After leaving Rona in the overstuffed chair, I head up to my office before I give in to the need I have for her. During breakfast, I kept myself occupied with eating so that I didn’t reach for her. The moment she’d appeared in the kitchen, I’d wan
ted to stand up, wrap her up in my arms and press a leisurely, good morning kiss against her lips.
I’m losing it.
Turning back to my desk and laptop, I log onto my email and try to concentrate, especially on the message from a Denver law firm about an old case of mine. The words blur on the screen and I can’t find the ability to focus on the words. Damn, having the object of my constant desire in my line of sight is too distracting and my concentration is shot to hell.
After about an hour of trying to work, I give up and switch off my laptop. Looking down into the living room, I find Rona fast asleep and I can’t help but smile as she shifts deeper into the chair. Pushing away from my desk, I slowly walk downstairs and sit in the chair opposite so I can watch her.
She really is lovely with her clear smooth skin and long lashes casting a dark shadow on her cheek. It’s killing me knowing tomorrow Jake will be alone with her when they go to Jackson Hole for the day. I feel as though she’s my woman and no one else has the right to her—ridiculous.
She opens her eyes, and they widen when she sees me watching her. But a soft smile soon appears on her face.
“Why are you frowning?” she asks in a sleepy voice.
I hadn’t realized I was.
“I don’t like the idea of you being away from me all day tomorrow with Jake.” I tell her the truth; no sense in lying to her.
“You said anything between us is wrong, and although I would much rather have you showing me around, I think I better go with Jake tomorrow.”
“I don’t know what I want anymore. Having you here is affecting me like nothing else ever has.” My frown deepens and I wonder, not for the first time, what I’m going to do.
Rona
After a sandwich and soup lunch, I’m back upstairs to grab my fur-lined, knee-high boots to head outside with Cade. He’s giving me my first horse-riding lesson, and although I’m excited at spending time with him, I’m apprehensive about getting onto a horse.
With that worry on my mind, I head back downstairs all ready to brave the outdoors and the horse Cade says he has for me.
He’s waiting at the bottom of the stairs already wrapped up for the elements outside. He looks like a cowboy—my cowboy—in his fur-lined jacket as he adjusts the Stetson on his head.
I sigh, and watch him turn to face me with a delighted grin. He lights me up inside. No one has ever looked at me the way Cade does, as though I mean the world to him.
Until I met Cade, I never believed in love at first sight, but now I’m starting to wonder if it’s possible.
Coming to a stop in front of him, he reaches up and wraps a purple scarf around my neck, letting his hands linger longer than necessary on the scarf before he pulls away.
“Are you ready for some fresh air?” he asks.
“I’m ready, although I’m a bit unsure about getting onto a horse.”
“You’ll have fun.” He opens the front door and ushers me outside. “I won’t let anything happen to you, so don’t worry.”
And I’m not going to worry.
Or maybe I will a little bit.
The stables are actually a huge complex with outbuildings as well. As we walk closer, some of the horses approach in what appears to be an outdoor training area.
Cade takes my arm and leads me toward a lovely, honey-colored horse that slowly moves toward the fence. He clicks to her and the mare tosses her head as she trots toward us. I smile at the sparkle in his eyes as he introduces her to me. “This is Honey Bee,” he laughs as we step into the corral. “Gaby named her after her favorite breakfast cereal.”
I smile at Cade as he strokes Honey Bee’s head. “That’s Anna’s daughter, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. Honey Bee is our gentlest horse and loves nothing better than to follow my lead.”
“Okay. A female then.” I grin as Cade chuckles. “It looks a long way up there,” I add in a shaky voice.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be safe on Honey Bee and I’ll be with you every step of the way.”