Chapter 15
ERIC
Teri, Jackie’s friend, was a little nervous aboard Bubba, but she was relaxing more and more as the ride went on.
She kept a hand on the saddle horn, which a lot of novice riders did, but she didn’t have a death grip on the reins.
Bubba definitely wasn’t a horse who was going to scare her.
According to Carole, he was in his mid-twenties, a long-retired show horse who was living out his twilight years carrying young and inexperienced riders safely down the trails.
He had his head low, the reins hanging loose beside his neck, and he happily walked along beside Lucky.
Lucky had a faster walk when left to his own devices, but he paced himself with Hank, letting some of the other horses get well ahead of us.
Her husband, Mark, twisted around in his saddle. “You okay back there, Teri?”
“I’m fine!” She waved. “Don’t wait for us!”
He shrugged, turned around, and kept pace with the others, who were on horses that preferred to power walk. Well, when Kirby wasn’t trying to wander into the bushes, bite one of the other horses, or just stop for no reason besides fucking with Jackie.
Case in point—
“Oh my God!” Jackie’s grumble carried all the way back to us. “Dave, can we trade?”
Dave, her boyfriend, laughed. “You can handle her.”
“I know, but…” She followed that with a frustrated groan.
Kirby was definitely going to humble the lady.
At least Jackie’s experience kept her from yanking on the mare’s mouth or kicking her; I was pretty sure Carole would’ve had her switch horses by now if she’d been too physical.
And Kirby wasn’t dangerous, just stubborn and contrary.
As we all continued down the trail, Hank and Lucky in absolutely no hurry at all, Teri asked me, “Is this your first time at Moosehead Lake?”
“No, I’ve been up here a few times. My—a friend of mine has a cabin on the lake, so we’re staying there.” I gestured over my shoulder to indicate Jesse.
“Ooh, so the two of you are together.” She smiled. “I had a feeling.”
“We’re—oh, no, not like that!” I chuckled as my face turned into an inferno. “We’re friends.”
“Oh!” Her face was instantly as red as mine felt. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to presume. You boys are just—” She waved her free hand. “I’m sorry.” From her horrified expression, she wasn’t just embarrassed that she’d read us wrong; she was probably mortified at assuming we weren’t straight.
“Eh, it’s okay.” I laughed softly as I glanced back. Carole and Jesse were about twenty feet behind us, carrying on their own conversation. Dropping my voice, I admitted, “Not gonna lie—I wouldn’t mind if we weren’t just friends.”
That seemed to ease her embarrassment, so I must’ve read her right. Relaxing, she gave me a sheepish smile. “Well, you’d certainly make a cute couple.”
I had to be glowing red by now. “Thanks. Don’t know if it’s in the cards, but stranger things have happened.”
Her smile turned to a knowing one. “If the way you two look at each other is anything to go by…”
My brain shorted out at that. I hadn’t realized I’d been so damn obvious, but also—
“Does he…” I fought the urge to glance back at him, and I dropped my voice a little further. “He looks at me that way?”
Her expression may as well have screamed, “Oh, you oblivious dumbass.” Still smiling, she just shrugged and didn’t say another word.
I didn’t press the issue either, mostly because I didn’t want Jesse to overhear. But it also wasn’t something I wanted to discuss with a stranger. I was pretty sure she was seeing things anyway, and maybe she was just the too-friendly type who let things slip.
As the ride continued, though, and Teri caught up to her friend and boyfriend while I fell back toward Jesse and Carole, her words stuck in my head.
Every time I looked Jesse’s way, I was sure everyone—including him—would see this stupid crush I had on him.
And every time he looked my way, especially when he smiled, I caught myself searching those eyes for whatever it was Teri had seen.
He wasn’t really looking at me that way.
Was he?
There wasn’t really something crackling between us that everyone noticed but us. Was there?
That little lip bite when he laughed at something I said was meaningless. Wasn’t it?
As we followed the winding trails, shooting the shit and enjoying the crisp afternoon, I tried to remind myself we were in Maine for a reason. We’d come here to decompress, lick our wounds, and commiserate over the woman who’d cheated on us both.
Except we’d spent more time talking about life and moose and everything that wasn’t Selena.
I was still sifting through the ashes of my emotions from our breakup, but I didn’t feel any of those right now.
I never did when I was hanging out with Jesse.
When he was there, I lived in the present.
Enjoying the moment. Enjoying his company.
With him along for the metaphorical and literal rides, this trip felt less like emotional convalescence and more like a vacation.
It’s too soon to be thinking about getting involved with anyone.
