Chapter 7
Bailey
I don’t know what is happening, but this cowboy is tugging at my heartstrings, and I never let anyone do that. Not even Sadie. Okay, maybe Sadie, but that’s it.
I’ve never met anyone who loves horses as much as me, maybe Jed, and my boss Zane with his thoroughbred Zeus, but suffering a loss is something deeply personal. And I get where he’s coming from.
Still, I don’t want this to be a sad occasion. There’s nothing sad about Spirit, Dancer and Rebel, heck no.
I climb out of the truck and Brett is right there to help me down. I don’t know how he got around the truck so fast, but I thank him as his warm hand envelopes mine and my feet hit the ground.
Our eyes meet as electricity sparks between us.
I stumble. I’ve never had a reaction to a man like I do him, not even with my ex who I thought I was in love with.
I’ve never had the urge to just throw myself into someone’s arms like I am right now.
Once again, the blame can only be put on the White Russian, but I also know I’m not drunk.
He closes the door behind me and follows my lead down the side of the house, over to the stables. The automatic light comes on as we approach and he whistles low when he sees the place.
“I know,” I sigh. “The Taj Mahal for the animals, while I live in a two by four.”
I laugh out loud. “Touche.”
“Spirit, Dancer, Rebel, it’s Mommy, and Mommy’s new friend.” I notice him grinning as I turn to look at him and say, “What?”
“Do you use that cute voice only for your animals?”
I roll my eyes. “What cute voice?”
He imitates my voice, albeit poorly, high-pitched and adoringly. “Spirit, Dancer, Rebel—”
He doesn’t even get to the ‘it’s Mommy’ part, which makes me want to laugh out loud before I’m elbowing him in the ribs.
“Funny.”
“Wow, the stables are huge,” he says, glancing around the space as he helps me slide the door open.
I have several stalls, along with a huge area with shelving and horse feed, equipment, and riding gear.
Everything I need to make sure I’m prepared, including all my farrier equipment.
“This place is pretty major. I’m impressed. ”
“Well, I farrier on the side whenever the time calls for it. I’m a jack-of-all-trades around here,” I say, then holler out to my babies again, “I come bearing gifts.”
I jog over to the far wall, sticking my hand into a large sack and pull out some of the leftover fruit and vegetables from earlier and hand Brett a carrot.
“Which one am I butterin’ up with this?” he asks with a smile.
“Rebel, definitely. If you get on her good side, the others will love you immediately. She’s the hardest one to tame.” Like mother, like daughter. The words are out before I can stop them, but Brett just grins even wider, as if he can read my next thoughts: I’m a little harder to please.
It’s not even that. I’m just guarded. My heart has been broken one too many times, and yeah, I’m wary of guys. I’ve been so sick with heartbreak, followed by bitter resentment, that I’ve just kinda given up. I’m happy as I am.
We head to the first stable, where Spirit has her head already poking out. “May I introduce my baby, Spirit. Spirit, this is Brett.”
I turn to look at him, and he’s rigid. It could just be me, but he looks a whiter shade of pale as he stands there, a look of sheer terror on his face.
“Brett?” I say, alarmed. “Are you okay?”
His eyes shift to mine, and he swallows hard. “She—she’s beautiful.”
I glance down and his hands are balled into fists, carrot and all. Oh, no. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.
“If this is too much—”
He waves it off, recovering quickly. His smile is long gone, his lips curl slightly as he says, “No, it’s not. I need this. May I?” He motions to pat her.
I nod. “Of course, she loves new people. I named her Spirit for a reason.”
He reaches for her, his hand stroking all the way down to just above her nose. “She’s majestic.” Spirit flutters her tail, gently nuzzling into his hand.
I can’t help but smile. “Yep, she’s special. I’ve always said Spirit makes a wonderful therapist, it’s because of her I’m mainly sane.”
He chuckles. “I hear ya.”
I try not to watch him, but he is something else.
