by Anya Nowlan
“Okay, okay,” she muttered to herself, puffing out a breath.
“Now, you just put your foot in the stirrup right here,” Gage said, patting Abby’s side as he touched the cool metal hanging off the saddle. “And push yourself up. I’ll help you if you get stuck.”
“You better,” she replied, eyeing both him and Abby warily. “Here goes nothing,” she added a moment later, hooking her left foot in the stirrup.
Smiling to himself, Gage watched her heave herself up. It was clear she was out of her comfort zone, but she was willing to give it a shot anyway. Was that just who she was, or was she doing it for him? A selfish part of him wished it was the latter.
“This… horse… is… tall,” Addison huffed, struggling to get her other leg over the saddle.
“Okay, just…” he started to say, just as she lost her balance altogether and tumbled back the way she came.
Her foot still caught in the stirrup, she flailed around, but he was close, and easily caught her in his arms. Scooping her up, he tugged her foot free, as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
This was the closest he had ever been to her. The scent of her skin was stronger than ever, and her face only inches away from his as her weight rested on his arms. Time seemed to stand sill as he held her gaze, listening to her heart beat faster and faster.
All he had to do was lean in, and he would get his first taste of her. His mate. The bear inside of him let out a purr at that thought, confirming what he had already come to know. The idea of actually finding her made him hesitate, letting the moment pass.
Addison cleared her throat, the flush on her cheeks deeper than before.
“I think I’m safe now,” she said with a slow smile.
“Right,” he replied, easing her down to the ground. “Want to try again?”
“Sure,” Addison shrugged. “Now that I know you’ll catch me,” she grinned.
“You can count on it,” Gage replied.
“You’re a natural,” Gage said, as he and Addison led the horses along the edge of the property.
Here, grass gave way to trees, and wilderness encroached on his neatly maintained land. Tall pines shot up as the terrain slowly turned mountainous, with a small lake glimmering in the distance.
Gage knew every inch of the place, but Addison was just taking it in, her gaze wandering around as she gripped Abby’s reins tightly in her hands.
“Don’t lie,” she chided, a smile tugging at her lips.
“Well, you’re still on the horse, aren’t you?” he countered.
“And that’s being a natural?” she scoffed.
“All right so maybe I embellished a bit,” he shrugged. “But really, you’re doing great. You’re not so stiff anymore, you let your body move with the motion.”
“Did you grow up around horses?” she asked.
“My mom loved them,” he replied. “I used to ride Abby there when I was a kid. Ace is a newer addition. I’m just used to having them around, I think.”
“And your dad?” Addison gently prodded.
“He used to say mom loved the horses more than him,” Gage laughed. “It was just a joke, of course. Those two were total lovebirds until the very end.”
Enough time had passed that he was able to say that with a smile. His parents had had a full, happy life together, and in the end, wasn’t that all anyone could hope for? They gave him and Reid a happy childhood, and Gage would always be grateful for that, and keep those good times in his heart.
The ranch was his parents’ legacy. Taking care of it was his way of staying close to them, and honoring their memory.
“I’m sorry that you lost them,” Addison said quietly.
“Thank you,” he replied. “It’s been years since they passed. They loved this ranch, built it from the ground up. I’m doing my best to make them proud.”
“Well, I know very little about ranches, but to me you seem to be doing a great job,” Addison smiled at him as they reached the lake.
Hopping off Ace, Gage led both horses to the water before helping Addison dismount. She held his hand as she carefully slid off the saddle, looking proud of herself.
“I didn’t fall this time,” she said.
“Is it bad that I kind of wanted to catch you again?” he asked.
The question seemed to take her by surprise, and even Gage wasn’t sure what made him so candid. Of course he already knew Addison was the one for him, but to her, he was still pretty much a stranger. And one that might not have made the best impression so far.
He still regretted the way he had walked out of dinner, and that he had let Reid get to him. It was difficult, adjusting to having his brother around again. But Gage vowed to get a better handle of his emotions when it came to Reid.
“I could climb back up and try it again,” Addison said, a hint of a smile on her lips. “The not falling was probably a one-time fluke, anyway.”
Gage arched a brow at her, a grin tugging at his mouth. So he wasn’t just imagining the fact she was interested in him, too. He had let the moment pass before, but he wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice.
Stepping closer, he took his time approaching her as the horses lapped at the crystal clear water behind them, their tails swishing back and forth. His gaze locked with Addison’s, he slid his hand around her hip and to her lower back, pulling her closer.
She took in an uneven breath as their bodies bumped together, the pure, unadulterated chemistry between them crackling in the air. In one smooth motion, he dipped down to hook his arm behind her knees, lifting her up.
Just as before, she wrapped her arms around his neck, but more purposefully this time. Breathing each other in, it was Gage who slowly bent his face to hers, nuzzling her as their lips brushed together.
He took his time, teasing her with small kisses, enjoying the way her body responded. Her arms tightened around his neck, her lips parting for him as he deepened the kiss, losing himself in the moment.
