Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
GABE
Jasmine Hayes had gotten under my skin, but instead of a splinter I wanted to dig out, she was an itch I couldn’t scratch.
She wasn’t at all what I’d expected when I came back to Honeysuckle Ranch, and that unnerved me.
When I ran into her at a bar my first night back in town, I figured she was like most twenty-one year olds who’d just gotten their first taste of freedom, assuming she was only interested in partying and hooking up.
It would be so much easier if that was the case.
Then I could look past how beautiful she was and realize we had nothing in common.
I could pretend that my stomach didn’t tighten every time she was near.
Maybe then I’d be inclined to avoid her like I’d originally planned, but she made it impossible.
I was drawn to her in a way I couldn’t explain.
It didn’t help that she embodied all the qualities I valued and respected.
She worked hard, she loved her family, and she was passionate about what she did.
She was far more grounded at twenty-one than anyone I knew, including myself.
On top of all that, she was also great with Rory.
She’d spent a large chunk of her weekend with my daughter, giving her riding lessons, showing her how to groom and saddle a horse, and even braiding her hair, something I’d never been able to master.
She’d treated my little girl like family, like someone who was important to her.
If I ever decided to start dating again, I wanted someone like Jasmine.
Minus the whole being my best friend’s daughter part.
The skin on the back of my neck prickled, and the hair on my arms stood on end. As though I’d conjured her with my thoughts, Jasmine appeared at the door to the barn as I put one of the rescue horses back in her stall.
“Just the man I was looking for,” she said as she leisurely strode toward me.
My heart rate kicked up, a little thrill coursing down my spine.
I tried not to watch the sway of her hips as she approached, but I lost the fight.
I let my eyes skim down her body briefly to take in the way her fitted blue jeans molded to her hips and thighs.
Then I dropped my gaze to my hands as I slowly peeled off my gloves one finger at a time.
“What did you need?” I asked, doing my best not to look at her.
“I’ve got a riding student coming in this afternoon, and she wants to bring her new horse.
She hasn’t ridden it yet, and although the seller claimed she’d been started under saddle, the parents said the horse will hardly let you tack her up.
I wanted to see if you could assess her and maybe work your …
horse whisperer … voodoo magic on her,” she said, hesitating like she couldn’t exactly find the right words as she waved her hand in a circle in front of her, presumably to indicate my magical abilities.
I watched her from beneath the brim of my hat, trying not to let her compliment go to my head.
“Sure. I can take a look, feel her out. I’ll come up to the barn when they get here. What time is the appointment?”
“Two,” she replied slowly, like she was unsure. That was odd since she kept a meticulous schedule. I brushed it off and glanced down at my watch. I had just over an hour to finish up what I was doing.
“Alright, I’ll be there.”
“Thank you,” she said, then turned to walk away, but stumbled, reaching out to brace her hand on the closest stall door. I instantly went on alert, taking a step toward her.
“Are you okay?” I asked. She looked up, and I noticed for the first time her eyes were a little glassy. She straightened and blinked several times before pressing her fingers against her forehead.
“Yeah, it’s just...” she began, taking another step toward me. “I think my sugar—” She stumbled again, pitching forward. I reached for her, and she fell against me. Her face pressed into my abdomen, and I hooked my arms under hers to keep her from hitting the floor.
“Shit, your sugar is low.”
“Yeah,” she agreed, her eyes fluttering like she might pass out. I tried to help her stand up straight, but it was no use. Her legs were like noodles.
“Do you have your glucose tabs?”
“In my pocket.” I couldn’t exactly let go of her long enough to reach into her pocket.
I made the split-second decision and bent down to scoop her into my arms. She instinctively wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed her face into my chest. For a moment, I reveled in the feel of her body cradled against mine as I carried her to the tack room.
I hoped she couldn’t feel the way my heart thundered against my ribs from having so much of her touching so much of me.
