Page 61 of Yours To Take
I throw my hands up awkwardly with the fishing pole in my hand. “Okay, fine. Point proven.”
She beams back at me as I recast a perfect line. “You want the true western experience. I have to make sure it’s authentic for you.”
“What else is going to be in my western experience?”
“We’ve already done archery.”
“Yeah, where a seven-year-old kicked my ass,” I grumble.
“I can always teach you more. There’s still horseback riding. The chef’s tasting. Maybe even a canoe trip,” Gemma lists off.
“As long as you’re my guide.”
We’ve shifted closer to one another as we wait for the fish to bite.
She’s right. This really is relaxing. People in the city would hate this—standing still and waiting with no cell reception.
“I want to do something like this.” Gemma doesn’t look at me.
“Something like what? Fishing?”
She casts her line again. “A program like this. We send so much business out to other companies to give people a true western experience. Why can’t we do one?”
“Would you be in charge of it?”
Her face is hidden below the wide brim of her hat. “I want to be. I love working at the ranch. But I want to do more than just be the check-in girl. I love being outdoors.”
“So start one.”
“I wish it were that easy.”
“Why isn’t it?”
This time, Gemma turns to face me. She looks like she’s figuring out how much to tell me. “I don’t want to rock the boat.”
“I’ve met your family. I don’t know why they would say no.”
Gemma laughs, not her usual cheerful laugh. This one has a sadness to it I’m not used to from her.
“I’m the baby of the family. I get coddled and looked over a lot.” She holds a hand up, almost horrified at what she just said. “Not that I don’t love them. I do. But now, with Logan needing help, it’s like no one wants to change the status quo in case it sends him off the deep end.”
“Yeah, but what you’re doing is for the good of the ranch. I’d sign up to have you teach me the ways of the West.”
This pulls a smile out of her. “I like that you’re my guinea pig.”
I dip down, capturing her lips in a sweet kiss. “Guinea pig, you say? Does that make you my—”
She slaps a hand over my mouth. “If you say you’re my sex guinea pig, I’m going to throw you down river and leave you for the fish.”
Laughter erupts out of me. “You’re one of a kind, Gemma Winchester.”
“I can’t take you anywhere.” This time, her laugh is happy. It washes over me and fills in all the cracks. I could hear it every day for the rest of my life and it still wouldn’t be enough.
When did I become so far gone for her?
The pole tugs in my hand, my line going ramrod straight. “Holy shit! I’ve got a bite!”
Gemma reels her line in and catches my hand.