It was sweet and tentative at first, with both of them taking it slow. But with his need for her growing with every passing second, the kiss soon turned demanding and urgent, with Addison letting out a soft, moaning sigh that drove him wild.
He didn’t even realize when or how it had happened, but suddenly Addison’s legs were wrapped around his hips, with his hands firmly on her full, round ass. His bear going wild inside him, Gage drowned himself in the kiss, reveling in the way Addison’s body rubbed against his as they lost all sense of place and time.
When they finally pulled apart, Addison was panting, her lips red and swollen, and he was already rock hard. As if coming out of a trance, Addison glanced around, her cheeks reddening. Biting her lip, she gave him an embarrassed smile, her hands still firmly locked behind his neck.
“Oops,” she said, her voice still breathless.
“All part of the tour, ma’am,” Gage smirked.
Letting out a laugh, she swatted him on the shoulder.
“Oh really? This is the standard package?” she cocked a brow at him.
“Deluxe,” he smirked, getting an eye-roll in response.
“We should probably be getting back,” she commented, sighing to herself. “I promised to look over some decrees and other paperwork for Reid.”
The mention of his brother should have been like a cold shower for Gage, but with Addison still wrapped around him, all he could think of was how he already needed to kiss her again.
Just his luck that they were stuck on this ranch together, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy each other’s company. And he for one was going to take advantage of every single one of them.
Nine
Addison
The letters and sentences in front of her all swirled together as Addison was having trouble concentrating on anything else but the memory of that kiss by the lake. Gage had made her feel so safe and small in his arms that there was no way she could have resisted giving in to the attraction between them.
But now sh
e was confused. What did it mean? It couldn’t mean anything more than that they just liked each other, right? Addison let her head fall into her hands as she sat behind the small desk in her bedroom, struggling with the thoughts rushing through her head.
This… crush, or whatever she was developing for Gage was getting out of hand. It was affecting her ability to focus on anything else, and that was not acceptable. But how could she get it to stop?
Her entire body ached for him, and knowing he was so close, somewhere in the same house she was wasn’t exactly helping. The place was dark and quiet now, and she couldn’t hear Reid moving around in his room.
The unfamiliar stillness only added to how restless she felt. Tapping her fingers against the edge of the desk while her laptop spilled its bluish light on it, her mind was forming a decision she wasn’t even fully aware of yet.
Before long she was on her feet, pacing around, staring at her bedroom door. When she finally opened it, she told herself she was going downstairs to grab a glass of water, but she knew the real reason was that she was hoping to run into Gage.
After getting back from the lake, she had excused herself upstairs with the pretext of work, but the truth was she had been afraid to spend any more time alone with Gage. That man could turn her into a puddle of need with barely a glance, and she wasn’t sure she wanted anyone to have that much power over her.
Yet here she was, creeping down the stairs, thoughts of Gage’s hands on her body ruling her mind. Sighing to herself, she had to admit she was already too far gone to pretend nothing was going on between Gage and her.
Addison had to remind herself it couldn’t lead anywhere. She and Gage led different lives, and sooner or later, she was going to go back to Chicago. Was it wise to get involved with someone she might never see again when everything was said and done?
She couldn’t ponder that for too long, though, as she noticed a light on in the living room, and knew her steps would have been heard by now. Stepping inside the spacious room with a large fireplace on one end of it, and a wall-high bookcase on the other, it was cozy and warm, just like the rest of the house.
A tall, broad man sat in one of the armchairs, a glass of whiskey in hand. But it wasn’t the brother she had been looking for.
“Addison,” he acknowledged her. “I looked for you earlier but I guess you weren’t in your room.”
He gave her a smile, one of his charming ones, and she was momentarily thrown off balance. All of Reid’s attention was focused on her, when their usual conversations were full of distractions. How many times had she wanted him to look up from his computer or notebook during one of those late nights when they were prepping for a trial and really see her?
Now it seemed she was getting her wish. But it was just a little too late…
“Gage was showing me around,” Addison replied with a shrug. “I rode a horse, if you can believe it.”
“Well,” Reid arched a brow. “You’ve had an interesting day, then.”
Not sure what he meant by that comment, Addison stepped into the room, taking the seat opposite him. Something odd was going on with Reid, and she couldn’t help her curiosity.
“It must have been great growing up with so much open space to run around in,” she said. “It’s really beautiful here.”
“It is,” Reid agreed. “But everything comes with a price.”
He set his scotch down on the small table next to him, and folded his hands. His sharp gaze studied her, almost professionally. Addison didn’t let it bother her as she met his eyes straight on.
“The upkeep is hard work, for sure,” she replied, unsure of if that was what Reid had meant.
“And sometimes what your parents expect from you is not what is right for you,” he said.
Addison got the distinct feeling Reid wanted to come out and say something, but was holding himself back. Or maybe he wanted to lead her toward a conclusion he thought she should come to? It was the oldest trick in the book, and she wasn’t about to play into his hands.
