Page 25 of Enticed
“Thank you,” I said, my eyes transfixed by the motion. Then I cleared my throat and returned my focus to the race. “There’s only one racer left, and I’m still in the lead.”
When the last horse shot out of the gate, he reached over and grabbed my hand, and I sucked in a sharp breath. I squeezed his back, tightening my hold on him every time the horse and rider rounded a barrel. I glanced between them and the clock, my stomach tightening with nerves. They were making good time, but then on the final loop, the horse bumped the barrel, and it wobbled before tipping over.
“You won,” Gabe said, turning to me with a huge grin splitting his face. I did a little happy dance, shimmying my shoulders and wiggling in my seat. Gently removing my foot from his lap, Gabe stood. “Let's go collect your prize.”
I glanced past him and saw the golf cart was gone. “How do you propose we do that?”
“Piggyback ride?” he asked, holding out his hand. I took it and stood on my good foot. He turned away and bent down so I could hop on his back, hooking his hands around my thighs and hoisting me higher.
“You sure your back can handle this, old man?” I teased. He pinched the back of my thigh in retaliation, and I squealed. It wasn’t hard, and it didn’t hurt, but it was enough pressure on a very sensitive part of my body that those tingles from earlier hit me full force and spread up my leg, landing in my center.
Ignoring the unexpected flash of arousal coursing through my veins, I pointed in the general direction of our trailer. “To the trailer," I commanded.
He chuckled. “You’re awfully demanding for someone who can’t even walk.”
I leaned down, curling my arms around his shoulders and flattening my palms over his chest. “Please,” I whispered softly against his ear.
He gulped audibly, and a shiver wracked his body. His voice was thick and full of gravel when he replied, “Yes, ma’am.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
GABE
Igently lowered Jasmine to the floor in front of the sofa, and she slid off my back, landing on one foot. She dropped down onto the cushion and immediately propped her foot up, wincing with the movement.
“What do you need?” I asked. I’d do anything I could to help her feel better.
“I need some food, pain relievers, and a wrap for my ankle,” she began, ticking each item off with her fingers, “but first I need to shower.”
“What do you want to eat? I’ll run out and grab you anything you want,” I offered, and a soft smile played over her lips.
“Anything?” she asked, pulling her phone from her back pocket.
“Anything,” I confirmed.
“You know we could just have something delivered,” she said, flashing her screen at me where she had a food delivery app pulled up.
“I thought I’d grab something while I was out getting your medicine and wrap for your ankle so you could have some privacy to shower.” A look of worry flashed in her eyes. Maybeshe was afraid to be alone with her fresh injury. “Unless you think you’ll need my help,” I added, kicking myself for not considering she might need some assistance getting to the bathroom.
She cocked one brow, and her worry melted into playfulness. “How exactly were you planning on helping me?” she asked, and the suggestive nature in her tone caused my cheeks to heat. “It might be too hard to get these jeans off by myself.” Fuck, I’d walked right into that one, and I only had myself to blame.
“Stop being a menace,” I said with a forced chuckle, trying to pretend the suggestion didn’t have my entire body buzzing with anticipation. “I just wanted to make sure you didn’t need any help getting to the bathroom.”
“Of course you did,” she replied with a smirk, and I had the sudden urge to kiss that look off her face. That was a dangerous thought, one I needed to bury in the darkest recesses of my mind.
Clearing my throat, I stood and headed toward the door. “Text me what you want, and I’ll grab it while I’m out.”
“Careful, a girl could get used to this kind of treatment,” she said with a wink. Even with her taunting and the way she took every opportunity to get under my skin, I found myself smiling as I hopped in my truck.
Forty minutes later, I walked back through the door with a bag full of takeout from a local barbecue joint, pain relievers, and an ACE bandage from the pharmacy. Jasmine was freshly showered with her damp hair secured in a clip. She wore a pair of cotton shorts and a baggy t-shirt with a loose neckline that hung off one shoulder. Somehow, it was only slightly less sexy than her little sleep sets, effortlessly so.
She iced her ankle again while we ate. Then she took a dose of ibuprofen, and I helped her wrap her ankle.
“I’ll go get Juniper loaded up so we can hit the road,” I said when we were finished.
“Excuse me?” she said, her eyes flashing with irritation and a hint of fire in her tone. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“What do you mean you’re not going anywhere? There’s no reason to stay when you can’t compete tomorrow.”
