33. Henley
Henley
The room is illuminated with a pinkish hue by the time I finally peel my eyes back open. With my face still smushed against the pillow, I blindly search for my phone. My fingers slide around the smooth surface, and I bring it up to my face.
I sit up in a flash. How in the world did I sleep for eight hours? As if on cue, my muscles groan and the space between my thighs aches. Ah, yes. That will do it.
The phone vibrates in my hand, alerting me to a new message. My heart flutters when Emerson’s name flashes across the screen. I swipe and hold it against my ear.
“Hey.” His deep voice reverberates through me. Immediately, I’m transported back to earlier.
“Hey.”
“Did you get some rest?”
“Yeah, I think a little too much.” I sigh regretfully.
“Well, you needed it. The process of rearranging your insides takes a toll.”
Emerson chuckles darkly into the phone, and my toes curl beneath the sheets.
“Can you be ready in about thirty minutes?” he asks.
“Depends, where are we going?”
Another laugh rumbles through.
“Nowhere fancy. Just dress comfortably for tonight.” Before I can answer back, he adds one more thing. “Don’t worry, baby, I’ll take you out to a fancy dinner soon. You can get all dressed up in an elegant dress. I’ll look forward to tearing it off you afterward.”
My cheeks flame.
“So, 6:30?” he asks, snapping me out of my trance.
“See you soon.”
As soon as I hang up, I scramble to get ready.
After trying on a zillion shirts and dresses, I take a deep breath and remind myself who I’m about to have dinner with.
This is Emerson, not Carson. He’s not going to complain if I’m not wearing the right shade of lipstick, or make me turn around and change if my dress doesn’t meet his standards.
If I show up wearing only a paper bag, I’m pretty sure Emerson would still be ecstatic.
Slipping on my favorite pair of shorts, a white tank top, and my Converse, I head into the bathroom. I add just a few more curls to my waves and apply some mascara to my lashes when I hear a knock at my door.
With each step, my heart flutters inside my chest. I open the door and am blessed with a beautiful sight before me.
Emerson leans against the frame, the black shirt he wears tightening around his biceps and across his abs. My gaze wanders lower to his dark Wranglers, and the way they mold to his thighs like a second skin. When my gaze finds his, a knowing grin spreads across his face.
“Don’t act like you didn’t just do the same thing,” I jest, folding my arms across my chest and raising a brow. His hand extends out and wraps around my hip, pulling me against his chest and planting his lips against mine.
I’m breathless by the time he releases me. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
Grabbing my hand, he leads me forward and closes the door behind me. “Let’s get going. I’m starving, and if we stay here any longer, I may decide to skip dinner and jump straight into dessert.”
The grin that spreads across my face is wide enough to make my cheeks hurt.
We head in the direction of the horse barn and excitement spreads through my veins. It’s been so long since I’ve been on the back of a horse. Growing up, it was one of my favorite things to do. Being back home, around them every day, has reminded me just how much I’ve missed it.
The freedom.
The wind in my hair.
The way riding could shake me out of my thoughts in mere seconds.
I’ve been trying to find a time to sneak in a ride for the past month, but every day has been so busy that by the end of the night I’m too exhausted to do anything else but sleep.
As we step into the barn, I’m surprised to see two horses already saddled up and awaiting their riders. The Appaloosa mare is the one I notice first. I could spot that beautiful umber coat with freckled white spots anywhere.
I gently brush my palm over her soft muzzle, and she lets out soft snort and tickles my forehead with her lip. “Hi, Lily. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”
As if she agrees, she nickers toward me, her muzzle investigating both of my pockets. “Sorry, sweet girl. No peppermints in those tonight. Autumn always had a pocket full of them for you, didn’t she?” My words trail off at the memory of Em’s Mama, emotion gathering pressure inside my chest.
“Here you go, Lil.” Emerson holds out a mint in his hand, and she devours it. When I catch his gaze, we both share the same moment of emotion. Sadness and happiness, colliding together all at once.
We also share a silent understanding. That we need to embrace all the wonderful memories we shared with her and follow her advice. Make each moment full of life.
“Figured your first time back in the saddle should be with a lady just as special as you.” He winks then walks back to his dusty gray quarter horse, Angus.
Em’s already mounted and ready by the time I come back to my senses.
“Any time now, Trouble. I want to make it to our next surprise before the sun fully sets, and before my hair turns gray,” he snickers.
“Oh, we better hurry, girl,” I say to Lily. “We don’t want this old man to be up past his bedtime. He’s already cranky enough.”
His lips purse as I walk past him. Once I’m mounted, we walk the horses outside the barn. Em takes the lead, which I’m thankful for, because I have no idea where we’re headed.
The sunset paints a beautiful backdrop to our ride. Our walk gradually turns into a steady trot. I let my eyes fall shut, feeling the wind sweep across my cheeks and weave through my hair. When I open them, I see the lake come into view.
Our properties are large, but the beauty of being neighbors is that we both share the lake.
I always loved that no matter which house we were at, we were only a short distance away from the water.
