Stone Cold Cowboy(86)
“Do we need to take another circle, or are you going to come back from wherever you went in your head?”
She smiled down at him, surprised to discover they’d stopped and he’d already dismounted. “Sorry.”
He took her by the hips and lifted her right off her horse.
“God, you’re strong.”
“You hardly weigh a thing, little one.”
His hands slid down her hips to cup her bottom. She went up on tiptoe, her hands braced on his shoulders. He pulled her close and kissed her.
“Did you like the ride?”
“Yes. Very much. I’m sorry I wasn’t great company. You wanted to show me your land and I barely paid attention.”
“It’s not important.”
“Yes, it is. This is your home. Your work. It’s what you’ve worked so hard to hold on to since your parents died.”
“We’ll ride as often as you like and you’ll see it all then. Today, you needed the peace and quiet.”
“You always seem to know just what I need.”
He cupped her face and brushed his thumbs under her eyes and over her cheeks. “You need to rest. You barely slept last night.”
“You had something to do with that,” she teased.
He leaned down and kissed her again. “My pleasure. But you need to eat and get some rest. Come on.” He took her hand and tugged her toward his horse. He released her long enough to unstrap the blanket and their lunch bag. He took her hand again and walked her up toward the cluster of trees with the soft grass and dappled light.
Another man had walked her into the trees once. It seemed a long time ago, yet fresh as if it were happening right now. She stopped midstride. Rory kept walking another step, tugging on her hand, but she didn’t budge. Her mind took her back to the terror she felt that day and the bite of the wire pinching and poking into her skin.
“Sadie,” Rory yelled, like he’d said her name more than once.
“Huh. What?”
“You’re white as a sheet. What happened?”
“Nothing. Sorry. I got lost in thought.” She stared up the sprawling tree branches.
Rory dropped their stuff and cupped her face, making her focus on him. “You’re safe here with me.”
She clamped her shaking hands over his wrists. “I know that. I’m fine.”
“Then breathe.”
She sucked in a ragged breath and tried to smile to wipe the concern from his narrowed eyes. She reached for him, pulling him close and pressing her body to his. “Did I thank you for saving me?”
“A dozen times, sweetheart. It’s over. Soon that asshole will be behind bars where he belongs.”
She pressed her hands to his chest and leaned back in his arms. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It hit me all at once, seeing the trees, feeling the cool wind, and being out here again. I’m fine. Let’s eat.”
“I’m sorry, I should have thought before bringing you out into the woods.”
“No. I love that you wanted to take me on a picnic. I don’t want what happened to become so big in my life that I stop doing the things I love, like going for a ride and being out here with you.”
Rory didn’t look quite convinced, but he released her, picked up the blanket, shook it out, and spread it over the soft grass under the largest tree. Shaded from the afternoon sun, Sadie sat on the soft blanket and pulled off her boots, getting comfortable. She wanted Rory to see she had every intention of kicking back, relaxing, and enjoying their time together.
Rory set the lunch bag on the blanket. She pulled out the paper plates, wrapped sandwiches, and plastic containers. She found the two cans of PBR and bottles of water on the bottom, including her prize, a bag of her favorite chocolate chunk brownie cookies.
“How did you know these are my favorite?”
“I see you eating them all the time.”
She held up the can of beer. “Planning on getting me drunk?”
“Sweetheart, if one can of beer gets you drunk I’m not letting you drink at all.” The silly grin he gave her settled the last of the fear she’d felt reliving her nightmare.
She popped the top on the beer and took a deep sip. She swallowed and sighed. “That’s good.”
“Hand me the other. Let’s eat.”
The chicken, ranch, lettuce, and red onion on sourdough sandwich was also her favorite. One of the plastic containers had sliced apples. The other a pasta, broccoli, zucchini salad. “It’s kind of creepy that you know all the things I like.”
“I’ve been stalking you for years.”
The teasing tone said one thing, but he’d been watching her for a long time.
“Why didn’t you ever ask me out if you were so interested?”