The Duet(36)

He nodded and went back to his breakfast, but right before he was finished he offered me his last bite on his fork. Oh my God. Jason = hot. Jason feeding me pancakes = nuclear. I forced my body to react so I could lean forward and take the bite off his fork. I didn’t bother trying to be seductive with it. I would have probably poked the fork in my eye or something.

“Ready to go?” he asked after I’d sat in silence for a few minutes, my plate and bowl empty in front of me.

“Yup,” I said with an overly enthusiastic smile.

He tucked his head in agreement and then sauntered down the hallway, assuming I’d just follow after him like a puppy.

LuAnne pursed her lips to keep from laughing when I shot her a knowing glance.

“I think that’s your cue,” she joked.

“Wish me luck. Maybe send out a search party in a few hours if we aren’t back,” I said, only half joking. Seriously, there was about a 50% chance that I would annoy Jason enough to where he’d just leave me in the woods to fend for myself. I’d have to figure out how to drink my own pee and stuff. Nope. No, thank you. I’d rather be eaten by a leopard. Wait, we’re in Montana… so a mountain leopard? Whatever, something with sharp teeth.

“Coming?” Jason asked as he opened one of the closets in the hallway. He reached in and retrieved a vest that matched the one he was wearing, only it was dark brown instead of green. “I don’t want you complaining about being cold the whole time we’re out there.”

I huffed. “I think somewhere in there you were trying to be sweet, but then you ruined it with your mouth.”

A private smile played on his lips. “That’s the first time I’ve been told that my mouth ruined something.”

“Oh my God, did you seriously just say that?” I asked as he opened the vest so that I could spin around and slip my arms through the holes.

He looked back at me with an arched brow as he pulled open the front door. “It’s the truth.”

I puffed out a breath of air as I sauntered past him. Of course it is.

…



In brooding silence (because that’s really the only way Jason did things), we made our way toward the stable to get the horses ready. Jason strapped on the saddles for each of us and I took a few minutes to get to know Dotty. I didn’t know much about horses, but if this girl was about to haul my ass through the forest, I figured she at least deserved a few pats before we got started.

“You’re cute, Dotty,” I told her, rubbing my palm down her long neck. “Maybe when we get back, I’ll braid your mane.”

Jason grunted across the stable. When he turned to grab something off the wall, I stuck my tongue out at him.

“Shh, don’t tell,” I whispered to Dotty, and in response she stomped her hoof. Look at us, we were already besties.

“When did you last ride?” Jason asked, walking toward me with Jasper in tow. The dark horse was at least a few inches taller than Dotty, and he filled out those inches in a way that made me glad I wasn’t going to be riding him. When he puffed air out of his snout, I took two steps back just in case I looked like a juicy apple or a big ol’ sugar cube.

“Umm, let’s say I was wearing a training bra and braces at the time.”

Jason frowned. “Alright, well we’ll take it slow out on the trail. Dotty shouldn’t give you too much trouble.”

I patted Dotty. “Nah, she and I have an understanding.”

“Is that right?” he asked, arching a dark brow and taking two more steps toward me.

I nodded with a smug smile. “Yup. She’s on Team Brooklyn now.”

He chuckled lightly. “I didn’t realize we were on teams.”

“Yeah, well, I guess that means I’m already winning.” Dotty snorted and stomped her foot again. She was probably ready to get on the trail, but I took it to mean she was definitely Team Brooklyn.

“Let’s walk them out and then I’ll help you get up.”

Despite my best efforts, I still blushed thinking about my conversation with Cammie the night before. I was not going to let Jason get to third base on the side of a horse. I mean maybe on the back of a horse… No. No base running during this horse ride.

Once we stepped out of the stable, I inhaled a breath of fresh air and took in the scenery before me. A short mountain range spanned the horizon on all sides, but the base was hidden behind rows and rows of pine trees. A gravel path led from the stable out into the woods, but only the first few yards were visible from where I stood. A blast of wind brought with it a chill and the sharp smell of pine. I wrapped Jason’s vest tighter around me. It was too big, but it smelled like him, or so I assumed. It had a spiced, captivating scent.