All But the Fall

by Kim Turner

  “Scared of falling?” He shot her a raised brow, thinking he might need another dunk in the river after all.

  She studied him for a moment and smiled. “Scared of the landing.”

  He called after her. “You watch. He’ll do it this time.”

  “Ibuprofen and ice, Cowboy.” And just like that she was gone.

  Brian returned with dry boots “Here ya go, Aaron. Horace is already wondering where you are.”

  He snagged another glimpse out the door. He hadn’t had a thought without Jenna since he’d met her and for that matter, he’d found himself awake at night thinking of her. Nope. He had no room in his life for a woman right now—so why couldn’t he rid his mind of her?

  Sheila handed him his shirt, vest, and trousers. “She’s not married from what I hear.”

  He pulled the shirt on, one arm at a time, turning back to her, hoping he hadn’t been too obvious.

  “Cat got your tongue?” Sheila, known for her southern cooking, southern accent and southern matchmaking abilities began with the buttons of his shirt as he snagged on the dark trousers.

  “Focusing on the jump.” He winked, but she’d pegged him.

  She smudged make-up on his cheeks and forehead next. “There ya go, another smudge of dirt and you’re an outlaw again. Here’s your hat.”

  “Thank ya, ma’am.” He slapped the hat on his head, tucking his wet ponytail under it, answering in his best western brogue.

  He stepped back outside before Maxus. “This time, I go in the river, you go in. Got it?” He gave the horse a pat and mounted up, galloping to the top of the ridge. Below, his brothers and Jenna were behind the camera crew at the river’s edge once more. So she was watching. He fought to clear his mind.

  “And action!” Horace heralded.

  Aaron forced Jenna from his mind and urged Maxus forward, but the horse balked, bucking. He cursed having to turn the animal and start again. It wasn’t the horse, it was him. Get it together, Aaron.

  He kicked and Maxus cooperated, racing down the ridge at a faster pace than before. He gripped hard at the bottom and hung on, keeping his eyes on the far bank. The horse lifted and did what he was supposed to do, clearing the river and landing on the other side with ease.

  After riding Maxus through, he dismounted. The landing had hurt. Shit, he’d be sore tomorrow. He pulled the horse along behind him crossing the wooden bridge on foot.

  “That’s a take. Bring in the real cowboy.” Horace spouted the director’s voice echoing across the set.

  Gabe ambled up taking Maxus by the reins. “What a jackass.”

  “Yep.” Aaron gave the horse a pat as his brother tugged him toward the corral. Horace Leland showed his ass from time to time, but that was no surprise, given the man’s success.

  Aaron walked to his motorcycle and straddled it for a moment, catching his breath, his job done for today. And there she was again, Jenna Wilder, stopping her medical cart beside him.

  “So you watched.” He pulled the band from his hair, shaking the wet mass free.

  “The director called it a beautiful take. Very graceful.” She smiled.

  “The horse?” He shot her a raised brow.

  She laughed but gave him a curious gaze, stopping the engine. “No, not the horse. But you looked stiff on the landing.”

  That was observant. Hoping he wasn’t overstepping some boundary, like the one he’d set where dating on the set was off limits he asked anyway. “You wouldn’t want to go riding tomorrow morning?” Damn, he’d done it now. Couldn’t even listen to himself when it came down to it.

  She glanced at the machine beneath him. “On the bike?”

  “Horses.” He chuckled. “Five a.m. I’ve gotta be back here to film around noon, though.”

  Her eyes widened and she dropped her gaze only to lift it again. “Five? I’m sure my son’s sitter wouldn’t mind, but it’s been a long time and…”

  He studied her for a moment, surprised she had a child. “If that’s not convenient…”

  “No, it should be fine. Mason’s a year old and loves his sitter.” Her voice held a hint of hesitation. “But…I don’t know…”

  “You won’t be disappointed.” He wouldn’t be, but he was well aware of the guilt that rode along with leaving a child longer than planned.

  “Does five in the morning come with coffee?” Her dark brows lifted, surprising him.

  “Yep.” Hell, he’d have a four-course breakfast waiting if that was what she wanted.

