Page 82 of Beat around the Bush
She was right. It provided no warmth when it was twenty-six degrees.
“You know, I’m curious, what ever happened to my jacket you stole?”
Her jaw dropped an inch. “I did not steal it!”
“You never gave it back, so I’d consider that theft,” I teased.
She closed her mouth, a small smile on her lips. “I like it.”
“Yeah?” The thought of her wearing my jacket without me around did things to me that I didn’t want to admit.
She nodded. “I wear it inside sometimes.”
“Not outside?”
“Uh, do you know how big that thing is on me?”
I chuckled as I opened the passenger door for her. “It’s cute on you.”
She got in, buckling herself and setting her purse on the middle seat. “You think so?”
I hummed in agreement. “I’m glad it’s not snowing today. It would’ve ruined my plans.”
“What might those plans be?”
I leaned in with a hand on the door frame above me, my lips hovering over hers. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”
Her lips tipped up and I pressed my mouth to hers, never able to get enough of her now that I’d had a taste of her. I was half tempted to say “screw the plans, let’s just lay in bed all day,” but I promised her a date.
I closed her door and rounded the truck to get in, then pulled onto the road, heading for the ranch. I wasn’t sure if Oakley knew how to ride, but I guessed I’d find out in about thirty minutes.
Guiding the truck up my parents’ driveway, I pulled to a stop in front of the white barn and killed the engine.
“A date at your parents’ house?” Oakley teased, a smirk pulling at her mouth.
I shook my head, cracking a smile as I got out and came around to hold her door open for her. “I guess it is my parents’ place, isn’t it?”
She slid out, fixing her jacket as I closed the door. Callan was in the covered arena teaching a lesson when he waved over at us. After waving back, I took her hand in mine, leading her through the large open door of the barn.
“Are we mucking stalls on our first date?” she asked, peering at Red, who stuck his head out of his stall as we passed.
“Wouldn’t that be romantic?” I said sarcastically. “Know how to ride?”
She halted in her tracks, pulling me to a stop with her. “Ride?”
“Yeah, a horse.”
“No… I don’t,” she admitted, sounding a bit defeated.
“I’ll teach you,” I offered, hoping she’d say yes.
“Today?” she squeaked.
I nodded. “Yes, today, Oakley.”
“But there’s snow,” she pointed out.
I glanced to my left, looking out the door, then back at her. “We have an arena.”