I surreptitiously watched him sitting patiently while Star picked her way across a creek. He was smiling down at her, holding her on an extra loose rein so she could take a drink and keep her balance.
It’s way too soon to get this flutter in my stomach every time I look at you.
Star took a step, then stumbled on a slippery rock. Jesse barely flinched. He kept the reins loose and stayed still so she could get her feet back under her again. A moment later, they were out of the creek, joining the rest of us on shore.
“Good girl,” he told her with a smile as he patted her neck.
Oh God. It’s way, way too soon for me to be alone with someone as perfect and attractive as you.
Jesse glanced at me as the group started down the trail. A smile flashed across his face that sent electricity down my spine. I returned it, hoping he didn’t hear the way my heart went wild.
Oh my God, I am so fucked.
“Jesus Christ.” I groaned as I got out of the Jeep. “I am sore in places I forgot I had.”
“Oh, come on.” Jesse chuckled, though he was moving a little gingerly too. “It was only three hours of easy riding—you can’t be that sore.”
“Uh-huh.” I cocked a brow. “Is that why you’re walking slower than usual?”
“Fuck you.”
We both laughed and headed inside. After we’d left our shoes by the door, we both paused to stretch.
God, I really was sore. My inner thighs were especially pissed at me, and my back had some questions about just what I’d been thinking.
It wasn’t bad, though; more like the way I felt after a particularly good workout.
Jesse ran his hands down his abs and grimaced. “I’ve definitely been out of the saddle for too long, because I forgot how much it works your goddamned core.”
“I know, right? I feel like I just did a million crunches.”
“Seriously. I think this means I need to start riding regularly again.”
“Yeah?”
He nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it for years anyway, but after today… I might have to look into it more seriously.”
I considered it, then admitted, “I haven’t thought about it in a while, but now, I don’t know.
I might have to look into getting back in the saddle for real.
Maybe I’ll go take some riding lessons or something; I know what I’m doing, but it’s a good way to get back into it, you know? Knock off the rust?”
Jesse’s smile made the room tilt. “That sounds like a smart way to do it. I know me—if I start again, I’m starting again. So I’ll buy something sooner than later. And knowing me, I’ll want to compete, so…”
I chuckled. “Competition’s in your blood?”
“Ooh, yeah. Don’t get me wrong, I love just going down the trails or goofing off in an arena. But I guarantee I’ll be chomping at the bit to compete before long.”
“Sounds like fun. I’ll probably stick to trails. At least for a while. I’ve never competed, so…”
He grinned, unaware of what that did to my pulse. “Fair warning—once you try it, that bug will bite you and won’t let go.”
“Duly noted. In the meantime…” I put my arms over my head to stretch, refusing to think too much about the way his gaze went to my midsection when my shirt lifted up. Or the way his eyes darted away, and was that some pink in his cheeks?
No, Eric. No, no, no. Teri just put that bug in your ear, and now you can’t unsee it.
That was probably it.
As I twisted a crick out of my back, I peered longingly at the couch, ready to drop my tired carcass onto it and not move until it was time to drive back to Pittsburgh. On second, thought, though…
I looked down at my dusty clothes. “Ugh. I’m disgusting. I need a shower.”
“Yeah, same.”
“Well, you can join me if you want to.”
Jesse’s head snapped toward me. My teeth snapped shut.
I’d meant it as a joke. One I’d said without thinking.
But the way he looked at me…
The way my pulse went absolutely wild…
He swallowed. “Uh… I mean…”
“I’m sorry,” I said with a nervous laugh. “I’m—I was just—I didn’t mean we—”
“What would you say if I wanted to take you up on it?”
Oh. Fuck. Wasn’t there air in this room a minute ago? Why can’t I find any?
“I, uh…” I gulped. “Do you want to?”
Jesse stepped closer, his presence simultaneously rooting me to the spot and damn near sending me staggering back. His whisper was so soft it drew me in before I even realized I was moving: “Yeah. I do.”
“Yeah?”
He nodded. “Uh-huh.” He swept his tongue across his lips, unaware of how that pulled my attention to his mouth.
“Would, um… Would you be offended if I told you I spent last night…” He bit his lip as color rose in his face, and he cut his eyes away as if he’d gone too far, all his boldness scattering like startled deer.
“Me too,” I croaked.
He met my gaze again. “Huh?”
“Last night.” I cleared my throat. “I was thinking about you. After I went to bed.”
His eyebrows climbed, interest sparking in those stunning eyes. “Were you?”
I nodded slowly. “Were you?”