  “Five, then.” She sat back in her cart, a nervous edge to her voice. “Meet you here on the set?”

  He nodded. So she had a child—well, he had one of those too. She backed the cart up, whipping it around leaving him with a quick smile before she disappeared.

  He cranked the motorcycle, revving the engine. Moments later, he was inside the camper letting the hot water of the camper shower soothe his back. It had been a long time since he’d spent time alone with a woman, and the last one had nearly done him in for good. Exiting the shower, he dried and rummaged through the tiny closet, tugging on a pair of sweatpants.

  “Just checking on you before me and Gabe head out.” Jeremiah entered the camper, slamming the door hard and lifting his bag from the chair. “That’s some kind of bruising, brother.”

  “It’s fine.” He looked over his shoulder, glancing in the mirror across the room. He was already purple from his shoulder blade down to his mid-back. He headed into the living area of the fifth-wheel camper.

  His brother turned toward the door. “See ya.”

  “Tell Lily I’ll call her in a bit.” He stepped into his sneakers and then outside the camper, the set now quiet.

  “Gotcha. I got Maxus brushed down and fed.” Gabe was at his truck. “He did good all except that part where he dumped your ass in the river.”

  “I’m glad I could take a good dunking for your amusement.” He folded his arms. “And don’t worry Amos or Sarah with this.”

  “You know they’ll ask.” Gabe hopped in his truck and slammed the door, hanging an elbow out the window.

  “Then tell them the jump went fine,” he urged. There was no sense in having his parents worry over nothing.

  Gabe nodded and checked his rear view for Jeremiah who honked from his Jeep.

  He sat on the picnic table as his brothers drove from the set. It was his night to stay with the horses, even though the set wasn’t far from home. Without Sarah caring for Lily, he wouldn’t be able to do the work he did, but between them all, it was rare he ever needed to pay a sitter. He headed back to the camper and shook off the cold once inside. Things would be pretty frigid by tomorrow morning, and he wondered if the temperature would cause Jenna to change her mind. She’d seemed a bit reluctant but had finally agreed. He couldn’t believe he’d even asked her knowing damn well he had no business in doing so. He slammed the camper door behind and stopped at the sink.

  “Holy shit.” He mumbled to himself and lifted the bottle of Ibuprofen from the windowsill. He popped the tablets, reaching for a light beer and chugging them down. Putting his thumb over the mouth of the bottle, he rolled it against his naked back groaning.

  Grabbing his cell phone, he plopped down in the recliner, tossing one leg over the arm pushing Jenna from his thoughts.

  “Hey, Daddy,” Lily answered. “Grandma and I are reading a story about a puppy.”

  He smiled. “Well, we love puppies. Are you ready for bed?”

  “I’m not even tired.” She yawned through the phone, smacking her lips.

  He closed his eyes picturing her with her long brown curls and eyes much like his own. “Go to bed, and I’ll be home tomorrow evening, just in time for supper.”

  “Promise?”

  “Yep.”

  “Goodnight, Daddy.” A big smack of a kiss sounded on the phone. “Did you feel that?”

  “Yep, that was kind of sloppy and wet.” He grinned as Lily’s laughter filled the other end of the phone.

&nb
sp; “I love you, baby, let me talk to Grandma.” He waited, guilt at not being there flowing through him as it always did.

  “Aaron, are you hurt?” Sarah whispered in a high octave into the phone.

  He threw his head back in a silent curse. “I’m fine.”

  “Gabe said you hurt your back.” Sarah’s tone told him she wasn’t letting up on the conversation.

  “Maxus didn’t cooperate, but I’m good.” Damn it, Gabe could never keep his mouth shut. He changed the subject. “How’s Amos?”

  “He had another good day. He did a bit much though, so he turned in early. You be careful out there.” She scolded.

  “I promise.”

  “I love you, son.”

  “Love you, Sarah. Good night.” He hung up the phone, grabbing the remote and turning on the television. Scanning channels, he stopped on the evening news, thinking of Jenna once more. He’d often taken groups of actors and crew riding before or after hours on various sets. It was part of the benefits of someone working on the set when it came down to it, but taking Jenna riding wasn’t the same—and he’d damn well known that before asking.

