
I knew how to do all the steps now and led her right to the crossties, clipping her in.
Then I set about grooming and tacking her, using the pretty halter I’d gotten her and the saddle Hawk told me was the best fit for her.
Hawk left me to it, getting Humphrey saddled just down the aisle, but he checked everything before he let me mount her.
We headed off on one of the easy trails.
It was smooth and mostly flat, and I knew from my previous rides, could be done in about a half an hour.
I was thrilled to be on Ramona, and she didn’t seem stressed or upset by having a rider again.
Her ears were forward, swiveling at every sound, but she walked easy enough.
“Nice seat,” Hawk complimented as he rode up alongside me. He waggled his eyebrows to make me laugh. Then he got serious, “How does she feel?”
“Perfect.” I had to clear my throat, emotion welling up. “Exactly as I dreamed.”
Hawk squeezed my thigh quickly, then pulled ahead to lead the way through a narrow portion. After we got through the trees, he headed west and I easily steered Ramona after him. When I realized I didn’t even have to focus on my heels, I nearly cheered. It had become second nature.
I glanced over at Hawk, taking in the picture he made on his pretty black gelding.
He was a cowboy through and through, for all that he was wearing a ball cap instead of a Stetson.
There was no mistaking that he was born to be in a saddle and that he and his horse were one.
I wanted to ride with him for the rest of my life.
Erections were uncomfortable in a saddle, and watching his competence was getting me hard, so I cast about for something else to occupy my mind. It didn’t take but a couple of seconds to land on the thing that had been plaguing me for days now.
“Hey, baby?”
He turned his head and lifted a brow, question all over his expression. Fuck, but he was hot. No, I needed to focus.
“There’s something that’s been on my mind for a little bit,” I began, trying to ease into it.
Hawk hummed. “I was wondering when you were gonna bring that up.”
So he had noticed. Of course he had. I should never have doubted it. I shot him a look and he slowed Humphrey down for a few steps so we could ride next to each other. He leaned sideways to bump his shoulder into mine before righting his seat.
“Tell me what’s going on in your head,” he requested softly.
I took a second to try to figure out how to frame it but then decided just to lay it all out.
“I’ve loved this adventure. It was exactly what I needed.
And I don’t want that to change. But I have to figure out the next step in my professional journey.
” I scratched my cheek, trying to put my feelings into words.
“I can’t just do nothing but I also don’t want to go back to the corporate world. ”
Hawk’s eyes went soft and the corners of his lips tilted up. He opened his mouth to speak, but then seemed to think better of it and shut it. This happened twice more before he blew out a breath.
“I get that. So what would your ideal job look like?”
I didn’t even have to think about it. “Something that would put my years of knowledge to good use while I still got to spend time here. I don’t want a long commute. I’d never get to see you. And baby, you’re the biggest draw here. I want to spend as much time with you as I can.”
Hawk tugged Humphrey’s reins gently and the gelding immediately stopped. I had to murmur whoa and do the same to get Ramona to stop. I looked at him quizzically but Hawk wasn’t looking at me. He hopped down and motioned for me to do the same.
When I had both feet on the ground, Ramona’s reins in one hand, Hawk practically launched himself at me. He held me so tightly he nearly popped a rib, and I was reminded yet again that just because I had inches and a good fifty pounds on him, he was stronger.
“I love you,” he whispered, his words muffled by my shirt. Then he froze, his entire body stilling as he seemed to realize what he said. Admittedly, I was in the same state, disbelief coursing through me. I’d hoped to hear those words. I wanted to say them back. But I was shocked in that moment.
Hawk took a deep breath, nuzzled his nose against my shoulder, then lifted his head. The affection and love shining there made my knees weak.
“I love you,” he said again, this time a bit stronger. “That you came to me with this…the things you said…you see me as a partner.”
I couldn’t help the frown. “Of course I do. I mean, I would still protect you at all costs but…You’re mine, Hawk. And I’m yours. Equally.”
He nodded but something flashed across his features. “It’s okay if you’re not ready to—”
“I love you,” I blurted, realizing I hadn’t said it back.
