Page 14 of The Rancher’s Ecstasy

He held onto the chuckle that wanted to spew out. “Are you okay peeing out here?” he asked. Not that she had any choice.

Emily looked around, unable to meet his gaze, and bit her lip.

“Yes. But I don’t want you to ... you know?”

Cole smiled. “Yeah, I understand. Try that tree over there. It’s far enough away for your privacy,” he said, pointing to a large one several yards away, then walked toward his horse. “But first, let me get you a bit of toilet paper.”

“That’s okay to use and leave on the ground?”

“Yeah. It’s biodegradable. It’s meant for people who camp. I always carry some with me.” He handed her a few squares and watched her move toward the tree. It didn’t take her long to do her business before heading back to her horse. He walked over to her as she stood by her horse.

“Let me help you up.”

Emily stiffened. “I don’t need help.”

“Think about it, Em. You’re pretty stiff, right?”

Better to get help than land on her ass in front of him. Emily paused and then nodded. “You’re right. I could use a boost.” Cole wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her onto the saddle. She was astonished by his strength.

“Are you steady?”

She exhaled. “Yes. Thank you.”

Cole made sure her foot was in the stirrup before looking up at her. He smiled at her and snatched up the blanket, folded it, and pushed it back into the saddlebag. “Let’s head back.”

Her breath caught at how graceful he was mounting his horse. Everything about this man was attractive. She hadn’t found anything that she didn’t like. She nudged her horse forward and stared at Cole's back as he moved in front of her. He was so large. His legs were twice the size of her own and looked as hard as stone. She could see the muscle definition through the dark blue t-shirt he wore when he moved in a specific way. She could see how his biceps strained the fabric of his shirt, and his chest was massive and well defined. She couldn’t see his stomach, but she’d bet he had a nice drool-worthy six-pack.

The more she got to know of him the more significant the divide. He had so much more than her ex-husband in everything. How could she ever be able to keep his attention if she couldn’t even keep Winston’s? Her spirits lowered the closer they got to the ranch. She needed to stay away from him as much as possible for her own health.

****

Cole looked back at Emily a few times and caught the look of sadness that she tried to hide when she knew he was watching. He could guess what was going through her mind, and it pissed him off. If she assumed this friendship wasn’t going to continue, she was crazy.

They made it back to the ranch within an hour. Cole dismounted and walked the few feet to her. He raised his arms.

“Let me help.”

Emily looked around before lowering herself into his arms. She sagged against him as the blood raced through her veins and some of the numbness left her legs.

He held her against his chest with one arm while the other held the back of her head and pressed her face into his chest. He knew he only had a few moments before she would move away, so he wanted to savor every second.

It was incredibly challenging for him when she loosened her grip on his waist and took a step back.

She peeked up at him. “Thank you for everything. I’ll never forget today as long as I live.”

His arms had loosened when she’d stepped back. He raised one hand to her face and rubbed his thumb over her cheek before moving over her lips.

“I’ll never forget it either. Maybe we can do it again soon?”

Emily nodded nonchalantly and took another step back.

“Yeah, sure. Maybe we’ll both find time to take another ride.”

His eyes narrowed at her. He had a feeling she was saying that to appease him and had no intention of going anywhere with him. She was pulling back, and he couldn’t do anything about it at that moment. He had to get her to trust him before he demanded anything from her. He nodded his head and watched in anger as she turned and made her way toward her cabin.

****

Emily held her breath as she moved away from Cole. She had the feeling he was holding himself back from pouncing on her, and she didn’t think she had the strength right then to resist him. Also straining her already tight nerves was the cramping pain from the horseback ride she tried to hide from him. She knew if he caught even a hint of pain, he’d be on her and trying to take care of her faster than she could take a full breath.