Page 56 of Back in the Saddle

She looked at him, her eyes filled with unspoken gratitude.

‘And I’m sure she knew how much you loved her. Opera or no opera. I think that being able to be honest with the people we love is the biggest gift we can give them.’

Neither of them said anything else for a while. They just focused on their food and milkshakes in companionable silence, like the connection weaving between them didn’t need any words to add more fibres to its threads.

Hunter glanced at the clock on the wall behind the bar. It was 11 p.m. and Meg hadn’t messaged him yet, so he had offered to get a round of coffees. After finishing at the diner,they’d driven to one of his favourite bars, which, as expected on a Friday night, was packed. The décor was a bit shabby, but the staff were friendly, and the atmosphere was always great.

Caroline thanked him as he handed her another glass of red wine and sat back down, sipping his Pepsi. ‘You really weren’t joking about drinking only soft drinks tonight,’ she noted loudly, trying to speak over the noise of the conversations all around them and the upbeat country song playing in the background.

‘I don’t drink and drive, and I’ll need to head back home when Meg’s ready to go,’ he replied.

She studied his face with curiosity as she took a gulp of wine.

‘That’s refreshing to hear. You know, we have a zero-alcohol policy when it comes to driving in Scotland. So, it isn’t surprising exactly, but at the same time, it is a bit. Seems like most people around here don’t care about having a drink or two and getting behind the wheel.’

He felt like all the blood drained from his face. Hoping she didn’t notice, he hopped off the stool and extended his other hand to her. ‘Dance with me, Caroline.’

‘But … Nobody’s dancing.’

As if on cue, three other couples moved to the small, wooden dance floor area and started swinging together to the country music booming from the speakers.

Hunter smirked, taking both of her hands in his and gently urging her forward. She looked like she was thinking about it, but finally nodded firmly and followed him. Just then, the song changed to a slow ballad. He put his hands on her waist, pulling her closer to his chest.

She smiled and placed her hands on his shoulders. ‘Thisseems like a good moment to tell you that I love dancing, but I’m not great at it.’ She stood on her tiptoes, trying to speak near his ear.

He hugged her in response, bowing his head to her level. ‘You said the same about conversing with strangers. And you did a great job then.’

‘Oh, that was so embarrassing.’ She shook her head, her cheeks going a bit pink. ‘I couldn’t believe I said it and felt like an idiot later.’

‘If it makes you feel any better, I always dance like no one else is watching. Sometimes it gets embarrassing, but if you asked, I’d even do the macarena.’

They both laughed, still moving together to the music. It didn’t take them long to find a comfortable rhythm.

In this moment, Hunter felt the closest resemblance to content that he had in a very long time. He wasn’t thinking about his father or the ranch, he wasn’t worrying about Meg or anything else. If he could have stopped time right then, he would. Just to prolong that weightless feeling for a while longer.

His fingers went up and down Caroline’s arm, and he bit back a smirk as he felt goosebumps raise on her skin. He inhaled the scent of her perfume. He couldn’t quite put his finger on the notes, but he knew one thing: it was a lot more woody than floral. Sensual. Somehow, he knew that smell would linger in his memory long after they untangled and left the dance floor.

The song finished but neither of them moved. They stayed, dancing to half a dozen songs after. Some of them slow, some upbeat. When a very lively one came on and everyone started doing the two-step, Caroline stepped away. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes glowed with raw happiness.

‘I think I’ve had enough of dancing for tonight!’ she choked out. ‘Plus, I don’t know how to do this … this thing.’ She gestured towards the dance floor, where the dance party continued merrily.

‘Two-step? I can teach you,’ he offered, checking his phone. Meg had messaged him fifteen minutes ago asking if he could pick her up in an hour. He looked at his watch and then at Caroline. ‘But maybe not today. Looks like Meg will be ready to go home soon. Sorry.’

She waved her hand, dismissing his apology. ‘Oh, don’t be! This has been so much fun.’ She was resting her back against the panelled wall, looking as happy as she sounded.

He stepped closer, lifting her chin up with his fingers. The buzz of excitement from the dancing, the music and the closeness of her body were still filling his head as his gaze dropped from her eyes down to her lips.

Caroline slowly reached to the nape of his neck.

‘I had a great time too,’ he managed to say in a low, husky voice. His whole body ached to touch hers. Being this close to her and not kissing, not touching her, felt like torture.

But then their lips crushed together in a heated, passionate kiss. He wasn’t sure who kissed who first.

She didn’t pull away, and he sensed that she’d permitted herself to enjoy this moment. This kiss lacked the guilt, the shame …

It wasn’t a spark. It wasn’t even a sparkler. It was a whole damn firework display.

Hunter pushed her against the wall. His hands slid under her ass, lifting her up. Her legs wrapped around him, heels of her boots pressing into the muscles at the back of his thighs. Her calf cut into his waist, and he wanted all the weight of her against him.

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