Page 26 of The Runaway and the Rugged
EMELIA
“Ineed to pick you up,” he said it for a second time, and still, I couldn’t process what he was saying.
After giving him the reassurance that this was my decision, I wearily followed behind him until we were standing beside his horse, Ella. It wasn’t that I was scared, but more so unsure of being around an animal that size.
“Wait, what?” I peered back over to Garth who was running a soothing hand down Ella’s back.
He sent me a sharp, frustrated look.
“In order to get on the back of Ella, I need to pick you up.”
My eyebrows pulled together. It seemed a bit unnecessary and overkill. Wasn’t it similar to getting on a bike? A much bigger bike?
“You don’t think I can manage to get on her myself?” I asked, doing the logistics in my head. One foot onto the stirrup and swinging my leg over the horse. In my head, it didn’t sound all that difficult.
Definitely manageable.
But according to Garth’s reaction, my answer was nothing short of comical. His petting on Ella halted as his head fell forward on a disbelieving shake.
“By all means, give it a try, Outlaw.” He stepped back from Ella, giving me the space I needed. “Easier for me anyway.” He shot me an arrogant grin that sent ripples of butterflies throughout my stomach.
Jesus, he was infuriatingly handsome.
“I will,” I grunted, uncrossing my arms while firing a glare in his direction. My dress suddenly felt a hundred pounds heavier as I began to calculate my next move. And why the hell did Ella look bigger?
“Well, come on then, we ain’t got all day,” Garth encouraged with amusement layered in his tone.
I was tempted to throw something at him, but instead of making a fool out of myself again, I opted to tune him out. With slow, steady steps forward, I cautiously approached Ella. With each step, more uncertainty followed.
“Hi, Ella, I’m Emelia,” I spoke in a soft, hushed tone, careful not to spook her. “Hope you don’t mind me riding you.”
A low, masculine laugh erupted from Garth’s direction.
Bastard.
Ignoring him entirely, I kept my anxious stare focused on Ella. Assessing her behavior and body language before I closed the remaining distance between us.
“That’s it,” I praised before carefully extending my arm out to brush her dark mane. I was nearly there, trembling hand and all, but just before I bridged the gap, she shifted her head to the side. “Oh!” I gasped, my body flinching before realizing she wanted me to touch her.
“You’re all right, Outlaw,” Garth reassured, but I was entirely too engrossed in the fact I was petting a horse. Soft, silky hair enveloped the bottom of my palm as I rubbed up and down her mane. A rush like no other flooded me, sparking a smile to lift my mouth.
“Such a pretty girl.” I continued to caress her neck, getting lost in the moment before the sound of Garth clearing his throat ruined it.
“Time to put your money where your mouth is.”
I hated that he was right. That I couldn’t stay here and pet Ella all day no matter how much I wanted to. Part of me was hoping he’d show me some sympathy and let me, but I knew better than that.
“I’m getting there,” I grumbled, before reluctantly withdrawing my hand. I knew if I gave him any sort of reaction, I’d either say something stupid or lose all the unexpected confidence I somehow had bursting through me right now.
Then shifting myself toward the back saddle, I glanced down at the stirrup.
Okay, that’s a little higher than I anticipated.
Up and down, my eyes moved from the saddle to where I was supposed to put my feet. I was still figuring out the most sensible plan of action, when I suddenly remembered I had heels in my hand.
No way was I getting on Ella with only one free hand.
I was seconds from asking Garth if he could hold them, but before I could, I felt the heat of his body directly at my back. He wasn’t touching me, but the warmth radiating from him sure as hell felt like he was.