Reid was after something, she was sure of it, but she would be cautious until she knew what it was.
“We’re all just trying to do what’s best for us,” Addison replied evenly.
Splaying his hands on the armrests, Reid sat back, his expression softening slightly. This was not the conversation Addison had expected to have when she had come downstairs, and she had to work to keep her mind from drifting to Gage.
“So, was my brother a good tour guide?” Reid asked, as if reading her thoughts.
It took great restraint for Addison not to blush, or fidget, or squirm in her chair. That was something Reid would immediately notice, and she wasn’t about to give anything away. Not only did Addison not want her boss to know she had been making out with his brother, she also didn’t want to add to the tension between Reid and Gage.
She had a feeling that was exactly what would happen if Reid were to know the truth.
“You can tell he’s really proud of the place,” Addison replied.
Reid gave her a long, hard look before picking up his whiskey again and holding it up.
“Want to join me for a nightcap?” he asked.
The Addison of the past would have said yes without hesitation. They weren’t at the office, or eating dinner together to save time and talk shop. It was just the two of them here now, and there was alcohol involved. How many times had a similar scenario played through Addison’s head?
Yet all she was itching to do was continue her search for Gage.
“Not tonight, thanks,” she replied. “I’ll just grab some water and get a little more work done before bed.”
“Well, I guess I’m lucky to have such a devoted employee,” Reid shrugged. “Some other time, then.”
“Sure,” Addison smiled, getting to her feet. “Good night.”
She took her time walking over to the kitchen, searching for a glass longer than she needed to, all the while listening to what Reid was doing in the living room. Letting the faucet run, she crept closer to the door, in time to hear Reid set his glass down again.
Walking back to the sink, she turned the water off and took a small sip from her glass, biding her time. It wasn’t long before the light in the living room went off, and Reid’s steps carried him back toward the staircase.
Getting on her tiptoes without really knowing why, Addison made her way through the house, finally catching sight of a light flickering down at the end of a small hallway. Pretty isolated from the rest of the house, Addison wasn’t surprised to find Gage holed away in that room in particular, since he wasn’t keen on running into his brother.
Her breath trembling, she stilled for a moment, wondering what the hell she was doing. This had ‘bad decision’ written all over it, yet she couldn’t bring herself to really care. It was exciting, breaking the rules for once.
Ah, who am I kidding, she thought, taking a deep breath as she approached the closed door at the end of the hall. I couldn’t turn around now if I tried.
She knocked twice, her insides jittery. Gage’s voice echoed through the door, making butterflies swarm her stomach.
“Yes?” he called out.
“It’s me,” she said quietly, knowing he would hear her anyway.
“Come in,” he said, and she squeezed her hand on the door handle.
Here goes.
Ten
Gage
Sitting behind his desk, sinking into his large leather chair, Gage watched Addison step into his office, barefoot and clad in jeans and a loose cardigan he couldn’t help but think of unbuttoning. She gave him a tentative smile that made his bear purr and growl impatiently.
His mind began to race as to why she was there. Hadn’t she told him she would be busy with work? That was why Gage had buried himself in paperwork as well, making sure his finances were in order and that everything was ready for the next season.
Perhaps she was having an equally hard time staying away from him as he had staying away from
her? A man could dream.
“Hey,” he said, getting to his feet. “Is everything all right?”
“Fine, fine,” she replied with a wave of her hand. “I was just getting a glass of water and I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere… Anyway, I saw your light on and thought I’d say hi.”
As far as excuses went, it wasn’t the best, but Gage played along. He didn’t really care what had brought her there, all that mattered was that they were together again, their scents mingling in the small room.
It took all of Gage’s self-control to not walk over and scoop her in his arms again, but he didn’t want to push it. If Addison felt like she needed an excuse to come and see him, that might have been taking it too far.
“I’m glad you did,” he smiled.
“So I’m not disturbing you or anything?” she asked, closing the door behind her.
“You’re not,” he replied. “And even if you were, I wouldn’t be stupid enough to tell you,” he added.
Addison smiled at that, walking over to perch on his desk. Her gaze moved around the room, which was pretty bare except for the filing cabinet in one corner and a map of the ranch hanging on the wall above his desk.
Gage sat back down, studying Addison. She stretched out her legs as she leaned on the desk, her hair falling in a loose braid down her back. The smell of her reminded him of how amazing it had been to taste her.
She tilted her head at him, her bright green eyes narrowing.
“I’m not imagining you flirting with me, am I?” she asked.
He couldn’t help but laugh.
“Am I doing that poor of a job?” he asked. “Or was that kiss we shared so lukewarm it gave you doubts?”
A flush crept up her cheeks as she shook her head.
“No, no, definitely not,” she quickly replied. “I don’t even know why I said that… I guess I just like to be sure of things, to a fault. It has nothing to do with you.”