But the tell-tale snorts and loud whinnies from a certain pair of mischievous mares set my mind at ease instantly.
By the time I get upstairs and out the door, Tina’s holding both horses by their bit.
Looking every bit like a rancher and sniffing back some emotions, she smiles over at me.
“It’s not so hard when you know how,” she brags, taking all the credit for bringing the horses home.
I guess we both know we don’t want to spoil things by talking about her leaving.
Hell. We haven’t even done anything yet, and there’s still so much I want to show Tina.
Let alone the things I want to do to her.
“I’ll get those packs off and then you can help me with the saddles,” I suggest.
Shifting the focus to happier things, even if it’s as mundane as settling the mares into their corral.
Tina’s no slouch when it comes to minding horses, and has no trouble helping me with their gear as well as our own.
She offers to brush them down and I suggest I fix us some food.
And moving back inside, I watch her from the kitchen window as she totally wins the horses over by spoiling them the way they like best.
Both of us feeling the giant wedge already being driven between us, but I make good on my promise not to pressure her or try to force Tina into staying if she really doesn’t want to.
Trouble is, I can’t picture it any other way.
I can’t see my life going back to how it was yesterday before I met her.
And I know, I just fucking know that she feels the same way.
Mrs. C’s packed enough food for four, so there’s plenty to eat and dinner will only need reheating.
So, serving up some lunch takes no time, and as I move to take our plates outside, I pass the bathroom. Wait, I have a better idea.
Who says we have to eat outside, or even at the table.
My girl’s going to be all dusty after her ride as well as brushing those mares.
I set the plates down on the vanity, and twisting the old brass levers I start to fill the tub.
Whatever decision Tina makes, I’m going to make sure that today, tonight is the most special day of her life.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Tina
Mack’s helped me get over my fear of riding again, but it’s the horses themselves that make me remember just how much I love them.
How much I do love the outdoors.
I offer to brush them down so I can reconnect with all that, but I also need some time to think.
Think about how I’m going to explain all this to my mom, I mean. Her getting with Ben is no real surprise. And if anything, I’m happy for them both. But it won’t be enough for mom to see how happy Mack makes me.
And she’d throw a fit if I told her I wanted to stay since I have only known the man since yesterday.
Although her own reasoning for the same with Ben would be different.
I know her well enough to not even kid myself that she’d actually be happy for me for a change.
Taking turns between Ruby and Lucy, so the other doesn’t get upset, I brush them both until I hear the sounds of running water.
Then noticing the steam pouring from an open window, I wonder if everything’s alright in there.
As if I’d be much use.
But I miss Mack already, and the idea of him doing whatever he’s doing, stewing on the same problem I have is enough to see me heading back inside.
Following the steam, and then my nose once the sweet, earthy smell of bath salts and something else fills my senses.
If he’s running me a bath, I’m staying. No matter what.
Any man that runs me a bath in the middle of the day is a keeper.
Not to mention the images that flash through my mind when I think of Mack actually joining me in the tub.
But I don’t have to wait long to find out.
His head cranes around the bathroom door, his eyes ablaze with the same unmistakable intensity they transmit whenever he’s got one thing on his mind, which lucky for me is me.
“I figured you’d be all dirty after brushing the girls down,” he offers, moving his eyes over me in a way that makes my knees feel like they’re about to give out from under me.
I try to act natural, blowing the stray hair out of my eyes.
Trying to look perfectly calm as I feel my insides and pussy swell up with more wet heat than that huge four-legged tub could ever hold.
My glasses are misting up and making me go cross-eyed when I try to hold Mack’s gaze.
Making both of us end up laughing and he opens his arms wide as he emerges from the bathroom.