Page 39 of Sweet Like Whiskey

“There you are,” my mom says, effectively dousing me in cold water. I turn just as she reaches the edge of the field. “Here. These are for Ashley.” She passes over a set of truck keys and a credit card. “Mind showing him where the vehicles are?”

“Sure,” I mutter, pocketing the items.

Her gaze shifts over my shoulder, a smile on her face. “He’s a natural, isn’t he?”

I turn back around, watching as Ash guides Shorty to a stop at the far end of the field. He glances behind the horse before tugging the reins again. Shorty starts to back up, and Ash makes beeping sounds.

I snort a laugh, quickly covering it with a cough as my mom looks over at me.

“Ah,” she says slowly.

“Nuh-uh,” I counter, not liking that gleam in her eye. “Don’t go getting any ideas.”

“What ideas could I possibly have, Jackson Darling? Please, do enlighten me.”

“You think you’re so clever.”

She chuckles, unperturbed. Looking at Ash, she says, “Almost like he was meant to be here. Funny, that.”

My mom walks off, and I let loose a few choice words before refocusing on Ash. He and Shorty are walking over now.

“Was that your mom?” he asks, coming to a stop in front of me.

I reach up, giving Shorty’s neck a pat. “It was. Ready to turn in?”

“Probably a good idea,” he says. “I still have a few things to take care of before dinner. Thanks for the lesson, Jackson.”

“Don’t mention it,” I murmur, giving Shorty’s bridle a tug and leading the pair back toward the barn. “Next time, we can do a trail ride, if you want. It’s a good way to get comfortable in the saddle. Nice and slow.”

Ash hums. “Sure,” he says, the word more suggestive than it has any right to be. “I can take it slow.”

“Can you?” I find myself asking.

He chuckles, a throaty sound. “I can sure try.”

I ignore the heat coursing through my body and pull the pair to a stop. “Down you go.”

Ash lifts an eyebrow. “Just…down?”

I nod. “Down.”

A little awkwardly, Ash holds the horn of the saddle and swings his leg over Shorty’s back. His foot stays tangled in the stirrup on his way toward the ground, so I grab him before he can hit the dirt. My heart thumps wildly as Ash’s back collides with my chest, my hand planted firmly on his stomach to hold him steady.

He turns his head to the side, eyes full of mirth as he meets my gaze. “Hi.”

Clearing my throat, I shove him upright,notthinking about the way he smells or how he felt tucked up against me so damn perfectly.

Ash simply chuckles, brushing his hair back, that smile still on his face. “Well, I’d say I nailed the landing. What do you think?”

“We’ll work on it,” I mumble.

He snorts, turning to give Shorty a pat. “Thanks, Shorty. I’ll probably be icing my ass later because of you, but I appreciate the ride.”

Jesus.

“Here,” I say, pulling the keys and card from my pocket. “My mom brought these for you.”

“Perfect,” Ash says, accepting both and twirling the keys around his finger.

---