Chapter 16
Sadie wasn’t happy to find the horses tacked up when she walked out in that short black dress, but after spending the last twenty-four hours consumed by thoughts of this date, this is the best idea I could come up with.
I wasn’t about to take a stroll in the small town of Aspen Hollow and broadcast our first date.
I wanted something private, without prying eyes or the risk of gossip floating around like a virus.
I shouldn’t have let her talk me into this date in the first place, but with her body pressed against me in the barn, I had a hard time saying no.
She could’ve asked for anything at that point, and I would’ve agreed to it—begged for it.
Besides, what’s the worst that can happen?
It’s one date.
If she can still stand me after this date, that is. Considering Sadie’s been glowering at me since we left home, muttering foul curses under her breath. I didn’t know such a pretty mouth could say such vile things.
“What’s that, Tequila?” I ask, quite amused by her shit attitude in making her go riding with me.
“I said, it’s fucking freezing,” she snaps. “And I hate that nickname.”
Does she? Or is she just being difficult? “Well, the minute you stop calling me Cowboy, I’ll stop calling you Tequila.” A fair trade, and one that would make me happy.
“You’d miss it too much, Cowboy,” she smirks at me.
I roll my eyes.
“Are we going much farther?” she groans.
I hold in a laugh. “I thought you liked horses.”
“I love horses. But did you not see the dress I was wearing?” She gestures to the hoodie tucked under her coat. “You can’t see shit in this many layers.”
“More to the imagination, then,” I muse.
She frowns at me, saying her words with distaste. “And I bet your imagination is very limited, Cowboy.”
I smile, unable to hold it in. I’ve got to admit, her spicy attitude is quite cute when she’s frustrated. “I’ve got a pretty good imagination.” She snorts, not believing a single word. “Besides, I prefer you this way.”
“Covered in six layers?” she quips.
I’ve been pining for her for so long… doesn’t she realize she looks perfect just the way she is?
She doesn’t need the short dresses and high heels.
She looks good without all the frills. Natural.
Just her, riding next to me in the snow while the warm evening light reflects off her creamy skin. But I’m not going to tell her that.
“We’re almost there,” I say.
“Good. My ass is sore,” she groans.
A soft smile forms at the corner of my mouth, trying not to let my mind wander to thinking about her ass… but I wouldn’t be opposed to massaging it later. To pulling down her pants and running my hands all over her supple curves while she moans my name.
So much for not thinking about it.
Ten minutes later, enough time for my erection to finally go down, we reach the overlook. It’s the best place for panoramic views of the city and the Rocky Mountain Range covered in snow. A secret place I’ve visited many times in my childhood.
“Damn,” Sadie exclaims, stopping her horse next to mine with eyes full of wonder. “Is that Aspen Hollow?” she points to the bright city lights, glimmering in the distance. “It’s so beautiful.”
I nod and hop off my horse, untying the canvas bag from his back.
Throwing a flannel blanket on the snow. She sits across from me with an amused smile, fiddling with a strand of her hair as she watches me set up the scene.
I pull out a stainless-steel mug, pouring whiskey over ice.
Adding a lime on the rim before handing it to her, but she doesn’t take it.
She stares at it for what feels like minutes. I wonder if she thinks I poisoned it. “It’s for you.” I push it towards her.
“How do you know my favorite drink?”
“You know mine, so I know yours.”
“How?” she demands.
“I pay attention.” And watching her on her porch every night, pouring the same drink over ice, it didn’t take long to figure out it was her favorite. Also, I might have asked a few people around the ranch to confirm it.
She smiles, bringing warmth to her cheeks, taking the mug. “You know, for being such a literal pain in my ass, this is the cutest date I’ve ever been on.”
“Are you finally enjoying it?”
“Maybe,” she purses her lips, taking a sip.
I crack open a can of beer, checking my watch. “In about five minutes, the sun will reach the tallest peak. It’s one of the best views in the county.”
After my mom died, this overlook was one of my favorite places to visit. It was the perfect place to think in the quietness, to lose myself in the surrounding beauty. To look out on everything and realize how small my problems were compared to the mountainous landscape.
No one knows about this place. Except now for Sadie.
“You brought me all the way out here for the view?” Her brows contort in confusion.
I nod, taking a sip.
“You really are a cowboy,” she smirks. “You could’ve had me all to yourself in my little black dress, but you chose this,” she gestures to her outfit.
“This is nice, too.”
“What, my cowgirl outfit?”
I nod. Call me a simple man, but the cowgirl outfit is my preferred look on her.
