Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
she’s a very good girl
Alice
While Arthur got himself cleaned up after what was easily the hottest sexual experience of my entire life, I got our coffees ready and put on his flannel shirt. As I’m washing Luther’s water bowl before I refill it, strong arms wrap around my middle, pulling me back.
“You’re wearing my shirt,” Arthur says, burying his face in my neck. I’m starting to think it’s his favorite thing to do. I giggle as his stubble tickles me, leaning into his touch, the forgotten bowl overfilling in the sink.
“Is that okay?” His response to my question is a groan I feel all the way down to my toes. “I’m taking that as a yes.”
“Never take it off,” he mumbles between kisses.
“Well, maybe not never.” He pulls his face back, but hugs me up tighter, and the way his voice lowers makes me want to forget the sunrise and climb into bed with him instead.
That thought makes me stiffen, and of course, Arthur notices. “You can tell me.”
“Um it’s—is this okay? I mean, was that okay? I said I wanted slow and then—” Ugh, how do I even say it? And then I walked in here and humped your leg?
Ever the calm one, Arthur turns off the faucet and spins me in his arms, taking my face in his hands. “I told you, I’m happy with whatever parts of you I get to have, at whatever pace you want to give them to me.”
I pull him closer, tugging on the material of his shirt and kiss him, hoping he can feel how thankful I am that he’s an anchor when I feel myself drifting away.
As is par for the course these days, Luther gets our attention by wedging his body between ours, and once he’s got fresh water and food—and decides he doesn’t actually want either—we all get into Arthur’s truck.
He drives us to a spot on the ranch beside a small pond, and the three of us settle on the bed of the truck, watching the sun make its way through the foggy air.
I wonder how much it’s going to hurt when I fall.
Probably not as badly as when I leave and have to pick myself back up again.
As the week blurs by, Arthur and I have found ourselves working together more often as he passes his ranch coordinator duties to Paige and continues his training with Rosemary.
Today is no different as we’re getting ready to take Cecilia out on Scout for the first time since this is now her fourth session.
Having all this time together has definitely helped ease any concerns I had about us not being able to be professional, because when we go home at the end of the day and he kisses me senseless, telling me he’d been thinking about doing that very thing all day, the giddy feeling that bubbles inside me is almost too much to take.
Almost.
Harder to take is the fact that all he does is kiss me. Since that morning in the kitchen, we’ve made out, and every night he kisses me sweetly in the hallway before saying goodnight and walking to his room. And every night I consider kicking down his door and climbing into his bed.
Naked.
Not that I’ve ever done that before, or that I would be bold enough to now, but I’m seriously considering a major personality change if it means getting under the covers with Arthur.
Car doors closing pull me out of my lusty thoughts, and I look up to find Gabriel and Cece walking toward where I’ve been waiting at the clinic’s entrance. I like to greet people at the door rather than having them wait for me. “Hi, you two,” I say with a wave, which they both return.
“Are we starting in the classroom today?” Cece asks, referring to the therapy room we were in last time.
“Nope. Straight to the barn today, Cece.” I look back to see if Arthur is outside, but he must be with Scout. “Your tio is in there, if you want to go see him.” Not needing any further convincing, the little girl takes off toward the barn, Gabriel and I laughing as we watch her.
“She’s not excited at all,” he jokes with an easy chuckle.
“Not even a little bit.” Looking up at Gabriel, I get to the reason I wanted Cecilia to go ahead of us.
“Hey, thank you for sending me all that information on the fire damage and steering me toward the contractor. It’s been really helpful.
I think I’m going to end up selling the house as it is, let someone else make the decisions on how they want to fix it up. ”
“Makes sense. You probably don’t need to take on a house renovation right now anyway.” There’s no pity in his voice, only understanding.
“So do you want to come in or watch from afar today?” I ask as we start our walk to the barn.
“Mmm, maybe somewhere in between today. She told me I was hovering too much last week,” he says with another laugh.
“Well, that’s good. She’s comfortable. But I know she likes having you here. I catch her looking back to make sure you’re there every now and then.” The love between these two is pretty special.
