Page 56 of Flirting With Fire
“Yukie?”
“Eucalyptus. The roan horse next to Junie. She’s placid enough for beginners, but she also likes the men.”
“I know just how she feels,” I murmured.
Dex rolled his eyes, and I smirked at him. “You two will get on fine. Give me thirty minutes, and I’ll be ready for our ride.”
I opened my mouth because, come on, I had to respond to that. But Dex handed me the empty cup, saying, “Come over when you’re ready,” and jogged down the stoop.
Dang. Next time.
I wandered into the kitchen and cleaned up the cups and coffee pot. I didn’t want Dex to think I was a bad tenant. I didn’t have much else to do except get ready for the trail ride. I dressedin a flannel shirt and jeans, plus a hoodie if it got colder. I didn’t have a hat like Dex’s.
He’d obviously thought the same because he handed me a brown felt cowboy hat as soon as I arrived at the barn.
I turned it over. “It looks new.”
“It is,” Dex said as he slung a saddle over the roan horse, as Junie was already laden with saddle bags, presumably containing our picnic. “You keep it in case we go riding again.”
“Thanks.”
I jammed it on my head and smiled at him. “Introduce me to Yukie.”
“Yukie, meet Meyer. He’s a big lump, but he’ll get used to you.”
“Thanks,” I said dryly.
He smirked at me. “You’re welcome.”
The sturdy mare eyed me with curiosity as I stroked her long neck. Dex had assured me she was placid, but I’d wait to see what she was like with me on her back.
“You’ll be fine,” Dex said, patting my ass. “Yukie is a good old girl.” Yukie tossed her head and Dex quickly apologized. “I’m sorry, Yukie. You’re not old at all.”
He fondled my butt again, almost absently. Which I liked. A lot. Could we stick with the butt-patting rather than the trail ride?
But then he pointed at the stirrup. “Up you go, cowboy.”
I couldn’t put off the evil hour any longer. Okay, so I may have been less than graceful hauling myself over her back, but once I settled in the saddle, I remembered some of the time I spent riding before.
“Your thighs…” Dex started.
“What about them?”
“Gonna hurt like heck later,” he assured me with a wicked grin.
He was probably right. No, he was definitely right. “We could picnic here,” I suggested.
“And deprive Junie and Yukie of a trip out? Would you be that mean?” Dex swung onto Junie’s back and clicked his tongue. Junie moved obediently, and Yukie followed her.
“Hey, little lady,” I chided her. “I’m in charge, just you remember that.”
I wasn’t sure who gave a derisive snort, Dex or Yukie. But I’d show them. Soon. Once I’d gotten more experience.
It was a beautiful morning. I raised my face to bask in the morning sun and my irritation faded away under Yukie’s smooth gait. I’d taken the trail at the back of the ranch many times, but I was happy to let Dex lead the way. I mean, I could stare at his tight ass without him knowing. Once or twice, he looked over his shoulder at me, but he didn’t interrupt the comfortable silence that was only broken by theclip-clopof the two horses on the dirt path.
Yukie was a dream to ride and didn’t try to play tricks on me. But Dex was right. It didn’t take long for unused thigh muscles to make themselves known. All complaints vanished when I turned my head to gaze out over Charming.
“I forgot just how beautiful it is here,” I murmured under my breath. We’d barely climbed the butte, but the view was already stunning. “The colors…” I heard Dex murmur in agreement. The deep blue of the sky and the pink and orange of the butte. I’d taken it for granted as a kid. Now, it took my breath away.