“My hero,” she said, wearing a lazy grin. I fought back a smile. She was flirting with me despite being on the verge of passing out from low blood sugar. It was such a Jasmine thing to do.
I placed her on the bench and fished around in her pockets for her glucose tabs. She smirked up at me.
“If you wanted to get in my pants, all you had to do was ask.”
I froze momentarily, trying to maintain my composure. That sassy mouth mixed with the invitation had my blood heating in my veins.
“Behave yourself, Little Menace,” I said with a chuckle, ignoring the way my body reacted to her teasing. It may have been a joke, but the front of my jeans grew a little tight just the same.
“Where’s the fun in that?” she asked with what I assumed was supposed to be a pout, but her voice was starting to slur. Shit. I needed to get these glucose tabs in her now.
Without looking away, I popped the lid on her travel tube of glucose tabs and shook a couple out in my hand before cupping her chin.
“Open,” I instructed, and she didn’t hesitate.
She opened immediately, sticking her tongue out to accept the tabs.
The sight was unexpectedly sensual, and I had to push every inappropriate thought from my head before dropping the tabs into her waiting mouth and ordering her to chew.
Retrieving a bottle of water from the fridge, I cracked it open and handed it to her.
She took several small sips. Slowly, she began to perk up and come back to herself.
“What happened?” I demanded, a little harsher than I intended.
“I just got busy and hadn’t eaten lunch yet.”
“Where’s your phone? Isn’t it supposed to alert you when your sugar starts to drop?” Normally, she got a warning that her levels were trending down before she even started to feel the effects.
She reached behind her and patted her back pocket, then repeated the motion with the other side, but didn’t find it. “I-I’m not sure. It must’ve fallen out of my pocket. Or I left it in the other barn. I can’t remember.”
“It’s okay. We’ll find it. But we need to get you fed soon.” Those tabs were a temporary fix. She would need to eat a meal to stabilize her blood sugar.
“My lunch is waiting for me at the other barn. I’ll just eat it when I get back up there.” She stood, and I stepped back to avoid our chests bumping, but I was ready to catch her if she stumbled again.
“Let me grab my keys so I can drive you back.”
“No need. I rode Juniper down here. I’ll just take her back.”
“Absolutely fucking not. You almost passed out on me. I’m not letting you get back on a horse until I feed you.” There was no way I’d let her out of my sight in this condition. She could fight me all she wanted. I’d hog tie her and carry her back to the barn before I let her ride her horse.
My harsh demand momentarily stunned her into silence, but then she blinked away her surprise. Slowly, her mouth curved into a devilish smile, and her eyes sparked with mischief.
“Whatever you say, cowboy,” she said, patting me on the chest before brushing past me.
My skin practically buzzed where she’d touched me, and I fought the urge to rub at the spot.
I squeezed my eyes closed and let my head fall back as I gathered my composure.
Her touch shouldn’t affect me like that.
She’s too young.
She’s my best friend’s daughter.
It was concerning how often I had to remind myself of that.
Turning on my heel, I trailed after her.
“Wait,” I called before she reached my truck.
Jogging over to her, I pulled my phone from my pocket.
“Give me your number,” I said, and her eyes widened, the gold around her irises brightening.
She looked up at me hopefully, but before she could read too much into it, I continued.
“I don’t want something like this happening again.
We should exchange numbers so you can call me if you need something. ”
Disappointment flashed across her features, but she shrugged it off. “Right,” she agreed. “That makes sense.” She rattled off her phone number, and I sent her a text with just my name in it before continuing to my truck. I followed behind her, stopping at the passenger side door.
“Don’t forget to save my number,” I instructed as I opened it for her. She turned to me, an all too familiar mischief dancing in her eyes.
“Yes, sir,” she declared before climbing into the passenger seat. I shut her in and rounded the hood, refusing to acknowledge the way my pulse picked up at the sound of those two words falling from her lips.
She was really testing my resolve today, and I wasn't sure how much more I could handle before I cracked.