Page 30 of Parading the Cowboy Billionaire (Bluegrass Ranch 4)

“You’re going to meet her today,” he said. “Be nice, okay? You’ll have to tell me what you think once she’s gone.”

He’d never been engaged, and he’d never asked a woman to marry him. He’d only been dating Ginny for a month now, and he was considering whispering secrets to Honey about his feelings.

“I’m not going to tell you how I feel about her,” he said. “I’ve babbled on long enough about her.” He backed up and opened the bottom half of the stall, reaching in to drape a lead around the horse’s head. “Come on, girl.”

He led her outside and saddled her, throwing her reins around the post there so he could go get Raven. He retrieved that horse too, and while he’d left this office early, he was sure three o’clock had come and gone.

With Raven saddled and ready for Ginny, he finally pulled his phone out of his back pocket to check it. His heart skipped a beat when he thought of her canceling their horseback riding this afternoon, and then another when he saw he had texts from her.

I’m coming, she’d said.I’m just late.

Sorry, Cay, she’d said in her second text.Maybe twenty minutes out.

That last message had come in about five minute ago, and Cayden quickly sent a text back to let her know where to come and that he was ready whenever she arrived.

Several minutes later, he heard the crunching of gravel under tires, and he walked around the side of the stable and lifted his hand when he saw Ginny’s SUV. He couldn’t see her through the windshield because of the sun’s glare. After she’d parked and turned off her car, she got out, and Cayden could only stare at her.

He’d seen her in soft, stretchy pants and flip flops in her own house, scrambling eggs for dinner while he made coffee. He’d seen her in ball gowns and tiaras. He’d seen her in long, flowing pants paired with silk blouses and an expensive, billowy robe.

He’d never seen her wear jeans and boots, and his mouth turned dry. His breath left his body. His heart pounded.

He’d never been in love before, and he needed to talk to Blaine and Spur to find out what such a thing felt like. Ginny had always ignited a spark in his blood, and they’d shared some fiery, amazing kisses.

He wanted more than physical passion, and he’d taken his time this past month to get to know her as much as he could. She had a lot of walls up, and a couple of times he’d had to remind her they weren’t at one of her fancy parties. They could talk freely and learn about each other.

Ginny obviously hadn’t done that with very many people, and she’d been opening up to him more and more with each passing day.

“Look at you,” she said, walking toward him. Her eyes dropped to his feet and rebounded back to his eyes. “I like this cowboy version of you.”

“Look at you,” he said, his voice only slightly hoarse. “I’ve never seen you wear jeans.”

“I just bought these today,” she said with a smile. “They’re okay?” She looked down at her legs and back to Cayden with hope in her eyes.

“They’re great,” he said. “New boots too, I see.”

“What gave them away?”

“The price tag hanging off the side there.” He nodded to the left one, grinning.

“Oh my gosh,” Ginny said, stooping to remove it. “How embarrassing.” She straightened and looked at him.

Cayden laughed as he crossed the distance to wrap her in a hug. “You didn’t have to go shopping to come horseback riding.”

“I didn’t have anything to wear.”

“I’ve seen your closet,” he said. “You have plenty to wear.”

“Not for horseback riding.”

“Even for this.” He stepped back and secured his hand in hers. “You’re going to be on Raven.” He nodded to the two opposite-colored horses. “Which one do you think she is?”

“Too obvious,” she said.

“She’s a blue roan,” he said. “Can you see the blue-black shimmering in her coat?”

“Totally,” Ginny said. “She’s as beautiful as you said she’d be.”

“The other one is Honeyduke. She’s mine, and she’s a palomino.” He led them over to the horses and stroked Raven’s neck. “Have you ridden a horse before?”

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