Chapter Eleven
“She’s beautiful,” Hanna said, running her hands over the horse's face and neck. The horse was a pretty dark brown with four white socks and a stripe down her forehead and face.
“If you want a more energetic horse after you get more comfortable, I have a few I’d put you on.”
Hanna rubbed her hand over the muzzle. “No, I like her. She’s always going to be good to me.”
Blake came up beside her and ran a hand over Hanna’s head. “I’ll always make sure you’re safe.”
Hanna’s heart stuttered in her chest at the affection in his eyes. She looked away.
“Here, let me help you into the saddle.”
She gasped when Blake’s hands came around her waist, and he lifted her into the saddle like she weighed nothing.
“Blake, you’re going to hurt your back doing that. I could have gotten up with just a boost.” She grabbed onto the saddle horn when the horse moved.
“For one thing, you weigh next to nothing, and secondly, I’m used to wrestling one-hundred-fifty to two-hundred-pound calves and hundred-pound bales of hay every day. You’re lighter than both.”
She didn’t know what to say, so she just nodded. He was determined to take care of her no matter what.
She watched him as he gave a few of his men orders before walking up to his big bay. His confidence and authority drew her in and made him even more attractive to her.
Shivers of desire raced down her spine that she tried to hide from him.
“Betsy will follow Tank...”
She laughed. “Tank?”
Blake chuckled. “Yeah. Look at him. He’s a tank.”
She grinned. The horse was huge but didn’t look as big with Blake sitting on him. Blake was a large man, so he needed a tall, muscular horse to carry him.
He looked like a handsome, masculine, confident cowboy, one that girls always swooned over, and she was finding it harder and harder to pull her gaze away from him.
****
A few hours later, he decided he was in heaven, sitting against a big oak tree with Hanna between his legs and relaxing back against his chest.
He was in one of his favorite places in the world with the woman he had dreamt about more times than he could count. It was like a dream come true, and one that he had never thought would happen for him.
Blake kissed her temple. “Dottie made us a picnic lunch when you get hungry.”
She tilted her head to the side and grinned up at him. “You thought of everything.”
“I’d love to take credit for everything, but I had help.”
“Still, it’s nice.”
He stared down at her as she got comfortable again with him. One of his hands was on her stomach, and with the other, he ran his fingers up and down her arm.
He noticed the pink tint on her pale skin and knew it was mostly from the sun. “I should put sunscreen on you before we return if it’s too hot. We’re fine under the tree right now.”
“Can we stay a while longer?” she asked.
“We can stay as long as you like, baby.”
He nuzzled the top of her head.
Several minutes passed before he decided to ask a question in his thoughts.
“Hey, how is it that you’ve had so many hardships in your life and still become successful and stay as sweet as you are?”
She shrugged. “I’ve tried never to let things affect my personality.
I don’t like confrontation. Maybe that’s because of my childhood.
I don’t know. And the need to be successful got me through most of the bad times.
I had something to strive for, and no one could take it away from me.
As long as I worked hard, I could get my mom and me away from my father. ”
“Well, I have to tell you how impressed and proud I am of you. I’ve always known you were special, but I’m learning so much more.”
She tipped her head to the side and grinned. “I hope the ‘more’ are good things.”
He cupped the side of her face. His eyes scanned over her delicate, perfect features before he dipped his head and took her lips. What started off as a slow and gentle caress quickly gained heat until they were both moaning, and he had her sideways in his lap with her arms around his neck.
When he lifted his head and opened his eyes, his first glance at her with a rosy flush on her face and a dazed look in her eyes made his body tighten, and his heart felt twice its size.
“You are so beautiful, baby.” His thumb caressed her cheek as he tried to gain enough control to release her because all he wanted to do was lay her down on the blanket and make her his in every way. He knew if he didn’t get them up, he’d be doing just that, and he knew she wasn't ready.
“How about we take a walk around and then eat?”
She nodded. “I’d like that.”
Blake lifted her to her feet before rising and grabbing her hand. He walked her around the area, pointing out things, plants, and animals. It always made him smile when she looked enthralled or excited about something.
He couldn’t remember a day that he’d had so much fun and been so relaxed. He finally felt like his world was complete with her there. But he was terrified of what would happen to him if she left, knowing he wouldn’t recover.
“Are you hungry, baby?”
She nodded. “Yes. How about you?”
“I’m always hungry,” he said, smiling when she laughed. “Are you feeling okay?”
“The exercise felt good. I know it will take a few days to catch up on my sleep, but otherwise, I feel wonderful.”
“Good.”
Back on the blanket, he pulled the food from the soft cooler he had carried on the back of his horse with the blanket.
“Oh, my, this looks wonderful.”
Dottie had outdone herself. There was fresh fried chicken, noodle salad, rolls, and little apple tarts for dessert.
“You’ll definitely not go hungry around her.”
He filled a plate for her and then himself. He leaned against the tree again while she sat cross-legged next to him.
All he had to do was look up to see her with the backdrop of the pond and tall grasses. If he painted, this was a sight he’d want to preserve. Since he wasn’t an artist, he’d have to carry this picture around with him in his memory.
She set her plate down. “I’m full.”
“But you haven’t eaten a tart yet.”
She chuckled. “I’ll let this digest first.”
“Why don’t you lie down for a bit? I’ll finish my food and pack everything up.”
“I can help.”
“Maybe next time,” he said.
“There’s going to be a next time?”
He debated what to say. He wanted her to know his intentions but didn’t want to scare her into running either.
“Let’s just say that I hope there will be many more times.”
He watched her digest that as she stared at him. He exhaled when she nodded, lay down on her side, tucked her hands under her head, and closed her eyes.
She was out a minute later. He watched as her breathing slowed and her body relaxed. The fact that she trusted him enough to go to sleep gave him hope.
This was the type of woman who needed to be able to trust him, and he’d do whatever he needed to keep her trust and make it strong and healthy—no more getting mad and walking away.
He packed the rest of the food and put it aside. He pulled the shotgun next to the blanket in case he needed it and lay down close to her. She murmured something in her sleep when he nudged her against his side and put her head on his shoulder.
It felt natural when she cuddled closer to him and draped her arm over his stomach.
Contentment filled him as he stared up at the sun that snuck between the oak tree leaves.