Chapter 30-Sloane
I can’t believe I’m getting on a horse.
Me.
Who even am I right now?
“Okay, I’ll do this but I have one condition.”
Micah glances over his shoulder as he leads two horses out of the barn.
“What's that?”
“You promise not to laugh.”
One dark eyebrow lifts.
“I'll think about it.”
“Oh, that's reassuring.”
A grin tugs at the corner of his mouth.
It's small.
Barely there.
But I've learned that's the equivalent of a belly laugh from Micah Fiero.
“Thing is, I've never been on a horse.”
He stops walking.
“You've never...”
I shake my head.
“Not once.”
“I thought every Jersey girl secretly wanted to be a cowgirl.”
“I grew up in Newark.”
He considers that.
“Fair.”
“I've ridden the subway, that counts, right?”
“Not quite the same, Princess.”
“Oh damn. I’m gonna fall off, aren’t I?.”
He huffs out another one of those quiet almost-laughs that make my heart skip.
God.
Getting that man to smile feels like winning the lottery.
“I’ll keep you safe,” he says and I believe him.
He walks me toward a beautiful chestnut mare with kind brown eyes.
“This is Daisy.”
I eye the horse suspiciously.
“She looks tall.”
Micah actually chuckles.
“She is.”
“That's not helping.”
He reaches up and strokes the mare's neck.
“She's gentle.”
“Is she?”
“Sweetest horse on the ranch.”
I narrow my eyes.
“You said that awfully fast.”
“I meant it.”
Daisy nudges my shoulder with her nose.
“Oh.”
I laugh.
“Well, hello.”
Micah watches quietly as I lift a tentative hand to pet her.
The mare leans into my touch.
“See?”
“I think she likes you.”
“I hope so.”
“You smell like apples.”
I blink.
“I do?”
“Yep. I put one in your bag. Get it and you can feed it to her.”
He did that?
My heart gives a ridiculous little flutter. He really takes care of everything.
Every tiny thing.
“You're always paying attention,” I murmur.
His expression softens.
“To you.”
Just...
To you.
Two words.
That's all it takes.
Heat blooms across my cheeks.
He steps closer.
“So.”
His blue eyes dance with unmistakable amusement.
“Ready?”
“No.”
“Good answer.”
He slips one hand around my waist.
“Put your foot here.”
Oh God.
My heart skips a beat, but I listen.
Of course, I do.
Because he’s right. I have always wanted to ride a horse.
“I feel like this is a terrible idea,” I murmur as I place my sneakered foot inside the stirrup.
“You trust me?”
The question stills me.
And I answer without hesitation, “Yes. With everything.”
Something flashes across his face.
Wonder.
Almost disbelief.
Like he still can't quite believe someone would hand him that kind of trust.
His hands settle more firmly around my waist.
“Okay, Princess. On three.”
“On second thought, I'd rather not.”
“One...”
“Oh God.”
“Two...”
“Micah...”
“Three.”
Before I can squeak another protest, he lifts me effortlessly.
A surprised laugh bursts from me as I'm suddenly sitting in the saddle.
“Oh!”
“There you go.”
“I did it?”
“You did.”
“I feel...”
I look down.
“...very high up.”
He rests one forearm across the saddle, looking up at me.
“You are.”
“This horse has legs for days.”
“Daisy appreciates the compliment.”
I snort.
“You think you're funny.”
“I know I am.”
He hands me the reins.
“Loose grip.”
“Like this?”
“A little more relaxed.”
His hands close gently over mine.
Large.
Warm.
Steady.
He adjusts my fingers one at a time.
“There.”
His voice is low.
“Soften your shoulders.”
I don't realize how tense I am until he brushes his fingertips lightly across them.
“There you go.”
I exhale.
“Better?”
“So much.”
He smiles.
“You're breathing again.”
“I forgot to before.”
“I noticed.”
Of course he did.
He notices everything.
A few minutes later he's mounted beside me.
He looks...
Good Lord.
If romance novel covers were real people, they'd look like Micah on horseback.
Sunlight catches the dark strands of his hair. His beard is a little longer than when we met. His faded jeans hug long, powerful legs.
And those blue eyes…
Sweet baby Jesus.
They're impossibly bright beneath the brim of his hat.
He's so handsome it’s startling. The man is brimming with masculine beauty and right then, I realize I am one lucky woman.
He catches me staring.
“What?”
I shake my head quickly.
“Nothing.”
“Liar.”
“I was just thinking.”
“Dangerous. Seriously, though, what is it?”
I laugh.
“I was thinking you look ridiculously handsome on a horse.”
His ears turn pink.
Micah Fiero.
Blushing.
Well, that's unexpectedly adorable.
“You've got a pretty smile,” I tell him. “I like seeing it.”
“I guess I didn’t do that much, but I’m starting to smile a lot more these days.”
“I've noticed. I like it.”
“You seem to bring it out in me, Princess.”
My heart melts all over again.
We ride slowly across the ranch.
The horses seem content to wander while Micah points out different pastures.
“The breeding barn.”
He gestures toward a long red building.
“The hay fields.”
A line of enormous oaks.
“The north fence.”
His cabin comes into view on a rise overlooking everything.
“It's beautiful.”
He looks at me instead of the ranch.
“Yeah.”
The way he says it makes my stomach flutter.
I don't think he's talking about the view anymore.
The trail narrows as we enter a stand of trees. Sunlight filters through the leaves in golden ribbons.
The horses slow almost on their own.
“It's so peaceful,” I whisper.
“It is.”
He reaches across the space between our horses.
Not saying anything.
Just offering his hand.
I take it.
Our fingers intertwine naturally.
Like they've been doing this forever.
We ride that way for several quiet moments.
Neither of us speaking.
Neither of us needing to.
Eventually Daisy decides a patch of grass looks more interesting than walking.
She stops abruptly.
I squeak.
And of course, I lose my balance.
“Oh!”
Before I can tip sideways, Micah is there.
One arm catches me around the waist.
Strong.
Certain.
His horse presses close enough that our knees brush.
“You okay?”
His voice is barely above a whisper.
I nod.
“I've got you.”
“I know.”
God...
Do I know.
He's so close now I can see every tiny fleck of green hidden inside his blue eyes.
Feel the warmth of his breath.
Smell fresh air, clean soap, leather, and the faint scent of cedar that somehow always clings to him.
Neither of us moves.
Neither of us seems interested in creating distance. His hand is still resting at my waist. Mine has somehow found his forearm.
I don't remember reaching for him. It’s innate now.
Natural.
Instinctive.
“You know,” I say softly.
“Hmm?”
“I think I'm getting the hang of this.”
“The horse?”
I smile.
“The cowboy.”
A slow grin spreads across his face.
“The cowboy's been hoping that.”
My heart stumbles.
“I think...”
I lean toward him the last little bit.
“I'd like another kind of lesson.”
His gaze drops briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes.
“Yeah? You sure, Princess?”
Instead of answering, I close the distance.
Our lips meet softly.
No urgency.
No desperation.
Just warmth.
Gentleness.
A promise still being written.
When we finally part, I can't help smiling.
“I think this might be your best lesson yet.”
He rests his forehead lightly against mine for just a heartbeat before easing back into his saddle.
“I've got a whole lifetime of lessons planned, Princess.”
And for the first time in a very long time, I’m not thinking about surviving through the month. I don’t feel like I have to live my life paying back an impossible debt to my brother.
Suddenly, life feels like an adventure.
One I’m lucky enough to share with the man I love.