His smile falters a bit. “Yeah, she’s always worried I’ll leave and not come back, like her mom.
It’s all so fresh, and with starting school last month, it’s been a lot for her.
” He swallows, brows furrowing as he shoves his hands into his pockets.
“But she’s doing okay. This is helping a lot, and there’s an artist who’s been volunteering at her school who she seems to love, as well. ”
“I’m glad, Gabriel. I know it’s been tough for you both, but you’re doing great, and so is she.” I give his arm a reassuring squeeze as we walk into the barn.
“Thanks. You’re doing great, too, you know.
And Art’s never seemed happier.” He delivers his statement casually, but my entire body goes rigid as I stare at him, unable to move or speak.
He chuckles, unfazed. “Don’t worry. You two are perfectly professional.
I just know my brother well. It was obvious how he felt about you the first time we came here. ”
I let out a relieved breath, trying my best not to overthink what he might mean by how Arthur feels about me.
Following the chatter, we find Arthur helping Cecilia get her helmet on, something she’s used to by now. Once they’re ready, we get started by going through the visual schedule we built for her today so she knows what to expect.
“First we’re going to brush Scout. You did that last time, remember?
” Cece responds with a quick nod, looking to the bench where the grooming tools are laid out.
“Then we’ll put on the saddle, and then you get to sit on Scout and ride around in the pen.
Sound good?” This smaller indoor arena is the safest place for her and Scout, free from noise and distractions.
“Yep,” she replies quickly, picking up a brush.
Scout is calm and ready, having been prepped by Arthur earlier, and as we go through the motions, we both check in with Cece constantly.
“All right, the saddle is on. This is how you’re going to get on.
” I gesture to Arthur, who comes up behind me to help me the same way he’s going to help Cece.
“Then you’ll hold on here,” I continue, showing her how to grip the neck strap as Arthur moves to the front of the animal.
“And Arthur will hold on to Scout to make sure she doesn’t go too fast or in the wrong direction.
Sam will be on the other side to help. How does that sound? ”
Cecilia’s eyes move over me, the horse, her uncle and Sam, who has been quietly observing. We allow her to take her time taking everything in. “Okay. And Scout will listen to you, right, Tio?”
“She sure will. She’s a very good girl.” The way his voice lowers when he says that as he pats Scout’s neck shouldn’t make me shiver, but it does.
I play it off as though I’m getting ready to dismount, but Arthur’s smirk is far too knowing.
He helps me again, so we can demonstrate to Cecilia, who looks focused and ready.
I know it’s important for her to understand each step, but I can’t wait for when she gets to understand Scout’s movements and simply let herself enjoy that moment.
Slowly, we get her mounted. “Do you think you’re ready to start moving?” I stand next to Cecilia, keeping my hand on the saddle as Sam takes to the other side to ensure safety. Arthur remains ahead, keeping Scout company and ready to lead her.
After a few deep breaths, the brave little girl mumbles a few words to herself before saying, “I’m ready.”
The smile shared between Gabriel and Arthur as the brothers simultaneously find one another’s eyes is filled with pride and joy, and I’m so lucky to witness it.
“Is it okay for me to put my hand on your leg to help you feel safe?” Cecilia gives me a yes, and with the first few steps, her hands tighten around the strap. “You’re doing great, Cece. Try to let your body move with Scout’s, sort of like when you’re in the ocean and you feel a wave coming.”
“Oh,” she whispers, and I feel her relax a little more.
“That’s it,” I encourage her again, and she relaxes a little more.
I keep my eyes on her face as Arthur leads us slowly around the pen, and Cecilia closes her eyes, a smile as bright as the sun lighting up her face.
When she opens them, she searches for her dad, who is clearly trying not to cry.
Instantly, I look at Arthur, to find him already looking back at me, and whose own teary gaze tells me he didn’t miss the special moment.
Cece not only trusted Scout today, she trusted herself, and that’s the biggest win. We all remain mostly quiet for the final lap, but with triumphant smiles firmly in place.