“I wonder how you’d look in a cowboy hat?” Her eyes intensely focus on my face, like she’s imagining it.
I huff a laugh. “Don’t get your hopes up, Tequila.” One hundred per cent, never going to happen.
“We’ll see,” she smiles. “Although a backwards ballcap does it for me too.”
“Does it?” I tuck that information away for later.
She hums, and we sit in silence for a moment, admiring the view, when I hear her shuffle closer. “Why’d you move back home?”
What a way to ruin a moment. “Sadie…” I hesitate.
“Tell me something real,” she murmurs, moving closer.
“Why?”
“I want to know you better.” Her doe eyes are soft, eager, and patient of all things. Her caramel hair wisps around her face in the breeze. “Please, Kit,” she adds softly when I don’t answer.
As if I could resist the breathy way she says my name.
I sigh, scrubbing my face. “Well, I used to work in construction. Back in San Francisco.”
Her brow rises with interest. “Did you like it?”
“At times.” Until I discovered Dakota’s hobbies. “I was in a serious relationship, for… well, a while.” My voice trails off, taking a moment to track the sun making its way to the peak. “Then I wasn’t, and I came home.”
“Why did it end?” she asks softly.
“I wasn’t enough for her.”
Her hand slides in mine, giving it a gentle squeeze, reminding me of that God-awful dinner. The first time I’d held her hand. But the gesture now feels too warm for someone like her. Unexpected and soft. “You mean all of this personality wasn’t enough?”
A dark laugh escapes my throat. “I guess not.” I take a sip of my beer, washing down bitter thoughts about the past.
“All jokes aside. You’re more than enough, Kit.”
As sweet as that sentiment is, I can’t stop the pressure that builds in my chest, full of insecurities and lingering trauma. “What about you?”
She pauses, and her sorrowful eyes fall to the snow. “I was with someone for a long time, too… Now I’m not.” Her shoulders slump as she stares at the drink in her hand, like she’s retreated somewhere in her mind.
Somewhere dark and foreign to me. All her flair and confidence dissipates, like she’s sitting in a dark room instead of in one of the best places in Aspen Hollow.
I shuffle closer, close enough that my shoulder brushes against hers. “Well, you’re here now.”
She smiles, and damn, she’s stunning, more so than this view ever will be. “So are you.”
She leans in, hesitating at first before resting her head on my shoulder as we stare out at the sunset. The scent of her flowery shampoo wafts in my face, reminiscent of cherry blossoms, a smell just as sweet as her head on my shoulder.
Sweet and surprising.
My breathing slows, and even though I’m terrified of this feeling, of getting close to her, I can’t deny how perfect this feels.
“What was it like growing up in a place like this?” she asks after a while. “Surrounded by all of this.”
“It’s not something I think I appreciated until I came back.
” After spending a decade in the city, coming home was like seeing a mountain for the first time.
I loved San Francisco in its own way, but it’s nothing compared to the fresh scent of pine trees and the crisp mountain air. Open land where a man can breathe.
Fuck, Cole is right.
I do love this place. More so than I realized.
But running a ranch for the rest of my life? How in the hell am I supposed to do that? To live up to the legend that is Cole Harlow. No one can do that.
No one can take his place.
I’ll never be enough.
“Your heart is racing, Cowboy. Does this position excite you?” she teases.
I huff a laugh, releasing some tension. “Just got lost in my thoughts, is all.”
She sits up, facing me. Her long hair falls over her shoulder, draping over her jean jacket. She softly bites her bottom lip, bringing my attention to her mouth. “Thoughts about kissing me?”
A rush of heat fills my chest, sending blood to my dick as a warm smile reaches my lips. “Not exactly.” But now I’m thinking about it. I’m thinking about how good it would feel to finally kiss the mouth that aggravates me so much.
“Damn,” she exclaims as pink brushes her cheeks.
“What?”
“It’s funny how the people who never smile have the best ones.” She playfully taps my chin.
“I smile… sometimes,” I defend.
She laughs. “Hardly ever, and it’s always half-assed.”
I sip my beer, hiding my smile. The light changing around us pulls me back. “Oh,” I tap her arm. “Look.”
As the sun hits the highest peak, glimmering light rolls across the lake, the pines, and the fresh snow, sparkling with lasting intensity. It’s the brightest and purest light in existence, before it’s gone. Fading too quickly as the sun falls behind the snowy mountains.
The shadows grow darker by the second, transitioning into night. City lights twinkle as a blanket of cold darkness envelops us. Thousands of stars appear across the sky, shimmering in the indigo night.
“That was truly amazing,” she beams.