  Chapter Three

  Jenna drove along the highway headed toward the set, glancing in the mirror to catch her own gaze. What on earth was she doing? It was before five in the morning and way too cold to be out riding horses. The temperature inside her SUV with the heater running full blast and she’d slept little with the excitement and anxiety of spending the morning with Aaron—alone. She didn’t know why she’d approached the corral on the set when she had except for her long-ago interest in horses, but Aaron had been there and now this. It had been a long time, and her nerves were proof enough that she wasn’t sure she was ready for anything more than a simple ride.

  She adjusted her gloved hands on the steering wheel thinking of Mason. A moment of guilt took her, but then, Mrs. Lucy had been fine with keeping Mason a little longer than planned for the day. He adored her, too, and that made things a bit easier.

  She shook her head at the conversation she’d shared with Brianna late last evening. Her best friend’s jaw had all but hit the floor when she’d told her about Aaron inviting her for a horseback ride. And, of course, Brianna had been full of questions Jenna couldn’t yet answer. Yes, he was handsome, and yes, he was safe, not an ax murderer. And she’d had to describe in detail her brief care of him when the horse had thrown him. Brianna had sat mesmerized at every single word she’d spoken, though there really wasn’t much to tell.

  “This is just a horseback ride with a nice man and nothing more than that.” She scolded, still surprised that Aaron hadn’t cringed or run from her mention of a son. Sally, from the food tent, had filled her in on the Decker brothers. Aaron was a rancher, the one who’d signed on for the film jobs, though both his brothers helped where they could. Gabe ran a construction company with a friend they called Tuck, and the youngest of the brothers, Jeremiah, was a paramedic with the local fire department. She’d seen him a number of times at the hospital.

  His brothers were both handsome, but it was Aaron who’d caught her attention with his long dark hair and deep green eyes. He had a smile that warmed her, and he was tender spoken even when carrying on a conversation. “A cowboy, biker, stunt guy…” Who knew? She smiled to herself almost as giddy as the teenage girl she’d once been.

  Brianna had encouraged her to date. Was that what this was? A date? It had been nearly two years, and though her thoughts were still scrambled at times, things had been going well in her life. And there was something about Aaron that was comfortable and—safe.

  She hadn’t taken the job with hopes of meeting anyone, yet while all the other ladies on the set were going crazy over Drake Masters, she was happy to sit on the sidelines watching Aaron do what he did. He was beautiful on the horses and in his boxers. She shook her head. “Now what am I thinking? I just need to calm down and have a nice time, nothing more.”

  Good Lord, she was as bad as Brianna, but she couldn’t lose the mental image of him nearly naked. He’d been shivering, and when she’d touched the muscles across his back, it had left her wanting more of the same. She’d admired his six pack abs as he’d undressed and dressed again. And even if she was a nurse, her breath had all but stopped at the physical beauty of him.

  “Now I know I am crazy.” She turned off the highway toward the set, thinking she should’ve stayed home within the warm covers, snuggling with her son. And while Aaron seemed nice enough, she really hadn’t thought she would ever let herself even hint at the possibility of a real relationship again.

  She stopped at the gate, showing her badge to the security guard. “Morning.”

  “Morning Ms. Wilder, you’re in early today.” Security manager, Doug Forrester, scanned her badge with his laser, glancing inside her SUV.

  “Headed for a morning horseback ride.” She took the badge back from him.

  He leaned on the window. “Awful cold for a morning ride. You’re being escorted by one of those Decker boys then?”

  “Yes, Aaron.” She tucked her badge away, inside her jacket.

  “Well, I’m sure you’re in good hands.” He waved her through with a smirk she wasn’t sure she understood. She’d noticed him watching her on the set, and he seemed to hang around her tent more than others but he was security. He is doing his job and you are overreacting. Aaron is fine too, so stop all the nonsense and get on the horse and ride.

