by J. K Harper
“No,” Ashley said emphatically. “I’m not getting up there on that thing. She doesn’t look very safe and I don’t want to ride her. I’ll just fall off and break my back again.”
Evelyn sighed. “Sweetie, we wouldn’t put you on Sunshine if we didn’t think she was safe.”
“No.” Ashley poked her lip out. “I’m not a cowgirl, so I can’t ride a horse. Horses don’t like me, anyway.”
“You know what?” Donna said as she entered the ring. “I’m not a cowgirl either. But I’ll make you a deal. I’ll get on the horse first to test her out. If she’s nice and calm, then maybe you could ride her next. What do you think?”
Ashley’s brows knit together for a moment before relaxing. When she nodded, Donna grinned. She walked over to Sunshine and stroked her muzzle a few times before hooking her foot into the stirrup and pulling herself into the western-style saddle.
Brody’s eyes went wide. She’d just hoisted herself up as if she did it every day. She’d mentioned having horses, but he never pictured her actually riding them.
She took time to loop the reins through her fingers. Displaying perfect horseback riding posture, she guided the horse around the edge of the ring. After a few laps, she nudged the horse into a trot. As Ashley followed her progress, the grumpy expression on her face morphed into wonder. By the time Donna returned to the center of the ring, the girl’s frustrated, negative attitude had completely changed.
“That was a lot of fun,” Donna said. “Do you want to take a ride too?”
“I’m too heavy with my back brace on,” Ashley said. “I don’t want to hurt her.”
“That’s very sweet, but you don’t have to worry about all that. Sunshine is a very strong horse. She can easily carry both of us, even with your back brace on.”
“Both of us?” Ashley asked.
Donna glanced at Evelyn, who nodded.
“Yes. Would you like to ride with me?” Donna asked.
“I guess,” Ashley said.
The fear returned to her eyes as the trainer lifted her out of the wheelchair. Brody rushed to help lift her onto the horse in front of Donna. Over the girl’s head, Brody met her gaze. She smiled as if she coaxed terrified teens onto horses every day.
Once they’d settled Ashley into the saddle, Donna started out at a slow pace. After several laps, Ashley visibly relaxed. And by the time they’d circled the ring a dozen times, she was laughing.
Brody folded his arms across his chest, slowly shaking his head in disbelief. Donna had a gift. She had the ability to convince a teenager to do something she didn’t want to do. That was a miracle in and of itself. He watched her with a new awareness. The more time he spent with her, the more layers she revealed.
He couldn’t help but wonder if she would be so kind and gentle with all children. Even though his sister was an adult, he never stopped thinking of her as a child who needed to be protected. Would Donna treat Lizzie with the same amount of love and respect she’d just given to a complete stranger?
After they’d finished the ride, Ashley thanked Donna for talking her into getting onto the horse.
“Ever since the car accident,” Ashley said, “I don’t trust anything that moves too fast. But I liked Sunshine.”
“Would you want to ride her again?” Donna asked.
“Yes.”
“That’s wonderful, sweetie,” Evelyn said. “You did a great job today. Sometimes it’s hard to take the first step toward something new, but you did it.”
Brody glanced at Donna and wondered if she was willing to take the first step toward a new relationship.
Evelyn walked them out to the turnoff on the side of the road where the helicopter waited.
“Thank you so much, Donna,” she said. “Ashley’s a tough case. Today was a major breakthrough and it wouldn’t have happened had you not been here.”
“I’m glad I was able to help.”
“You’re welcome back anytime,” Evelyn said before giving her a hug.
“It was good to see you.” Brody leaned down to hug her.
“Bring Lizzie by the next time you come,” Evelyn said. “I miss seeing her.”
“She practically lived here last summer,” Brody said.
“Well it’s winter now, so bring her around.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said.
After helping Donna into the helicopter, he turned to wave at Evelyn.
“They really care about those kids, don’t they?” Donna asked.
“Absolutely. They’re good people.”
She nodded as if he’d confirmed something for her. Her brown eyes sparkled as she graced him with a stunning smile that rendered him speechless. As the helicopter lifted off, he reached over and took her hand. Maybe he was dooming himself to heartbreak, or maybe he was taking a huge step of his own. Either way, he’d know where he stood by the end of the week.
Chapter 7
Donna’s mouth watered as she surveyed the ingredients at her station in the kitchen. A box of graham crackers, a block of cream cheese, a few sticks of butter, milk, and sugar could only mean one thing—cheesecake!
“Who’s ready for dessert?” Madison asked. Delighted murmurs filtered through the group. “Today we’ll be making cherry cheesecake from scratch. We’re working in teams again, so grab a partner and let’s get busy. Go ahead and grab your box of graham crackers. We’re going to start by making the crust.”
Donna and Brody reached for the box at the same time. When their fingers grazed, a shiver of desire shimmied down her spine. After they’d returned from the ranch, he’d walked her upstairs and straight into his bedroom. They’d made love all afternoon, only stopping when they’d needed to get ready to come downstairs.
“Ladies first,” Brody said.