The only bad thing about being on the Lane side is that they don’t have my favorite part, the tree swing.
My lips twitch up at the memory as I look at Em.
His dark chestnut hair dances in the wind. Every muscle in his arms pulls and constricts as he holds the reins. I’m thankful for the fact that I’m sitting because my knees have gone weak. The man beside me is breathtaking.
I pinch myself just to make sure this isn’t the longest dream ever. Ow. Nope. This is real.
“Feeling like a little race, Trouble?” Emerson yells across to me.
“Are you sure you want to take that challenge? You may know how to handle your Porsche, but I’ve always beaten your ass when it comes to riding a horse.” I smile smugly.
“Bring it on.”
Already leaning forward, I squeeze my thighs and shorten the reins.
“Challenge accepted!” I shout as I leave Em in the dust.
A string of swear words echoes from behind me, and I toss my head back in laughter.
He inches closer, but I already know there’s no way he’s going to catch me. I’ve got him beat.
As the lake comes closer into view, my heart stumbles at the sight before me. Even from here I can see all he has done.
There's a large flannel blanket spread out on the hill, a wicker basket and ice chest holding down the corners. A small canvas tent is set up beside it. The whole area is lit with warm, golden light from the lanterns spread about. There are even some hanging from the tree, alongside what looks like . . . No, he didn’t.
A tree swing sways gently in the night breeze.
I fall back into the saddle and Lily slows down to a trot, just as Emerson flashes by at lightning speed. Effectively pulling off the ‘W’ in the last second.
Slowing Lily all the way down to a walk, I make our way over to the winner’s circle where Angus and Em are waiting for us. Emerson wiggles his brows up and down as he takes the reins from my hands and ties them around the tree next to Angus.
“You cheated,” I sneer.
“Nah, I’m just good at understanding my opponent. I’m a strategist, baby.”
I glare down at him and his smug little grin and fold my arms across my chest.
“Aw, come on, Hen. Don’t be a sore loser. Come celebrate with me.” He pleads with the goofiest pout I’ve ever seen this man make. I can’t help the way it lights up my face. “There you are.”
His arms wrap around my waist as he pulls me off the saddle and lowers me to the ground.
“You know, I could have done that myself.”
“How many times am I going to have to remind you that it’s okay to let someone take care of you every once and a while, baby?”
His words hit me in the center of my chest. I’ve never been in a relationship where I wasn’t the one taking care of the other person. Emerson is the only one I’ve ever felt comfortable handing the reins to and letting him lead.
I walk around him, feet carrying me toward the swing. My fingertips brush against the rough braid of the rope.
“Give it a try.”
Emerson’s deep voice pulls my gaze toward him.
One foot is propped up as he leans against the tree.
He places his hands in his pockets, nodding once more toward the swing.
As I lower myself onto the cool, wooden seat, I’m instantly transported back in time.
Back to the first moment he stayed behind to let me swing.
The first time he told me he would be my friend.
All the countless nights we shared each other's fears and doubts as we took turns swinging back and forth.
To the moment where he almost kissed me beneath the stars.
Every moment life has placed in our paths, begging us to see what we couldn’t. Urging us to take a leap of faith. To bring us to this moment where all those timelines finally connect.
All this time, we thought we were lost. But we found ourselves in each other.
Overwhelmed with emotion, my legs hang still, slowing my swing to a stop as I gaze out over the lake.
The breeze makes rhythmic ripples in the water and causes my skin to pebble.
It’s been warmer than usual for the beginning of September, but tonight it appears the fall chill is beginning to gently work its way in.
Em’s heavy footsteps fill the silence as he strides toward me. His warmth surrounds me as he slips his hand around my waist.
“Thank you,” I whisper, leaning backward into him. Tears build behind my eyes as I struggle to push the emotion down. “This is so special. It means the world to me.”
“You’re welcome,” he says softly, sliding his body to the side and lifting my chin to him. “I wanted you to feel as special as you’ve made me feel. I’m just sorry it took me so long to finally admit how I feel—how I’ve always felt.”
His thumb slides tenderly across my cheek, and I can feel the love radiating off his body. He bends down and presses his lips against mine.
My hand tightens around the rope, and I try to hold on while his love consumes me entirely. By the time he pulls away, I’m breathless, and my lips feel puffy and bruised.
Releasing a deep breath, he leans back, but his thumb circles over my lips. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get enough of these.”
My grin widens underneath his touch. “Well, you do have a lot of time to make up for.”
Em’s eyes darken as he presses his thumb into my bottom lip and drags it slowly down before releasing it. “I do, baby. I plan on putting in lots of overtime.”
Blowing out a rough breath, he backs away and extends his hand. “Let’s eat before we get ourselves into any more trouble.”
He helps me off the swing, tucking my hair behind my ear and kissing the side of my cheek before he releases me. “Plus, you’ll need energy for all the other things I have planned for you tonight.”
My eyes go wide and he smirks. Then he swings an arm around my shoulder and guides me back toward the blanket.