  She pulled to the parking area of the deserted set, where a few crew members were scurrying around with props. Cutting the engine, she tugged her heavy coat around her, glad she’d worn layers and brought along her fur lined leather gloves and a toboggan. Tossing her bag over her shoulder, she headed through the make-shift town on foot, darkness enveloping her.

  Outside the barn, she took a deep breath before entering, her breath blowing white against the darkness before her.

  Aaron turned from where he was saddling a horse, a smile crossing his bearded face. “You made it.”

  “Well, you said I wouldn’t be disappointed.” She moseyed closer, her nerves calming with his voice.

  He turned back to the horse, tugging the saddle tighter. “It’s pretty frigid, saddled these guys in here instead of the corral. Thought with the cold you might have opted out.”

  She leaned against the stall beside him. “I’m not sure what I am most afraid of, the cold or riding.” Or falling for you.

  “You’ll be fine.” He handed her the reins to the large painted horse. “I’ll be riding Maxus, but this is Scout. He’s as tame as they come. My five-year-old daughter rides him all by herself.”

  She smiled, leading the horse outside the barn as he followed with the other. Sally had mentioned he had a young daughter, but that her mother had ‘never been in the picture.’ She wondered what might have happened but didn’t ask. Some things were best left alone, and she was well aware of that given her own past.

  He glanced back at her, holding her with his deep green eyes. “Scout’s a gentleman.”

  She hoped he was right. She’d grown up in Virginia riding horses through her teens, but it had been a long time since those days.

  “Here ya go.” He grabbed her bag and tied it to Scout’s saddle. “And, at your request.” He stepped away to the picnic table and lifted a thermos, returning to tuck it in her bag.

  “Coffee.” She smiled. “My favorite part of the morning.”

  “It’s leaded, and I added cream and sugar, so I hope you aren’t one of those ladies that counts every calorie.” He grabbed Maxus’ reins again.

  “Are you kidding? I’m a nurse, and you don’t do a twelve-hour shift without leaded and loaded.” She smiled, taking another full glance at the large animal before her.

  “Good, you don’t need to anyway.” He fidgeted with Maxus’ saddle.

  “What?” She spit the word out before she could stop herself. Had he really said that?

  “You don’t need to count calories, not by the looks of you.”
He continued to work on the bridle.

  “Thank you, I think.” She was still plagued at the fifteen pounds she hadn’t lost since having Mason, but it seemed she was the only one that ever noticed that.

  He chuckled. “Ready?”

  “I think so.” She stepped to Scout’s side acting brave, though her heart raced. She still couldn’t believe that she’d given in to the idea of going riding with him. She’d spent so much of the last two years doing all she could to avoid advances by any man, yet his tender voice and gentle manner made her think this decision the right one for now.

  “Lesson one, grab the reins like this.” He covered her gloved hands with his own, nerves batting through her. It had been a long time since she’d felt a man’s touch and his hand on hers was almost overwhelming.

  Even with the barrier of both gloves, warmth enveloped her. She sucked in a breath. Concentrate on the horse, not his hands. Focus, Jen. He’s a nice man and that’s all.

  He shifted her closer to the horse. “Reach up and grab a handful of mane, along with the reins. Step into the stirrup all in one motion and pull up on the saddle horn, kicking your right leg behind you.”

  She did as he said and pulled up, struggling to balance but finding it easier than she’d thought. She settled in the saddle taking a deep breath. He was right, she did remember all so easily. “This is a big horse.”

  “Yep. Lean forward up hills and back down hills. How’re the stirrups?” He pushed her boot further into the stirrup, by holding one hand to her knee and checking her placement.

  Her breath caught at his touch once more. “Good.”

  He looked up at her again. Those green eyes. “Now, let’s hope Maxus wants a ride.”

  “He’s the one who tossed you in the river?” She’d thought so.

  “Yep, but he’s the best jumper I’ve got.” He climbed into the saddle and led the way, both horses falling into an easy canter. “He’s a bit high strung, but that’s what makes a good animal.”

  “Aren’t you cold?” she asked, the chill working through her even with her heavy coat. He only wore a heavy flannel shirt over several layers but no coat, though he had gloves.