I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up, and Hawk’s worry eased that fast. “Oh, damn, but I love you. I have for a while, even if I wouldn’t let myself really even think it until just now.
It took so long for us to get on the same page, and I was all up in my head about the career thing that I—mfph. ”
His mouth cut off my words, kissing me for all he was worth.
Fortunately for me, he was worth a lot, and I did my best to give back just as much.
If we weren’t in the middle of a field, with horses standing right next to us, I would have thrown him on the ground and shown just how much I loved him.
But we were, so that would have to wait until later.
Eventually, we had to breathe, and Ramona was getting antsy, given how she kept side stepping into us. We broke apart, panting and smiling.
“I’m still not officially moving in yet,” he warned, but the love and affection in his gaze softened the words.
“Whenever you’re ready, baby,” I said, meaning it.
That earned me another hard and fast kiss. Then he stepped back to put a little distance between us.
“But back to the matter at hand,” he said, making a show of adjusting his jeans. I was in the same state and watching him didn’t help. “It seems to me the answer is pretty dang obvious.”
That got my brain in gear and I stopped focusing on his dick. “What now?”
He gave me a patronizing look. Two months ago, that look would have set me off. Now I understood what it was about. I rolled my eyes and laughed at him instead of getting riled up.
“You liked helping Bodhi figure out his business plan, right?”
My brow crinkled. “Yeah. But what does that have to do with—”
“You’re a numbers guy, right? You have good instincts about what type of business in what market would do well, right?
” He was emphasizing that word, willing me to see something.
But I didn’t. When I kept staring, he continued.
“That’s why you took a chance on Omicron, right?
You saw the need in the market and you used your brain to make it happen.
Bodhi told me what you said about Yellow Ribbon.
You knew the market could sustain that type of business, right ? ”
“You keep putting inflection on that word. I don’t know what you’re trying to get across here.”
Hawk chuckled then, shaking his head, as though he thought I was an idiot. “This is one of those times where you don’t know what you don’t know and I have to spell it out, huh?”
“Hawk.” I drew out his name, a little bit of exasperation creeping through.
“You start a consulting business, you silly man. You help new business get off the ground. Review their business plan or help them craft it or whatever. Give them advice. You take as many clients as you want, work the hours that you want, and you can still spend as much time with Ramona and me as you want.”
It took a second for my brain to switch gears. But only a second. Then a huge smile spread across my face until my cheeks hurt. I grabbed him and yanked him close, squeezing for all I was worth. Ramona let out a snort and stomped her foot close enough to mine I felt the ground vibrate.
“That’s genius,” I said, tone full of awe.
“I’m not just a horse whisperer,” he said cheekily. Then he sobered and gave me a soft smile. “I just pointed it out, love. You had all the pieces. You would have landed there eventually.”
“Maybe,” I agreed. “I may have been, perhaps, a bit too focused on figuring out how to make this work between us to see the easy solution. I was so worried about being apart that I didn’t connect the dots.”
“We’ll make this work,” he said fervently. “Thank you for bringing this to me. I’ll help you any time you need.”
“The same goes for me. Partners, right? Equals—”
Ramona had enough waiting around. She stuck her big head between us, nearly knocking my chin.
I pulled back just in time. Hawk laughed, deep and rich, and he gently shoved her head out of the way, giving her scratches when she moved.
When I stepped back, I saw Humphrey was patiently waiting for us to be done.
He clearly had more manners than my girl.
Not that I minded in the least.
“We should get these two back. And then—” he gave me a very pointed look, “—we head to your house.”
I wanted to call it ours, but Hawk wasn’t there yet. That was fine. I had every faith he’d get there.
“Let’s do that.” I turned, put my foot in the stirrup, but before I could haul myself up, Hawk stilled me.
“Carter?” When I turned my head, he blew me a kiss. “I love you.”
Fire lit my veins and I fought a groan. “I love you too. Let’s get these guys taken care of so I can get you to bed and show you just how much.”
Hawk scrambled to mount Humphrey, and I pulled myself into Ramona's saddle. We hadn’t gotten far but I knew it would be a long trek back and even longer till we had them groomed and settled in their stalls. But I didn’t mind too much. Hawk was worth the wait.