Page 104 of Last Chance Cowboy
But goddamn, he hoped that was true. In all the ways it can possibly be meant, he hoped that it was true.
He didn’t want to do anything to abuse that trust. To use it poorly.
He let Billy out of the stable, and Cara followed behind, and when they got halfway to the arena, he turned toward her. “Do you want to lead him?”
“Oh… no. I would… No.”
“Billy is eighteen years old. He doesn’t do anything but follow where you’re headed. He’s as docile as they come.”
“But it’ll put my shoulder right within biting distance.”
“I’ve never known him to have a thing for shoulders.”
“You never know.”
“Cara, I’m more likely to bite your shoulder.”
She met his gaze, her cheeks slowly turning pink.
“Is that a promise?”
“It can definitely go on my to-do list.”
“Okay,” she said. “Show me.”
He put the lead rope in her hand, kept his hands over hersas the two of them began to walk, and Billy followed easily. Gradually, he removed his hands, and Cara was the one leading the horse. She looked essentially mortified and ecstatic all at once.
When they arrived in the arena, he was the one who led Billy out to the center. “I’m going to help you get on. Don’t worry. I’m not going to let you fall. I promise I’m going to hang onto you, and you can just sit until you get used to it.”
They did take their time. He guided her on how to put her foot in the stirrup, how to lift herself into position and they did a couple of dry runs with his hands on her waist. Then finally, she mounted the horse.
“Oh my gosh,” she said. “This is so high.”
“I know. It’ll feel that way at first, but it won’t the whole time. You’re going to get used to it.”
“I’m going to lead you. I’m not going to turn you loose.”
And that was what he did. For half an hour, he led her in circles around the arena, and eventually, Cara seemed happier. Eventually, he could see her relax.
She even reached out and patted Billy on the shoulder.
“Do you wanna do it yourself?”
She looked down at him. “No. This has gone great. And I would like for it to have just gone great.”
“All right.”
He could understand that. Taking the last step might result in a disaster. And right now, they hadn’t had any disasters, and that was a good thing.
He stopped Billy and lifted Cara down from the back of the horse. She looped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
And he growled in the back of his throat, losing himself in that kiss. Then he kissed her neck, down to her shoulder, where he bit her gently.
She laughed and grabbed his face, kissing him again.
It was only the sound of something falling that broke them apart.
And when he looked up, it was to see Cody’s retreating back, moving quickly away from the arena.
