Mistaken Gifts

by Elena Aitken

  "She is, isn’t she? And she absolutely loves to be scratched behind the ears. Watch." Snowball lowered her head, and Jeff obliged by rubbing her. The horse whinnied her approval and Eva slid her hand up to reach the horse’s ears.

  "She likes it," Eva whispered.

  "See? So how about that ride? You know, to make sure she'll be safe for Andi's big day?"

  Eva surprised herself by not immediately saying no. Instead, she looked at Jeff, and knew she could completely trust him. He wouldn’t let her fall off and break her arm. She knew that without a doubt.

  "Okay."

  "Okay?"

  Eva nodded. "Okay."

  Jeff’s face lit up as if she’d just told him he’d won the lottery, and he sprang into action. "Let me go grab the saddles. It will just take a moment to get her ready."

  Eva watched as he moved about, readying the horses. He saddled up Snowball and a dappled horse he called Clover for himself. She thought she’d be terrified to mount the horse, but when Jeff led them all outside into the cool winter night, and boosted her up into the saddle, she felt strangely at peace. Something about Jeff and the quiet night soothed her, which almost made her laugh since only days earlier everything he’d said irritated her. Or had it? Hadn’t she loved the way he challenged her? Wasn’t that part of the attraction she couldn’t deny?

  She didn’t have time to analyze it any further because Snowball whinnied beneath her and when Jeff and his horse started moving, Snowball followed behind. It took every bit of concentration for Eva to focus on staying on the horse. She squeezed her thighs tightly, and closed her eyes.

  "She knows where she’s going," Jeff said. "But you should open your eyes. You wouldn’t want to miss this," Jeff said, his voice light. "Look around."

  She did. And immediately sucked her breath in. The snow that had threatened earlier had started falling while they were inside. The moon lit up the snow-covered ground and with the gentle flakes falling from the sky, the whole effect was magical.

  "It’s like we’re in a snow globe," Eva said. She tilted her face up to the sky and let the cold flakes melt on her hot skin. The horse moved slowly beneath her and she let her body meld into the movement. "This is amazing."

  Jeff pulled Clover up so the horses were walking side by side. "Do you see now why I wanted you to try it?"

  Eva lowered her head and looked him in the eyes. "Thank you for convincing me. It’s not nearly as bad as when I was a kid."

  They laughed together, but then a thought crossed Eva’s mind. "But why did it mean so much to you that I get on the horse?" She hoped she knew the answer, but she wanted to hear it from him.

  Jeff looked down and ran a gloved hand through his hair. "I wanted you to know how amazing it could be and I needed you to trust me because I…" He trailed off.

  "You?"

  He opened his mouth and Eva held her breath. It’s a good thing the horse knew where she was going, because Eva couldn’t focus on anything but the man on horseback next to her.

  He shook his head and muttered something to himself. "It doesn’t matter."

  "What?"

  "You have a boyfriend and I shouldn’t—"

  "I don’t."

  He didn’t seem to hear her. "I never would have kiss—"

  Relying on instincts, Eva jerked back on the reins, bringing Snowball to an abrupt stop and eliciting a whinny of protest from her. "I don’t have a boyfriend," Eva said, raising her voice to be heard. "Troy agreed to be my fake date to keep Andi from trying to set me up all the time. I’d just broken it off with…it doesn’t matter. What matters is…Jeff? Look at me, please."

  He’d already brought his horse to a stop beside hers, but he still hadn’t looked up.

  "Jeff.” Eva tried again. "What matters is, that kiss, it was…well…"

  When she didn’t finish, Jeff finally looked up, and with a smirk on his face he asked, "It was what?"

  "You knew." Eva narrowed her eyes and tipped her head, assessing his demeanor. "You knew Troy wasn’t my boyfriend."

  He nodded. "I knew," he agreed. "Sorry, I wanted to see if you’d tell me and…well, I couldn’t keep a straight face."

  "I see that." She tried to look mad, but he looked so handsome sitting there in the saddle with snow falling around him, all she really wanted to do was kiss him again.