“I’ll make the crust; you make the filling. Deal?”
“Deal.”
As she followed Madison’s instructions, she let her mind wander. She couldn’t put her finger on exactly what was different, but the trip to the ranch had brought them closer together. The wall she’d put up to keep her emotions in check was crumbling and she didn’t know what to do to stop it. She wasn’t ready for another relationship. Not yet.
“You’ll see a few Ziploc bags to your left,” Madison said. “Add twenty-eight graham crackers to the bag, seal it, then crush them until they turn into crumbs.” She grinned as she held up a baggy filled with obliterated graham crackers. “Have fun with it, but don’t get too crazy. I don’t want to see any exploding bags.”
“You’re pretty fond of making messes,” Brody said to Donna. “Do you want to do the honors?”
“Well, if you insist,” she said.
How could one man be so funny and sexy at the same time? If only she could have found him a few years from now. Maybe then she’d feel like settling down again. She pounded the graham crackers until they’d shattered in a million pieces. The palm of her hand ached but she welcomed the pain. Anything to take her mind off of him.
As they continued to work together, she tried to focus on Madison’s instructions, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Brody. He was a sweet, caring, and compassionate man who truly loved his family. He was nothing like her ex-husband, which was probably why she was so drawn to him.
By the time they’d divorced, her marriage had been dead for years. She’d just freed herself from the shackles of one relationship, so why jump right into another? It didn’t matter that Brody was a totally different kind of man. He was still a man and she needed time to get her life together. She never could have imagined that she’d find someone like him so soon. But she wasn’t ready to fall for another guy, not right after her divorce. Why would she throw away her newfound freedom on someone she hardly knew?
Maybe there was something wrong with him that she didn’t see. Some hidden fault that would send her screaming if she knew what it was. No one was perfect.
Brody spooned the cheesecake mixture into the graham cracker crust with laser-like precision.
The tip of his tongue stuck out of the corner of his mouth as he carefully deposited every last gooey cherry. He sure as hell took pride in his work, both in the kitchen and in bed.
“I need a couple of volunteers to help me moved the cheesecake pans into the refrigerator,
Madison said. After a few people had raised their hands, she added, “The cheesecake will need to set for a couple of hours, so consider yourself free until four o’clock this afternoon. You may want to preemptively walk off some of this sugar.”
While Brody helped put away the cheesecake, Donna hung back. She hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before, so a walk was out of the question. But a nap sounded great.
Since she hadn’t made any plans with Brody for that afternoon, she quietly slipped away. As she unlocked her bedroom door, she yawned. She couldn’t wait to flop onto the bed and take a cat-nap. Although she didn’t normally sleep in the middle of the afternoon, she was on vacation, so why not?
She shut the door behind her and let out a sigh. After releasing her hair from a tight ponytail, she kicked off her sandals and padded over to the nightstand next to the bed. She changed into one of her favorite black nighties. Even though she was alone, she loved the way the silky garment made her feel.
After sliding into bed, she closed her eyes. She couldn’t stop picturing his bulging muscles or this thick cock. The man was hung and he knew how to use it. That was one hell of a combo. Every time she got within range of him, she had to steal a touch. She couldn’t keep her hands off of him. And a part of her wondered why she even considered resisting.
A knock at the door startled her. She groaned and rolled out of bed. As she crossed the room, the flouncy fabric on her nightie swayed against her thighs. She considered grabbing a robe, but she didn’t plan on opening the door, regardless of who stood on the other side. She was tired and ready to sleep for a few hours.
“Who is it?” she called.
“The abominable snowman,” Brody said.
She laughed and cracked open the door.
“I’m about to take a nap,” she said.
“Well then, I’m right on time.”
“No, I mean it. I need to sleep,” she said.
“Then we’ll sleep.” He held up a bottle of wine and two glasses. “But first, a couple of sips?”
“All right. But only if you promise than I can get some rest.” She opened the door.
As his gaze raked across the black negligée, he let out a low whistle. Hunger leapt into his eyes and the moment he crossed the threshold, she knew she wasn’t going to be getting any sleep anytime soon.
She backed into the room. He closed the door with his foot. After depositing the wine bottle and glasses on the dresser, he closed the distance between them.
“You rushed off after class,” he said.
“I was tired.”
“Mm.” His gaze lingered on her breasts for a moment before he returned his attention to her face.
“You said you’d be fine with just sleeping,” she said.
“That was before I saw your outfit. Are you always dressed to kill?” he asked.
“I like to look nice.”
“Nice? More like edible,” he murmured as he leaned in to nuzzle her neck. “I had a great time with you yesterday.”
“I did too.” Which was part of the problem. They were getting too close too fast and she wasn’t ready. “But… I think we should slow down.”
“I will,” he whispered as his lips grazed her collarbone.
“Brody.” She stepped back. “I really need to be alone right now.”
“Why?”
“Don’t you think we’re moving too fast?” she asked.
“With what?”
