Page 90 of Hit the Ground
The moment my boots hit dirt, my legs wobbled, tingling and half-dead from gripping the saddle. “Oops,” I muttered, trying to shake them back to life.
Caleb didn’t laugh or tease. Right there in front of me, he crouched down, his big hands smoothing over my thighs and cupping the curve of my butt as he tipped his head back to examine my face.
“Are you sore?” he asked. Serious. As if this were a medical exam and not him being unbearably sweet and distracting.
“A little,” I whispered, heat flooding my cheeks. “I think I’ll survive.”
He gave my backside a squeeze. “You will. The more you ride, the more you’ll get used to using these muscles.”
“I guess I’ll have to, having a cowboy for a boyfriend.”
“That’s right,” he chuckled. Leaning forward, he placed a kiss on my belly button. “My pretty little darlin’s going to be a cowgirl yet.”
Satisfied I wasn’t broken, he rose and guided me to a wide, flat boulder overlooking the water. We sat together, so close my leg was almost on top of his. That was where he’d put me, where he wanted me, and I had no objections.
After a while of listening to the river's quiet flow, Caleb reached for my hand and brought it to rest on his thigh. My heart stuttered, and warmth pooled low in my stomach. I leaned into him and laid my head on his shoulder.
The last few weeks with Caleb had been the sweetest stretch of my life. He’d made me laugh until my stomach hurt, touched me with a possessiveness that never left me doubting, and proved over and over the reticent man who’d once turned me away was long gone. Caleb Kelly was all in with me—unapologetically, wholeheartedly—and he showed it in every word, every look, every action.
He’d folded me into his little world with Jesse like it was no big deal. They’d taught me to fish but never made me bait my own hooks. We’d cooked dinner together, sharing the prep and cleanup duties. We’d had quiet moments, but mostly silly, happy, laughing times.
For a woman who had lived most of her life feeling invisible, being seen by this man was a revelation. To him, I wasn’t glass, but he still treated me like I was something valuable and delicate. He checked on me on the days we didn’t see each other and thoroughly scoured me with his eyes when I was in his arms.
Things were changing, but I wasn’t afraid anymore.
“Before I headed here, I stopped at Joy’s to pick up my paycheck and we had a talk.” I traced little patterns on the back of Caleb’s hand where it still covered mine.
He made a low sound of acknowledgment. “Oh yeah?”
“She fired me.”
That got him. Caleb’s shoulder shook under my cheek as he barked out a laugh. He angled his head down at me, eyebrows raised in disbelief. “Come again?”
“I’m not kidding. She fired me. I’m no longer her employee.” I turned my face toward him, the corners of my mouth twitching. “She hired a new waitress to replace me this week and told me it was time I had a life of my own. She also said I’m not allowed in the bar unless I’m a paying customer.”
He shook his head. “Wow. I gotta say, I didn’t see that coming.”
“Can’t say I did either. Then again, this is classic Joy. She’s not one for heart-to-hearts. She shows her affection through blunt force.”
That got him to chuckle. “Have to admit, I’m not real sorry about this. You worked too much, and I’d like to claim as many of your free evenings as I can.” His amusement transitioned into concern. “I know you liked your job, though. How do you feel about not working there anymore?”
I thought about my answer for a while, watching the river glisten as it ambled by. Then I leaned closer, pressing into the solid wall of his body, and tilted my face up to catch his gaze. “I think she’s right. It’s time.” My lips curved before I added, “I will miss spending my evenings there, though.”
“You don’t have to worry about that.” He swept my hair off my face and cupped my jaw. “Any time you want to go, I’ll take you. It’ll be a nice change to have you sitting at the table with me instead of scribbling on your little notepad and running away.”
I gasped. “I haven’t run away from you in a long time.”
“You haven’t.” He took my chin between two fingers. “And you’re not going to ever again.”
After we finished our ride, we made dinner together then curled up on Caleb’s couch. He was reading to me, but he kept stumbling over his words, to the point I wasn’t certain he knew what he was saying.
I placed my hand on his arm, bringing him to a stop. “What’s up, Cay? Seems like you’re not into the story tonight.”
With a sigh, he put the book down in his lap and scratched behind his ear—a sure sign something was on his mind.
“Yeah. I guess I’m not. I’m loathe to admit it, but Kent’s visit got under my skin.” He took my hand in his and toyed with my fingers as he frowned. “A while back, Shelby told me she wants to move her and Jesse to Denver with Kent.”
I hissed a breath. “I hope you shut that down.”