  "But I didn’t always know," he said, turning serious. Jeff maneuvered his horse so they were as close as they could be without actually touching. "When I saw you with him the other day, after we kissed. I hated it. It tore me up. You’ve been driving me crazy, Eva. I’ve never met a woman like you and…oh, forget it."

  In one swift move, he reached out and wrapped his arm around her, pulling him towards her. His lips, cool from the night air, were on hers and instantly she melted into him. He held her firm, and even with the jostling of the horses, she knew he wouldn’t let her go. She focused completely on the taste of him, and the earthy smell of him she couldn't get enough of, as they explored each other’s mouths. The kiss was passionate, but there was also a sweetness in it. Like he was telling her exactly how he felt, and she responded in kind.

  It was over too soon. He pulled away, trailing his fingers across her cheek before leaning back. She righted herself in the saddle and took a moment to catch her breath.

  "We should probably get the horses back," he said.

  Eva tried to hide her disappointment, but he must have read it on her face.

  "Besides," Jeff added. "The sooner we get back, the sooner I can kiss you properly and show you exactly how I’m feeling.”

  With a smile on her face, Eva didn’t even notice the biting cold as the wind picked up on their way back. The heat from Jeff’s kiss lingering on her lips and the promise of what was to come, was all she needed to keep warm.

  ~ ~

  As promised, they’d barely brought the horses into the barn when Jeff wrapped his arm around her waist, and spun Eva so she was pressed up tight against his body, her back against the rough barn wall.

  Their clothes were cold from the winter air, but all she could feel was heat between them as his mouth found hers again. A moan escaped her as his mouth claimed hers with a possessiveness she hadn’t felt before. Was it because of everything with Troy? A primal instinct to claim what he wanted?

  It didn’t matter. All that mattered was the way her body responded to his need with a ferocity that surprised even her. Their kisses up until that moment had been down right chaste compared to what was happening between them now.

  Her jacket slid from her shoulders, and Eva hadn’t even realized he’d undone the buttons. In the same instant that it fell to the ground, his hands were on her. Exploring her body through her blouse and she knew he had to feel the heat coming off her. It was almost unbearable. The need to be exposed to him. With him.

  Jeff’s mouth left hers, leaving her momentarily bereft until his mouth found the sensitive skin on her neck. He nibbled, licked and kissed his way down her smooth skin until he reached the collar of her shirt.

  The silk smoothed through his fingers as he traced the edge of her blouse. “This has to go.” His voice was deeper, rougher then she’d heard it before, and it only served to fuel her further.

  He didn’t wait for a response before he deftly undid the buttons and yanked the material from her body. At that moment, Eva wouldn’t have cared if he’d torn the material completely, so great was her need for him. But he was smooth and totally in control which is why when he sucked in a breath, it surprised her.

  “What?” She put her hands on either side of his face and looked into his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” He shook his head slowly. “You’re god damn perfect.” His eyes bored into hers and his mouth met hers again, the kiss deep and through.

  With one hand, he held her head, forcing her to yield to his kiss while the other cupped her lace clad breast. His thumb flicked lazily across her nipple, causing it to peak in response to his touch. Another moan
escaped her and she could feel him smile against her mouth.

  “You like that?”

  It was a question that didn’t require an answer, and he didn’t wait for one. His mouth found her nipple, sucking it hard through the lace of her bra. Moisture pooled between her legs. Never before had Eva had a lover so in control, who had such a perfect read on her body, and knew without question what to do. She gave herself over to it.

  While his mouth painstakingly played with her nipple, Jeff kneaded his hand over the other, bringing that peak to an almost painfully hard point. When he switched his attentions to her other breast, Eva thought her knees would give out. But he wasn’t done with her yet.

  Sliding to his knees on the rough barn floor, Jeff quickly discarded Eva’s boots and jeans, leaving her only in her lace panties and bra, shivering slightly against the rough hewn wood wall of the barn. Everything about where they were was rustic, rough and the total opposite of the luxury Eva was accustomed to, but it didn’t once occur to her to protest. And when the tall, amazingly gorgeous cowboy in front of her stood, towering over her, Eva’s entire body trembled with the desire he brought out in her. In that moment she knew it wouldn’t matter if he took her right there on the fresh hay, she just needed to have him. And soon.