His face is a mixture of pain, but also awe.
His lips part as if he’s about to say something, but as if suddenly changing his mind, he doesn’t.
Then my baby nudges his hand impatiently, and he laughs.
“Sorry, girl, here you go.” He feeds her the carrot, and she takes it greedily.
We watch her munch it and I don’t hurry him. I think he needs this.
His eyes meet mine, and they’re watery. Holy fuck, have I really met a man in touch with his feelings? This is a first.
I clear my throat, looking away because this feels too personal to even be sharing it with a stranger. “Next, we have Mrs. Grumpy Drawers, Dancer. Despite her name, she used to kick up quite a fuss when she was younger, not so much anymore, but kids seem to love her. She likes them.”
Her head pops out and she neighs as I stroke her mane. “She’s a big softie, really.”
Brett slowly reaches for her, petting her so gently it makes my heart weep, and trust me, I’m not a weeper. “She favors apples.” I drop a couple of pieces into his palm and he feeds them to her.
“She’s beautiful. I can imagine her in her heyday,” he says as Dancer shakes her tail, as well as her head—her tail swooshes side to side.
“I think she likes you.”
“I don’t know, she’s on guard.”
I lean over and kiss the side of her head. “She’ll warm up to you.”
We move on to the last stable, and I call out, “Rebel, honey, don’t be mad with Mommy. I’m sorry.”
“Why, what did you do?” Brett asks mockingly.
I side eye him, then whisper, “I stayed out later than planned. Some cute cowboy bought me pie.”
I don’t miss the mischievous look in his eye. “Cute? That’s a step up from if you play your cards right, and not too far away from ruggedly handsome.”
I shake my head. “I have no clue how you jumped from A to Z so fast.”
I don’t need to glance at him to know he’s smirking. Rebel doesn’t appear, so I know she’s sulking. I unlatch her stable and step inside. “Are you mad with Mommy?” Her ears are pinned back, and her eyes soft as she gazes at me. Okay, she’s not that mad.
Brett stays in the doorway as I reach for her, but to my astonishment, she ignores me and trots straight toward Brett. My horse, the Rebel without a Cause, walks willingly to a stranger.
I’ve never seen her do that. Ever.
“Well,” I start, watching her go. “Fine, you’re mad. I said I was sorry.”
Of course, Brett is a natural. “Rebel, is that your name, honey?”
The way he says honey.
“Huh. Well… I’ve never seen her do that before—” My words cut off as she lowers her head and nudged him. Fucking nudges him!
“Aren’t you a beauty?” Brett coos. “Such a good girl.”
Okay, and now I’m jealous I’m not his good girl. Fuck me.
“Okay, she is pissed,” I explain. “Don’t go thinking you’re special, Cowboy.”
“Oh, I won’t,” he says, but I hear the humor in his voice.
I reach around my horse to pass him her favorite fruit: a pear. I don’t even get it into Brett’s hand and she’s gobbling it up, making us both laugh.
“Okay, forget everything I just said. She apparently doesn’t hate everyone, and loves strange men, and will do anything to make Mommy look bad.” I shake my head, patting her nose gently.
“Clearly she’s a good judge of character,” Brett says, awarding me with a shit-eating grin. “I think I’m gettin’ the nod. Don’t worry, honey, your secret is safe with me.”
Oh, he is definitely getting the nod, and I feel it right between my thighs.
Seeing him like this with my animals and how soft and sweet he is… it makes me want to ride him all the way home. Lust burns deep within me and ignites my cheeks.
He leans forward and kisses her nose, and it’s like I’m not even here. “Do you two need a moment?” I say, amusement in my tone.
“She’s perfect.” His eyes meet mine. “Thank you, Bailey. I think I needed this.”
He’s no longer rigid, and just like Rebel, he seems relaxed with his shoulders softened and his hands no longer fisted. I love that I got to do this for him without even realizing it.
