Page 44 of The Darkest Knight

CHAPTER TWELVE

Seth was a liar. He didn’t want to discuss anything with Reese other than everything about her personal life. He cursed himself for thinking this was a good idea. He should have gone back to work and let her do the planning for decorating, but the invitation had settled at the tip of his tongue and he’d had no choice but to voice it.

They were a few feet from the picnic table when her soft, warm fingers settled on the inside of his elbow. “If you’re too busy right now, we can set something up later.” Her eyes were bright.

“I suggested this, remember?”

“The frown sort of told me something different.”

He wanted to spend time with her, but they’d almost crossed a line earlier and he doubted he would have regretted if things had been allowed to naturally progress. The woman had shown him how caring she was. He’d seen her friendliness toward the guys. How she wanted to help others. How she thought of Isla. Reese was settling right in here at Landing Knight, among his friends…and with him. For Seth, he found her amazingly mesmerizing.

Unsure of how the heart worked for a lot people, he could see that she genuinely cared for others, and for a cause. She was willing to put her own needs and comforts aside to help veterans. He found that she had a certain kindness that seeped in and sugar coated all his dark, withdrawn parts. He didn’t want that—or did he?

Reese removed her hand and he wanted nothing more than to grasp it and pull it back. “Let’s head this way.” He pointed toward the barn and took off at a quick speed, realizing she was falling behind. He slowed down and wished his heart would do the same.

He looked out onto his land and felt a tug in his chest. Suddenly, he had a fire under his rear to make things happen. He wasn’t sure if it was the project that had him more motivated or the pretty woman walking next to him. Could be both, but he was leaning more toward the latter. For the first time in a really long time, he saw a vision for the future of Landing Knight. The options of making the place a popular resort again. Maybe even building a house for himself close to the pond on the untouched side of the property. He’d never given much thought to sharing that house with someone, hell, possibly a family.

Sheesh. Life was changing for him.

Marriage and commitment didn’t seem foreign.

“I’m getting the feeling you’re wanting to speak to me about something other than Isla.”

She was smart and intuitive. Although he just wanted her to talk. “What would that be?” He played the clueless card.

“What almost happened back at your place maybe?”

“We don’ have to talk about it if you don’t want.” He forced his face to relax, showing no emotion. Inside though, he was a basket case. He could only compare himself to a jumping bean with the way his cock jerked so many times when she was near.

“Are we fooling ourselves if we pretend there isn’t an invisible pull between us?”

Reaching the barn, followed by the two dogs, he stepped up to the fence and propped his back against it. She settled beside him and he got a quick peek at the tops of her breasts as well as the length of her toned legs as she lifted herself to sit on the top rung. Her delectable curves were right there at eye level, making his eyeballs sweat. He tried his best to turn his attention to the scenery, but he couldn’t see a damn thing through the blurred haze of lust. “Are we fooling ourselves if we fall into this?”

“You have a point there.” A butterfly flew around the vicinity of her head and landed close. She smiled. “I could get used to the wonderments of this land. It’s so peaceful.”

“Those shorts and boots make you look right at home.” He dipped his gaze down tanned, toned limbs.

She cracked a smile. “I think you have a love/hate relationship with my clothes.”

He turned and propped his arms on the top rung, his forearm brushed her warm skin. The onslaught of heat burning his chest took his breath away. “I don’t think I’ve noticed a woman’s outfit more in my life.” Realizing how profound that little sentence was made him want to drag it back. He lost his ability to think around her. What would go next? It certainly wouldn’t be his cock. That part of his body had never worked so hard.

“Well, who’s this?” She jumped off the fence and his eyes automatically fell to the bounce in her breasts. He had two safety holds for that…his palms ached at the mere chance.

Back on track, he realized she was referring to a cow slowly meandering their way. “That’s Cow.”

She turned her chin up and smiled at him. “You named your cow, Cow?”

He nodded and rubbed his chin, still getting used to not having the thick beard. “It was fitting.”

“You couldn’t be a little more creative? Like Betsy. Spots. Or Alfalfa?”

Cow rubbed her head against the fence. Seth rewarded her with a nuzzle behind her ear. “I like the name Cow, and so does she.”

“She seems awfully friendly.” Reese stood up on the bottom rung so she could pet the cow. Her rounded bottom made his teeth ache. She had no clue what her body did to him—or for him. He wasn’t sure he could jack off enough to get the deep-rooted feeling of need rinsed from his parts.

“Would you like to feed her?” He needed a break from the tension that grew in his temples.

“Really? Can I? I’d love to!”

---