Page 71 of From Us, Forever

Evelyn brought her soft hand to match my strokes. Smiling, I walked to the side. “You ready?” I asked as I checked the saddle before I propped my feet on the stirrup and hauled myself onto her with ease.

The smile left Evelyn’s face, and panic clouded. “You’re not serious.”

“I am. Come on.” I eyed Colt. “She’s good for a second rider, right?”

“Yes, sir.” Colt directed his gaze to Evelyn. “Go ahead, ma’am. She’s gentle,” he reassured.

She nodded, stopping short to my left. “Jay, she’s very tall.”

“That’s only because you’re tiny,” I said, leaning forward as I held out my hand. “Don’t worry. I won’t let you fall.”

Biting her lip, she clutched my hand with one leg up on the stirrup, and with a huff, I lifted her, settling her in front of me.

Evelyn yelped when the horse moved forward. “Jay, do you even know how to do this?”

“Yeah, I learned it for a commercial.”

“A commercial?” she shrieked.

“I took serious lessons, Evelyn.”

“Why the hell did you make me eat breakfast, Jay? I could feel it stirring inside my stomach.” She held a white-knuckled grip on the lapels of my jacket.

“You’ll be fine, just hold on.”

Her grip tightened, and a scream ripped from her as we rode forward.

It took her a few minutes to get used to the high, but when she laughed, the wind whipped her hair and the sun glowed on her skin.

“I love this!”

I loved her.

“Jay, we should do this more often.” Evelyn’s excitement didn’t fade a bit when we jumped off Astral later that day.

“Okay, sweetheart.”

We spent the next hour at the barn, feeding and petting all the horses till Evelyn was satisfied before we left to get ready for tonight.

The wedding was beautiful, with twinkling lights and ropes of lilies everywhere, which Evelyn informed me were Bekah’s favorite flowers.

She shed a few tears while the happy couple said yes, and the whole time, all I could think of was her and how I couldn’t wait to make her mine,forever and permanently. She should’ve already been, butsoon, I promised myself.

“My date is the most handsome man in the room,” Evelyn whispered, her eyes glinting under the lights.

“I know.”

“Arrogant.”

“Confident,” I countered, noticing the pained grimace on her face. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She shook her head. “I think I’m finally feeling the repercussions of this morning. Who knew horse riding could make your thighs so sore?”

Chuckling, I led her away from the dance floor as the song ended. “Here,” I handed her a thick envelope I had dug out from my jacket.

“What’s this?” Confusion painted her eyes.

“Have an open mind,” I suggested. “But this is a wedding gift to the happy couple.”

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