Page 88 of Chasing Home

His smirk threatens to sweep my feet out from under me. “I knew you were paying attention to what I told you about me, even weeks ago.”

I snag his jeans from the floor, ignoring the alarming gnaw of pain coming from my thighs and whipping them at him. “I’ve always paid attention to you. That’s how I know that you’re trying to get more responsibility at the ranch, and you won’t get anywhere with that if you start slacking off.”

My underwear is absolutely not going back on, so I leave them on the floor and start to tug my jeans up commando-style. It’ll be a long day of having a scratchy ass, but it’s better than the alternative.

Eliza’s going to know exactly what I was up to last night the moment I walk into work. Not to mention the horses are still outside—shit! The pain that blooms on my inner thighs when my jeans rub along them tears a hiss from me.

Suddenly, a pair of hands are covering mine, guiding them away from my legs. Johnny crouches in front of me and presses his fingers softly into my thighs, avoiding the painful spots.

“Is it normal to hurt this bad after riding?” I ask with a wince when he brushes his thumbs along the edges of my sore spots.

“For beginners, yes. You’ve chaffed a bit, and you’ll probably bruise up today. Don’t finish putting these jeans back on. I’ll get you something else to wear.”

“I’ve got work,” I protest as he goes off in search of these supposed clothes. “And I won’t fit your clothes.”

He doesn’t reply. I huff and shake my jeans off again before moving toward the bed and lifting my leg to the edge of it, inspecting the bright red marks and splotches on the inner area. This is absolutely not what I had planned for my day, and as I slide my phone from the back pocket of my jeans, I get hit with a bolt of guilt.

Mom: No kidnapper would be able to match the sass of my daughter. I miss and love you, Aura.

“What’s wrong?”

I lift my eyes to Johnny as he strides toward me, his stare brimming with concern and hands full of clothing. Feeling too exposed with my text conversation still open and half of my body still naked, I shrink back from the question and lock my phone.

Understanding my feelings without needing to hear me say it, he offers me the clothes and sits on the edge of the bed, not saying anything else. I look at the tag inside of the pair of black joggers and relax a bit at the size before tugging them on. They fit perfectly.

“They’re Josette’s. You’re similar in size, and all of my sisters have clothes here in case. Daisy stays here a lot so she doesn’t have to answer the line of questioning that always follows a surprise visit home. I think they all stay here for the same reasons,” he explains.

“Thank you.”

He smiles. “You’re welcome, darlin’. Eliza’s bringing ointment for your saddle chafe.”

“What? You called her?”

“I did. She’s bringing ointment. And another member of my family you haven’t met yet.”

I blink at him slowly, processing his words. “Eliza can’t see me here like this. And neither can your family.”

His smile drops. “Why can’t Eliza see you? Because you’re here with me?”

“No. Because I look like a mess. I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet. I’m in no state for introductions.”

“There’s a handful of spare toothbrushes beneath the bathroom sink.”

Alright.

When I head out in search of said bathroom, I have to waddle to avoid my thighs rubbing together. It’s like a bad case of the sweat chafing I get when I wear shorts in the heat for a long period of time. In addition to that, the sharp pain that throbs from within my muscles makes me gasp every few steps.

“I can’t possibly ride Frost back to the ranch,” I say when I step into the hallway.

“You won’t have to.”

Johnny moves quickly, taking my arm and sliding it over his shoulder. He takes some of the weight off my legs as we slip into the bathroom.

“Sit on the toilet lid,” he urges, guiding me down onto it.

I look around the room as he digs beneath the sink for a toothbrush. The first thing I notice is how modern it is.

A stand-up shower with soft brown tiles and two shower heads sits in one corner of the room, and a claw-foot tub that looks like I could sink my entire body beneath water and bubbles rests on the other. The vanity is long and has a matching-coloured countertop to match the tile in the shower. A mirror with LED lights around the edges hangs above it.

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