I just wished that he could see me. That he could be a part of my life, and that maybe I could get some reassurance that he’d be proud of the man I’d become. I may never have met him, but it never stopped me from doing all I could to be who I’d thought he’d want me to be.
Dusty led me to the peak that overlooked the biggest lake on my grandad’s land, and we paused as I looked out over the area below. It felt like it went on for miles, so peaceful. The sun had begun to set, and the view reminded me of the many sunsets AJ and I shared as we lay on the couch, looking out the window. It had easily become somewhat of a routine for her and me.
I closed my eyes as I envisioned sharing more sunsets, only this time we shared those times with a little boy or girl. It brought a smile to my face. Was I ready to be a father? Could any man ever say they were truly ready? But I knew that with AJ by my side, it didn’t terrify me. It actually excited me.
I pulled on the reins, turning back to the house way off in the distance, and with a gentle nudge at Dusty’s side, we began moving back toward my grandparents.
Chapter Thirty-One
AJ
“He’s out riding,” Rhett’s grandfather said as he pointed off in the distance. “Been gone for close to two hours now, so I’d guess he’ll be back anytime. Why don’t you come inside and wait?”
“Do you care if I walk out toward the fence, maybe look at the horses?”
“Not at all. If you wanna take one and go out and look for him, I’d say take Milly. She’s gentle, and Grace prefers her over all the others.” He brushed his dirty hands off onto his coveralls. “He went out toward the lake, always takes the same route when he rides. Look for the tallest peak and that’s probably where you’ll find him.”
“I think I’ll just wait it out for a bit.” I offered a smile. “Haven’t gone riding since I was about ten years old.”
“It’s like riding a bike, sweetheart.” He chuckled. “But if you wanna wait it out, go on ahead. If you need anything, you head on up to the house.”
I thanked him as he walked off and began climbing the stairs of the wraparound porch to the house. My stomach had been unsettled all day as I rehearsed over and over all the things I wanted to say to Rhett. I’d gone through the pros and the cons of my actions versus his. I tried to blame him, then I tried to blame me, but in the end, I’d settled on the fact that maybe both of us had gone about things wrong. It was just easier that way than passing blame.
I walked up to the wooden fence surrounding the large span of land that the horses had free rein of and leaned against the post. There was one in particular, brown, with a white spot that covered one half of her face and trailed down along the same side of her neck. She walked along the far side of the fence, slowly placing one foot in front of the other. Her head turned toward the lake to the right, almost as if she was lost in deep thought.
To be that peaceful and content.
The sounds of hooves beating the ground caused me to step back and look around. Off in the distance, I could see him; the movement of the horse he rode slowed to a simple walk as he looked back at me. He wasn’t smiling, but he was staring at me as if he wasn’t sure I was really there.
There had only been a few times I’d seen Rhett in cowboy mode, and that was when he was helping out here at his grandfather’s. But none of those times had he looked as breathtaking as he had now. He wasn’t the kind who wore the cowboy hats; he opted for the baseball cap instead, turned backward, his face completely viewable. But it was the tight t-shirt that hugged his arms, shoulders, and chest. The snug jeans that fit him perfectly and made those muscles of his thighs even more mouthwatering. His worn, rugged cowboy boots were tucked into the stirrups on each side of the horse, and for a minute I felt like it was impossible to breathe. I found myself tearing up at the idea of walking away from him.
I knew I couldn’t, not with my heart intact.
He slowed to a stop about ten to fifteen feet away and slid from atop the horse. I still wasn’t sure what to say, or even if I’d be able to speak if I tried. But he didn’t give me a chance, and I was grateful.
Rhett moved toward me, cupping the back of my neck and pulling my lips in to meet his. Giving into the need to feel his body close to mine had never felt more exhilarating than that moment, and his mouth continued to demand my own, his tongue devouring and conquering. This kiss was not a sweet reunion kiss, but a claiming one. I knew it was his way of telling me everything I’d denied last night.
“You can fight me.” He practically growled the words, still holding the back of my neck in his hand. Our foreheads were pressed firmly together, and he showed no signs of releasing his grip. “You can