  Jeff slid one hand around her head, letting his thumb stroke her cheek. She closed her eyes and sighed. Even such an innocent gesture was laden with heat.

  “This won’t do.” Jeff’s voice was quiet, but firm and she snapped open her eyes ready to protest.

  “Yes.” The word came out half as a command, half as a question. But she still didn’t know what he was referring to.

  A lazy grin crossed Jeff’s face, but there was no denying the passion that darkened his eyes and even with him fully clothed, Eva could see his desire. “A woman like you deserves better.” He gestured with one hand around the barn while his other hand slid down her body. “But I don’t have the patience for that. So this will have to do.” Before Eva even knew what was happening, one arm was under her legs, the other, her back and Jeff lifted her quickly and easily into his arms.

  “What…where—“

  He silenced her with a kiss before pulling back. “Woman, do you ever stop trying to control everything? Let go.”

  She didn’t protest. Every comeback or retort she might have responded with, died on her lips because she realized, more then anything else at that moment, she wanted to let go. With him.

  ~ ~

  Jeff didn’t have a lot of options. And he definitely wasn’t going to let the gorgeous and almost naked woman in his arms walk away from him without showing her exactly how he felt about her. So, as quickly as he could, Jeff made his way across the barn into the small tack room at the back. And there, on a pile of blankets, he put Eva down.

  Instantly, she laid back letting him look at her stunning body. Long, lean and curvy in all the right places, covered with only the barest slips of lace, she was a sight to take in. One he could have taken in all day long if there hadn’t been a very insistent need in his jeans to take care of.

  “You still have all your clothes on.” Her voice was heavy, laden with desire and completely sexy.

  Without missing a beat, Jeff tugged his jacket off, flung his hat to the side and slid his belt buckle through. “Let me see what I can do about that.”

  Her eyes clouded with desire as she watched him strip for her. Never before had Jeff drawn out a moment in such a way, but watching her reaction to him was the sexiest thing he could think of and he drew it out as long as he could bear. But once his jeans were off, his clothing discarded in a pile, nothing could make him wait any longer. Especially when Eva crooked a finger and beckoned him to her with a smile on her mouth he simply had to kiss if he wasn’t going to spontaneously combust.

  He grabbed the foil packet from his jeans before crawling up over her on the pile of blankets.

  “You.” He kissed her thoroughly, but quickly before lifting up on his arms, framing her beneath him. “Make me crazy.”

  In response, her hands came up, sliding over the hard muscles in his back before resting on his ass with a squeeze. He let out a moan. No doubt, this woman would be his undoing. Her eyes challenged him, and Jeff knew exactly what she wanted, because there was nothing he’d ever wanted more.

  Without wasting another moment, he tore open the package, and slid the condom on. With one thigh, he nudged her legs apart and she opened willingly for him. He told himself he was going to go slow, enjoy every second of being with this woman who had completely captured him.

  But when she opened her pretty little mouth and said, “God, I want you so bad.” He was completely lost. With one solid thrust, he was inside her. Eva’s gasp and subsequent groan only served to fuel him. She opened her eyes and stared into his with so much passion, he thought he might climax right on the spot. Instead, Jeff reigned himself in and soon they were in a perfect rhythm, their bodies completely in tune with each other.

  When he felt her tremble beneath him, he was right there with her. He felt her shatter beneath him, her legs clamping tighter around him, her moans only driving him towards his own completion. And when he came undone moments after her, he gave himself over to his complete release, knowing he’d never felt anything like the way he did with this woman and he’d do anything to make sure he’d have her again.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  It had been difficult to fall asleep with Jeff’s kiss lingering on her lips, the feel of his body beside her, on top of her, and inside her, only a memory. The warm, tingling feeling that traveled from her core to every part of her. Was that love? Or just the excitement from riding a horse and finally connecting with the man she couldn’t get off her mind? Whatever it was, Eva had never felt it before. Unless you counted that boy in the six grade who’d tugged on her braid and kissed her on the cheek before running off, and she didn’t.

