Page 80 of Bad Boys After Dark - Brett
It was time to lay those ghosts to rest once and for all.
“What do you say we get you on this horse?” Poppi patted the saddle, pulling Brett from his thoughts.
“Sounds good to me.” He felt closer to Poppi, and that made him feel closer to Sophie. “Thanks for talking with me and letting me into your family. I appreciate it.”
Poppi put an arm around Brett’s shoulder and said, “Son, we can let you in, but whether or not you choose to stay is up to you. Now, let me give you the lowdown on riding so you don’t fall on your keister.”
“Do I need to wear one of those awful helmets?”
“If you were on someone else’s horse, or if I thought you were stupid enough to try to ride hard or bully Ruthie, yeah, you would. But I trust my girl here, and I trust you. Plus, I know how young guys like to look manly.” He winked and said, “In my day, kids rode without saddles. Just don’t do anything dumb.”
After receiving a very thorough explanation about riding and safety, Poppi put a saddle on Ruthie, and then Brett mounted the horse. He gripped the reins the way he was told, aligned his body, and stroked Ruthie’s mane. “How about this, girl? Make me look good, and I’ll give you a nice rubdown when we get back.”
Poppi said, “I used that line on my wedding night. Let’s go make a man out of you.”
“NANA, WE’VE BEEN cooking and baking for almost two hours. Brett’s probably starved. I’m going to run breakfast down to him before he passes out.” She grabbed a banana muffin.
“He’s a man, honey. When he’s hungry, he’ll come knockin’.”
“Unless Poppi decided to have him build a new barn or something.” She kissed Nana’s cheek. “This has been fun. I can’t wait to go pick apples at the orchard tomorrow. I wonder if Brett’s ever done that.”
“Doubt it. There aren’t many orchards in the Big Apple.” She laughed at her own joke and pulled a bottle of juice from the refrigerator. “Take some orange juice, and give me two seconds to wrap up some egg sandwiches for our men. They need protein.”
Breeze went paws-up on the windowsill and barked.
“What is it, Breezy?” Sophie gazed out the window. Her grandfather was standing on the porch looking out at the yard. Her heart stumbled at the sight of Brett riding a horse toward the house. “Holy cow. Nana, you’ve got to see this!”
Nana sidled up to her as she put the wrapped sandwiches into a bag. “Well, look at that. Your city boy’s looking a lot like a hunky cowboy right now.”
“You’re telling me!” Sophie pulled open the door and hurried outside. Brett Bad was a panty melter all on his own, but riding a horse? Wearing a black Stetson and cowboy boots? He scorched those panties right off.
“Hey there, darlin’.” His cocky smile brought even more butterflies to her stomach.
She put her hand on his leg, feeling his muscles strain against the denim. “You’re riding!”
“No, babe. We’re riding.”
Poppi put a hand on Sophie’s back and set one of the chairs from the porch on the grass beside the horse. “Your man could have been born here, sweetheart. He’s a quick learner and a damn good rider. Climb on up.”
“I can’t believe it!” She climbed onto the horse behind Brett and put her arms around him. He smelled like the summer days of her youth, familiar and happy, with a hint of pure, masculine yumminess.
“Do you want to take breakfast?” Nana held up the paper bag.
Poppi put his arm around her and said, “I think these two could survive on the love between them.”
“True, but we might be out for a while and need the nourishment.” Brett reached for the bag. He turned and kissed Sophie. “Ready, beautiful?”
“For anything.” She held him a little tighter.
His hand covered hers as he tipped his hat to Poppi and Nana and said, “Pretend we’re riding off into the sunset.”
They rode through the pasture to the trails Poppi had taken Sophie on when she was a girl. When they came to the meadow where she did her first cartwheel, Ruthie slowed to a walk.
