Chapter 21
Olivia
From up here in the saddle, I can really take it all in, the open fields, the soft rustle of trees in the breeze, the golden light pouring through the branches. There’s a calmness to it, a kind of peace I didn’t know I needed.
I’m still nervous. Every time the horse shifts too quickly, I cling to the reins like my life depends on it. But underneath the nerves, there’s something else. A quiet kind of joy.
I glance over at Kade, and emotion catches in my throat. He did this—for me. He took our date and turned it into a memory I know I’ll treasure forever.
I’d felt his excitement the whole drive here, his energy buzzing just beneath the surface. This moment, this ride, it matters to him too.
And the fact that we get to share it together? That tightens something deep in my chest in the best possible way.
As we pass through a clearing, I feel the horse beneath me slow to a stop. My heart jumps a little, and I immediately glance at Kade, wondering what I did wrong.
He catches my expression and chuckles softly. “It’s okay. They’re trail horses—they follow the same path every time and stop at the usual spots. We’re going to take a break here for a bit.”
I nod, trying to play it cool, but inside, a small wave of panic starts to rise. Because now I have to get off this horse, and I have no idea how to do that without landing in a heap on the ground.
As if he can sense it, Kade swings down from his saddle with easy confidence, securing his horse’s reins to the nearby post. Then he walks toward me, eyes warm, smile easy.
Of course, he noticed, and of course, he’s coming to help.
And somehow, that calms me more than anything else could.
Kade steps up beside my horse, his hand already reaching for the reins. “Alright, just swing your right leg over and I’ll steady you.”
I hesitate, shifting slightly in the saddle, and his other hand comes up to rest gently on my thigh. The contact sends a jolt straight through me, and my breath catches. His touch is firm, reassuring—but it does something else too.
“I’ve got you,” he says, voice low, eyes locked on mine. “Trust me.”
And I do. I really do.
With a breath, I shift, swinging my leg over and sliding forward. The moment my boots leave the stirrups, Kade is there, arms around my waist, easing me down.
The second my feet touch the ground, I realize just how close we are. His hands linger at my sides, fingers tightening just slightly as if he’s not quite ready to let go.
I look up at him, and his gaze drops to my lips. Heat coils low in my stomach.
“You alright?” he asks, his voice rougher now.
I nod, maybe a little too quickly. “Yeah. Thanks.”
The moment lingers between us, heat simmering in the narrow space between our bodies. His hands are still at my waist, his gaze locked on mine, and I’m almost certain he’s about to kiss me.
“You always stare like that?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
A slow smile tugs at his mouth. “Only when I’m trying to memorize something.”
My breath stutters. He leans in slightly, the moment stretching between us—
Then the reins in his hand jolt, the horse letting out a soft whinny, and just like that, the moment slips away.
Kade exhales a quiet breath and reaches up, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face. The gesture is gentle, almost instinctive, but still, I tense.
His hand drops immediately, concern flickering across his features. He steps back slightly, like he’s giving me space to breathe.
“Sorry,” he says softly. “I didn’t mean to—”
“No,” I interrupt quickly, shaking my head. “It’s not you.”
That pulls his gaze back to mine, searching. I manage a small smile, hoping it’s enough to reassure him—It’s silly, really. My own inexperience tangling up my thoughts, making me second-guess every little thing, and ruining a perfectly beautiful moment.
But Kade doesn’t press. His eyes soften with quiet understanding, and instead of stepping further away, he simply reaches out and takes my hand in his.
“Come on,” he says quietly. “I’ve got one more surprise for you.”
I slide my fingers into his without hesitation, my chest still fluttering.
“More surprises?” I tease, trying to steady my voice. “What exactly are you planning, Kade?”
He gives me a small, crooked smile. “You’ll see.”
Kade leads me through a narrow trail, our hands still joined, the quiet between us warm and easy. After a few minutes, the trees open up into a wide clearing, and I stop short.
The view is stunning. Rolling hills stretch out under the golden light of the setting sun, the sky painted in soft oranges and pinks. It’s quiet here—peaceful in a way that makes me forget everything else.
Kade lets go of my hand to shake out a blanket on the grass, then looks over at me with a small smile. “Figured you’d like the view.”
I sit down beside him, still taking it all in. “It’s beautiful.”
“Yeah,” he says quietly. “It is.”
I glance over, expecting him to be watching the sunset, but he’s not. His gaze is fixed on me, steady and unflinching. My breath catches. How is this man real?
We sit together on the blanket, sharing snacks and laughing over the fact that he brought three different kinds of cookies—all from Aubrey’s bakery.
Everything about this evening feels perfect, the setting, the quiet, the easy rhythm of our conversation. It all feels... natural. Effortless.
As the light fades, Kade stands and stretches. “Ready to head back?”
“Yeah,” I say, even though I wish we had more time.
He helps me onto the horse, his hands steady at my waist. I can still feel the imprint of them even after he lets go.
The ride back is peaceful. Every so often, I notice him watching me, and each time, I can’t help but smile.
By the time we reach the truck, the stars are out in full. Kade stows the bag in the back and opens the door for me. I climb into the passenger seat, still carrying the warmth of the evening—and him—with me.
As the engine starts and the road stretches out ahead of us, I glance his way.
For a first real date, this really was magical—the bar’s been set impossibly high. But the way I feel right now, it’s like I’m floating. Maybe I wasn’t just waiting for the right moment… maybe I’ve been waiting for him.