  Somehow, Eva managed to get a few hours’ sleep before the chaos of the wedding day ensued. She took her time in the shower, knowing it would likely be the only peace and quiet she got all day, but as soon as she turned the water off, she was in full party planner mode. Eva rushed through her morning rituals and before she got dressed, bent her bad wrist up and down a few times, deciding she shouldn’t have to wrap it up. It was feeling a lot better, and she was going to be so busy, she wouldn’t even have time to think about the pain if there was any. Eva grabbed her trusty portfolio and the garment bag containing her maid of honor dress, and then took off for Andi’s condo. But first she had one little stop to make at the village corner store.

  Twenty minutes later, she was standing in the kitchen of Andi’s condo with two steaming cups of coffee, fresh bagels, and a pregnancy test.

  "The box says it will only take three minutes," Eva said, pushing it towards her friend.

  "I don’t think I want to know."

  "Now? Or ever?"

  Andi put her hand on her hip. "Not ever, obviously. But with everything else going on today, it might just be too much."

  Eva took a sip of coffee and gave Andi a second to think about it. "Okay," she said after a minute. "You and Colin both want kids, right?"

  Andi nodded.

  "This is a good thing."

  "We don’t even know what the test will say," Andi argued.

  "I think we both know exactly what the test will say." She pushed the box towards her again. "Wouldn’t it be good to know for sure?"

  Andi stared at her for a minute. "You’re right." She snatched up the box and headed to the bathroom.

  "Thank goodness," Eva mumbled under her breath.

  ~ ~

  The weather was perfect for an outdoor ceremony. It was one of those January days where there was a chill in the air, but it wasn’t unbearably cold. And with the sky so blue and the sun sparkling off the snow and the frozen pond, the setting was so beautiful that nobody noticed if they were a little chilly.

  Eva stood in her dress covered by a floor-length red wool coat. Her bla
ck gloves contrasted with it sharply as she held a bouquet of roses, sprigs of pine, and of course, holly. She smiled at Troy, who was standing up for Colin, and he gave her a wink. When the music changed, they both turned to watch as Andi rode down the path on Snowball. Jeff had obviously brushed her and prepared her for the ceremony with some extra attention, because the horse looked amazing. But not as stunning as Andi. When she reached the end of the aisle, Jeff was there to take her hand and help her from the horse. Eva couldn’t help but stare at him. Totally unaffected by the cool air, he was dressed in only a black suit with a red shirt. It was a far cry from the faded jeans and old t-shirts Eva was used to seeing him in and that warm tingly feeling rushed back through her limbs remembering the body underneath those clothes, and how it felt under her hands.

  He didn’t look up before guiding the horse away, and Eva stared after him for just a moment before turning her attention back to her best friend, who was walking up the aisle with her father, looking more beautiful than Eva had ever seen her. She glanced at Colin, and saw his eyes shining full of love as he watched his bride walk towards him. It was one of the single most amazing moments Eva had been part of. To witness love so pure, and so consuming that it was the only thing that mattered, was exhilarating.

  Her own eyes filled up with tears and she blinked hard to keep them at bay. The justice of the peace called the service to order, and mercifully, Eva could focus on the words he spoke, allowing herself to be distracted long enough not to cry at the beauty of the moment. She glanced around briefly, trying to locate Jeff, and finally spotted him standing to the side of the small crowd. He was focused on the ceremony and Eva couldn’t help but wonder what was going through his head. Was he thinking of the power of love as well? Was he perhaps wondering if maybe that’s what they shared together?

  The idea was ridiculous, of course. After all, they hadn’t even had a proper date. They barely even knew each other. But Eva couldn’t help herself from letting her mind wander. Jeff was different. Things with him were different. She closed her eyes and listened to the justice of the peace speak about Andi and Colin and their love for each other, and the mental image that formed was of her and Jeff. Together. She didn’t care if she was being ridiculous and jumping into things; it was right. And she knew it. She felt it.