“I’m not ready for another relationship right now. I just got out of one and the idea of getting into another one right away—”
“Hey.” He skimmed his hands over her waist. “I thought we talked about this already. I thought we’d agreed that this would just be for fun. But if you think there’s something more between us then—”
“No. It’s not that. I just... there’s so much that I want to do now that I’m free. I can’t get trapped in another relationship right now.”
“Trapped?” He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “Okay... I understand. If you’d rather not spend time alone this week, I can respect your decision. I might not like it, but I won’t push you. I just thought that maybe… you know what, never mind.”
He walked over to the dresser to retrieve the wine and glasses. As he headed toward the door, a flicker of regret propelled her forward. She wasn’t ready to let him walk away.
“Wait,” she said.
He turned to face her.
“I’m not a yo-yo,” he said. “I know you’re not looking for a husband right now. I get it. But I’m going to put up with your hot-one-minute, cold-the-next routine.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m just so confused.”
“Maybe now’s not the right time to try to make any kind of decision,” he said. “You should think about what you really want and then let me know. I know what I want.”
“Oh?”
“I want you, Donna. From the moment I met you I wanted you. When you said you only wanted to have a week-long fling, I accepted it. I’m not looking for a wife and you’re not looking for a husband. But if you’re going to go back and forth about what you want, then I’m not going to stick around. I have enough to worry about without having to wonder where I stand with you.”
“I’m just trying to be honest with you,” she said. “I don’t know what I want.”
“Well when you figure it out, let me know.”
As he walked out of the door, her heart plunged into her stomach. She wrapped her arms around her belly and stared at the closed door. She wanted to run after him and tell him that she needed him, but her feet wouldn’t move. The fear of losing herself to another relationship was too strong.
Deep down, she knew she’d never find another man like him, but the timing couldn’t have been any worse. She only had a few more days with him and then she’d lose him forever. If she couldn’t get past her fear of falling in love, he’d walk out of her life for good.
* * *
As the winter sun drifted toward the horizon, Brody leaned against the new gate to the horse pasture. Several horses milled around, while some nuzzled the ground looking for grass beneath the snow. Footsteps crunched behind him. He turned to find Logan walking toward him.
“Nice sunset,” Logan said.
“Yeah.”
A few seconds passed before Logan asked, “Are you all right?”
“I just needed some air,” Brody replied.
“I know the feeling,” Logan said.
“Yeah?”
“My wife Kate’s been on me to have a baby. I love her to death, but I’m not sure I’m ready to take on the responsibility. We haven’t even been married a year yet. Eventually we’ll have kids. But right now, I’m pretty happy to be able to come and go as I please.”
“Kids change everything,” Brody said.
“That they do. Don’t get me wrong,” Logan said. “I’d love to have a bunch of little bear shifters running around eventually, but I’m still getting used to married life. I’ve already been lassoed, but now she wants to hog tie me.”
“If you love her, then why do you feel trapped?” Brody asked.
“Before Kate came back into my life, I had all the freedom in the world. And let me tell you, I took full advantage of it. Even if you love someone, it’s hard to give up your freedom.”
“I hear you,” Brody said.
“But it was worth it,” Logan said. “When Kate came back to settle her father’s estate, I took one look at her and I was a goner. I hung up my bachelor spurs and let her corral me. I’m fine with a little domestication, but I need more time before I’ll be ready for kids. Once you’ve got them, you can’t be selfish anymore. It’s a huge adjustment, but one day I’l
l be ready.”
“What will it take for you to be ready?” Brody asked.
“Hell, I don’t know. I have a few little nephews and a niece already. In a way, I can’t wait for one of my own.”
“So why are you still hesitant?” Brody asked.
“Honestly? The thought of being one hundred percent responsible for a helpless little person scares the shit out of me. Kate keeps reassuring me that everything’s going to be fine, but I don’t know… How are things between you and Donna? I’ve seen you two together a few times.”
“We’re at a standstill,” Brody said.
“Why?”
“She keeps telling me that she’s not ready for another relationship yet. But I think it’s more than that. I think she’s just not ready for a relationship with me because of my sister.”
“Donna doesn’t want to be in a relationship with you because of your special needs sister?” Logan asked.
“She hasn’t come out and said so, but that’s my guess,” Brody said. “I shouldn’t even be thinking of Donna anyway.”
“Why not?” Logan asked.
“She’s not my type at all. She’s vain and high maintenance.”
“But she’s also one hell of a horse wrangler,” Logan said. “I still can’t believe she hopped right up on that horse and rode him back into the pasture.”
“Yesterday we went to Hooves and Hands—”
“The therapy center?” Logan asked.
“Yeah, you’ve heard of it?”
“My friend wrapped his bike around a tree,” Logan said. “He went there for physical therapy for months. It’s a great organization.”
“Yeah, my sister went there for therapy for several years,” Brody said. “Anyway, Donna and I took a trip out there yesterday. I saw a side of her that made me realize that she’s more than just a beautiful woman. She has so many other great qualities.”
“Oh yeah?”
“There was a teenager there for therapy who didn’t want to get up on one of the horses. Donna talked her into the saddle,” Brody said. “It was incredible.”