“This is a lot more fun for me,” I tell him.
I’ve always loved talking to animals. They listen. It’s never not amazed me that animals have such emotional facility. They make you feel grounded. Like you belong where you are and not where you thought you’d be.
“Maybe they’ll let me ride you anyway,” I whisper. “Even without a reservation.”
“We could probably work something out.”
The voice from the doorway makes me jump. Hudson stands silhouetted in the dim light, and he flicks on a light in the stable. “Sorry,” he says. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”
“That’s okay. I hope I’m not overstepping.”
He shakes his head. “Nah, he loves it.”
“What’s his name?”
“Bridger.”
I laugh softly. “Any reason?”
“He really likes jumping over things, even things he doesn’t really need to jump over.”
“Good boy,” I whisper, and look back over at Hudson. He’s putting away some gear I recognize from this afternoon’s hike. I hadn’t noticed the rack of hiking gear on the other side of the room. “Did you have to rescue that?”
Hudson just smiles. “Happens all the time.”
“You often have rowdy parties of sixty-somethings?”
“Always,” he leans against the door. “Honestly, they’re our main demographic.”
I keep brushing. “I would have thought it was young adventurous types.”
“We get some of those too. But the things we do aren’t always extreme enough for those people. It’s fine, whoever wants to come here and enjoy themselves is welcome.”
“That’s a good attitude to have,” I say.
He pins me with a stare. “So why are you out here away from the party?”
I smile. Should I tell the truth? Or make something up? Something about the way he’s looking at me tells me that I’ll regret it if I lie to him. “It’s a bit loud for me. I wasn’t even really supposed to come this weekend, and I’d rather hang out with animals than people, so…here I am.”
Hudson crosses his arms. “Honestly, that’s me too.”
“I’m Erin,” I say, holding out my hand. “Even though we met earlier.”
“Hudson.” The second he takes my hand, I feel like the floor is falling out from underneath me. That single connection feels like electricity and danger and exhilaration all rolled up into one. It’s probably just me. Because he’s so fucking hot and I’ve been thinking about touching him all day. And I’m definitely imagining the flash of heat in his eyes.
“Oh,” I say. “By the way, I apologize in advance if my parents act like you and I are old friends.”
He tilts his head, and looks at me quizzically. “Why would they think that?”
All I can do is look down at my feet and shake my head. “It’s a long story,” I chuckle.
“Okay, now you have to tell me why.”
2
Hudson
I’m not an idiot, and I’m certainly not blind. This woman is hotter than noon in the summer on the equator. When we were hiking earlier and she was keeping pace with me perfectly, sweat shining on her skin and hair flying everywhere, it was all that I could do to keep my eyes off her.
Now, I’m not even making an effort not to look at her.
Yesterday, when she showed up with the group of seniors for the weekend—looking more than a little out of place—I had to adjust my pants and pick my jaw off the floor.
I’ve never had a type—and men that have a ‘type’ are usually guys that I want to punch in the face. If you’re attracted to someone, you’re attracted to them, and I’ve found that it doesn’t matter whether or not that person has blonde hair or not.
But damn. If I do have a type, it’s Erin. She’s ticking all of these boxes in my brain that I didn’t even know that I had. Petite, fiery red hair, big green eyes that show every emotion like she’s a fucking open book. She is beautiful, and every part of me notices. Especially my body.
It sucks that she’s a guest, so there’s not anything I can really do about it. Not that Leo and Asher could say shit to me if I decide that I want to, given the way that they both recently found their partners.
I can’t say that I’m not interested. Especially after the comment about her parents thinking that we’re old friends. What is this chick up to?
Erin sighs and puts away the brush she’s been using before leaning against the wall. Even with the lights in the stable it’s dark, and I find myself moving closer to her just so I can see her face more clearly.
“Honestly?” She laughs without any humor. “I lied to them. They think I’m kind of a regular here. I’ve told them a bunch of times that I was coming here to go on hikes, do the whole white water rafting thing, ropes course, archery. Even horseback riding. Anything you offer here? They think I’ve done it.”