Page 16 of Ace of Spades
A firm hand grabs my arm, spinning me back around to face him.
“Look me in the eyes when you ask. Don’t try to hide from me.”
We were merely a foot apart now, both of our warm breaths visible in the air as my eyes locked onto his piercing green ones. They were so intense, so mesmerizing—as if they could penetrate my every thought.
Goosebumps prickle my arms, my heart racing at the realization of just how close we are.
I keep my eyes locked on his, looking between them and letting calm wash over me as I ask once more.
“Please, Weston.”
The sound of our breathing fills the truck, and I swear I notice his eyes dipping to my parted lips.
“Okay,” he whispers, his voice low and full of heat.
“Okay,” I repeat, somehow unable to pull away from his trance.
We remain locked like that for a few moments before he seems to snap out of it, backing to the passenger door and letting himself out of the truck. I pull myself together, meeting him around the back of the truck and letting him follow me through the thick snow back to my trailer.
Gypsy greets him instantly as we step inside, and he offers her a few belly rubs as he takes in the small space. It isn’t nearly as big as some of the ones I had seen pros with, but I still realized its worth. With room in the back for four horses, a small tack room, and living quarters large enough to contain a bed, couch, mini kitchenette, and tiny bathroom, it was plenty more than I could ask for.
It was actually my first grown-up purchase that I had made back in December after graduating college. It had taken years of teaching horseback riding lessons in high school, and then collecting winnings from the occasional jackpot event or local rodeo when I was at University.
I wasn’t about to tell Weston that, though. I knew what he assumed: It was Daddy’s money, a present for a spoiled brat. I didn’t feel the need to explain myself to him, and I didn’t exactly care to sit around and try to beg him to see my perspective. I would let him continue to think what he wanted about me.
“Nice place,” he comments.
“Thanks. You can take the couch. The heater isn’t necessarily as hot down here, but it’s still pretty decent. Better than no heater, that’s for sure.”
I lift the couch cushions, opening the compartment beneath and retrieving a pile of blankets, placing them on the couch before reaching up to my bed space and grabbing one of my pillows for him.
He looks between me and the makeshift bed I had created, his face not revealing any emotion.
“Thanks,” he finally says.
I nod my head at him before turning to crawl up to my bed, pausing halfway up the steps before turning to look at him over my shoulder, finding that he hadn’t moved an inch.
“For the record, this is just because I owed you one. I don’t hate you any less, so don’t go getting any ideas.”
I try my best to convince myself of exactly that. I mean, even if I had found a stray dog out in the cold, I would’ve taken it in so it wouldn’t freeze. Weston wasn’t any different. Right?
“Wasn’t planning on it, Sorrels.”
“Good,” I confirm, crawling the rest of the way up and tucking myself in, Gypsy spinning in a circle a few times before settling in her typical spot at my feet.
I debate saying something else—maybe a goodnight, or something? But the more time that passed, the weirder it would be, until it had been long enough that I assumed he must be asleep.
I tossed and turned some more, this time not because I knew Weston was sleeping out in the cold, but because he was now in my tiny trailer with me.
I wasn’t sure at what point I fell asleep, but when I woke up the next morning, Weston was gone.
Chapter 7
HAILEY
“Happy Birthday, Hails!”
I grunt, pulling the comforter tighter over myself. The bed dips beside me, the sound of Gypsy’s tail hitting the bed as my mom gives her some morning kisses.