“Well, you’re welcome,” I say, embarrassed.
His eyes blaze as we stare at one another.
I pat Rebel as I by-pass them both. “Goodnight, sweet angel,” I say to her. “See you in the morning.”
Brett gives her one last pat and follows me out.
“I mean it,” he goes on. “I’ve been a coward when it comes to this kinda thing.
I don’t know why I haven’t been able to be affectionate with another horse, stupid really.
Maybe deep down I thought I was bein’ disloyal to Clyde, his death was sudden and traumatic. ”
“I’m sorry, truly,” I say, knowing exactly how he feels. “Everything happens when it’s meant to. You can’t rush these things.”
“No, I guess not.”
I pat Dancer and Spirit as we leave, not wanting the night to be over, but knowing it has to end at some point.
I get to the barn door before him and turn, and I swear to god I see him wipe a tear from his cheek.
Now, I love me a manly man every day of the week, but there’s something about this mysterious, rogue cowboy from Nashville that has me all up in a bind.
He speaks his mind and doesn’t care how that makes him look. I love that.
I reach for his hand and he glances down at it, then our fingers touch. “You did good.”
“Bailey—”
Before I know what’s happening, I lean up on my tippy toes and kiss his cheek. His beard is softer than I’d imagined. Warm and comforting, just like him. It’s then I realize what I’ve done.
“Holy shit. I’m sorr—” I don’t get to finish because he pulls me to him and our mouths crash.
His lips do a torturous dance against mine as I grip onto his biceps and hang on for dear life. I love that he’s so much bigger than me. And something I didn’t know I loved?—him walking me back to the barn door, pinning me against it as he cups my face. Holy crap.
Brett kisses me like it’s his last day on earth, and I’m here for it, my pussy clenching as we get entangled and things heat up quickly.
He pulls back suddenly, panting just as much as I am.
“I’ve been wanting to do that ever since you ice skated across the bar,” he says, pressing his forehead to mine.
He didn’t. He did fucking not.
I try not to swoon, but fuck it, I want him, and if that kiss is anything to go by, he wants me too.
I pull him by the lapels of his shirt, his jacket sliding off my shoulders as he leans one hand on the wall and the other pins me at the hip. It’s subtle, but it’s sexy. Commanding.
Jesus.
“I’ve never done this before,” I start between kisses.
“Sex?” he quizzes.
“No! A one-night stand, but you are just utterly divine, and trust me when I say I don’t give out compliments like that willy-nilly.”
“Well, that is a boost to my ego,” he mutters, and then his tongue meets mine.
I don’t think I’ve ever made the noise that leaves my throat, or had every cell in my body pulsing at the same time, but it does right now. He groans, too, only heightening my libido.
When he presses his body against mine, then pulls my knee up so it wraps around his waist, I feel his cock against my lower belly and I gasp. He is rock hard, and I did that to him, me.
Maybe my last few experiences with the opposite sex have crashed and burned spectacularly, but this isn’t a relationship. It’s sex. And it doesn’t even count because he’s not staying in town. We get to have fun with no strings attached. Nobody gets hurt, and nobody gets too invested.
Good plan.
I slide one hand down his chest, feeling his muscles, then I halt at his belt buckle. But I’m greedy, I’m not going to unzip him right here, but I do flatten my palm against the bulge in his jeans, and he barely grapples with some version of my name when I squeeze him there.
“Holy fuck,” he mutters.
“I’ve never done it in the barn,” I mutter.
He places a finger over my lips. “A queen deserves a bed, or at least something that doesn’t smell like manure. Plus, the children might get scared.”
The children, aka my horses.
“Silly me, letting lust overtake my brain.”
He hitches me up farther on the wall and says, “Wrap your legs around me, baby girl.”
And he just baby-girled me. Who is this freaking man?
I do as he says, and we leave the barn with me wrapped around him, my heart pounding, and my body on fire like it’s never been before.