Page 108 of Wingwoman
"Okay," Josh said. "Ready?"
I glanced around, face heating as several ranch hands, including Rob who had seen Josh carrying me into the house yesterday... topless.
Even with a fake smile glued to my face, my eyes were glassy. My hands shook, trembling to keep the jitters in check. A million red pin pricks stabbed at my skin. The sweat, the anxiety swallowing me up. Panic clawed up my throat.
"Hey," Josh said, this time his voice gentle. "It's going to be okay, Hope. I’ve got you."
I forced myself to gulp down the large lump that seemed to expand in my throat with every breath.
My hands still shook, but the fear was retreating, even if only slightly. The reins rasped against my palm, scratching my skin.
Then, curling my toes within my boots, I gave Echo a small kick with my heels.
I expected him to lurch forward, but instead, he began a slow walk beside Josh and Snapple.
The jangle of their spurs accompanied the crunch of their hooves against the packed dirt as they walked. Behind us, men's laughter faded away as one of the ranch hands said something funny.
The thrum of my heart beat slower and calmer with each controlled step Echo took.
“You're doing great,” Josh chimed in, trotting beside me at an easy lope. "Is this a good pace for you?"
I nodded, too scared to take my eyes off the path in front of us.
"You can loosen your grip on the reins," Josh said, leaning over and brushing a finger against my white knuckles.
"Oh. Right." I relaxed my grip. Or at least, I tried to.
"Tell me something about you," Josh said. "Something I don't know yet.”
I could feel his eyes on me and my cheeks flushed, heat pooling to the surface and settling there. I bit my lower lip and thought for a moment, my mind racing to find something that was revealing, but not too revealing to disclose. “I hate olives."
His eyebrows shot up.
"What? I do!"
"Then why the hell do you always order martinis with extra olives?"
"I like the little bit of saltiness they add to the martini."
"Then why not just ask for a salt rim or something?"
I rolled my eyes. "Because I would look like a psycho! A salt rim with a martini?"
Josh chuckled and shook his head.
"Don't judge!"
"I'm sorry I asked.”
I couldn't help the smile that crept onto my lips.
"Your turn," I said. "Tell me something I don't know. Something your girlfriend would know.”
His brow arched. “Girlfriend… or muse?”
“Take your pick.”
Call it whatever you want, we both knew this was temporary… wasn’t it?
