34. Millie
CHAPTER 34
Millie
“Yeeeehaw!” Elodie is galloping around the gravel parking lot out front, dressed in bell bottom jeans, a floaty white blouse, and a pair of cowboy boots that look like they’ve only just made it out of the box.
“You ever been on a horse?” Caden asks, packing up a cooler into the back of the truck.
“No, but first time for everything, right?”
“I don’t know that you need all this get-up for a one-hour trail ride up to Lake Braid,” Parker laughs.
“Oh, hush. This outfit deserves to see more of the world than just the confines of the rodeo grounds once a year.”
“That’s true, you do look kinda hot in those jeans,” he adds.
“Parker!” Elodie slaps his shoulder, pushing him away. “Keep those thoughts to yourself, buddy.”
I wince.
You’ve got to respect Parker’s relentless attempts to crawl out of the friend zone, no matter how many times Elodie kicks him back in.
“Let’s go.” Caden taps the hood of the truck impatiently before opening the passenger door and extending his arm towards me to help me up.
We wind through the alpine, gaining elevation as we make our way out to the trailhead at Lake Braid. Caden has pulled some serious strings to get us booked on to a private trail ride at Holden Stables, the same stables that have been sold out since the start of the summer season.
The scent of hay and manure hits me as soon as I hop down from the truck and make my way over to the corral. There’s ten horses fenced off, all different colours and sizes. I’ve never seen a horse up close. I had no idea just how huge they could be. Each of them has a brand on their hind quarter, the initials M.R.R standing out against their coats. I move slowly around the wooden fencing, taking in each one and trying to give off cool, calm, and collected energy. I read last night that horses are extremely perceptive, they’ll be able to tell if you’re nervous and that might throw them off.
Or worse, they might throw me off.
I feel my anxiety ease a little as I stop in front of a mare with unique markings across her flank, splattered patches of rusty orange and cream. I push up against the fence post, getting close enough to scratch her long nose as she nuzzles against my hand. Her nostrils flare as she nods her head up and down, her tongue flicking out across my cheek.
Euch, gross.
“Looks like this is your girl.” I turn my head to glance over my shoulder, coming face-to-face with a real-life version of one of the cowboys from Elodie’s smutty novels. He’s decked out in leather chaps stretched over tight denim wranglers, a thin plaid shirt buttoned up to the collar, and a belt buckle that threatens to blind me if the sun hits it just right.
Holy shit.
“Yeah, uh… it… licked my face,” I stutter. “The horse did.”
“Yeah… Pepper has a bad habit of marking her territory with a French kiss every now and then.” He laughs. “I’m Wyatt, by the way. I run the summer trail ride program out here for the ranch.”
I look down at his extended hand. His short blonde waves and chiseled jawline may have turned me to stone.
“And you are?”
“Right.” I nod, letting my hand fall into his. “Millie. Millie Adams.”
“Nice to meet you, Millie Adams.” His handshake is firm, which is more than can be said for mine as I fawn in front of him.
I feel a warm, commanding presence behind me, the comforting scent of sandalwood and leather confirming it’s Caden. He runs his rough fingers down my spine, resting his palm on the back of my hip.
“I’ve got this one, Holden.” He takes the riding helmet from his hands, turning me round to face him. He’s mere inches from me, the heat of his body melting into mine.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was trying to mark his territory too.
Wyatt raises his hands in surrender, jogging backwards towards Elodie and Parker with a smirk across his face .
Caden runs a finger under my chin, checking the room between my jaw and the helmet strap as he secures it in place.
“You didn’t have to dismiss Wyatt like that.” I huff. “I wanted to ask him some questions about this horse.”
“Pepper?” he asks. “There’s nothing that I can’t tell you about that girl. I worked a few summers out at Moon River Ranch, was there the year she had her first foal.”
“ You were a cowboy?”
“Ranch hand,” he grunts. “Shoveled shit and fixed fence posts all summer.”
“Interesting… Did you also have a pair of those leather chaps?”
“Might’ve done.”
“Hot.” I fake rolling my eyes back in my head. “Wear those next time.”
I turn back towards the corral, hoping he doesn’t catch the flush rising in my cheeks.
I feel his weight against my back, pushing me up against the fence post. His hand wraps around my braid and with a little tug, he pulls my head back to look up at him.
“Are you flirting with me, Adams?”
“Me? Flirting with you?” I push my hips back, arching my back and resting my ass against his zipper. I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but I think I’m done waiting on Caden making the first move. “I would never .”
“ Fuck .” He slides his hand under my top, dragging his pinky across the top of my leggings. This is new territory, but I’m not mad about it. “Carry on like that and you’re going to be the death of me.”
“That’s what I was hoping for.” I slide out from underneath him, walking away and relishing the feeling of his eyes boring into my back.
I’m pretty sure that man is going to need a minute to recover.