Well, fuck.
He had always known Anah enjoyed reading romances as much as thrillers, but it was his first time to see her reading some sappy young adult love story. Since when had her reading tastes changed? Or was this simply because she had a boy her age that she liked now?
Unaware of being the subject of her companion's thoughts, Anah was too busy trying to regulate both her breathing and heart rate, which tended to get a little messed-up every time she was alone in a car with Ethan.
Honestly, it was a miracle she had lasted this long without Ethan having a single clue about her feelings. It would be nice if she could believe she had her acting to thank for that, but more likely than not, it was only because Ethan was that indifferent to her.
Anah was relieved to see the gates to the Blackwoods' ranch coming up, and she reached for the handle as soon as she heard Ethan unlock their doors. "Race you to the stables!"
Ethan rolled his eyes as Anah dashed off without even waiting for him to answer. Times like this, she seemed more like twelve than sixteen. Then again, would twelve-year-olds find themselves breathless just while reading a teenage love story?
Ethan found himself frowning again, and his mood only lightened when he got to the stables and saw Anah feeding an apple to Coral Dawn while murmuring sweet nothings to the two-year-old mare's ear.
He walked up to her silently and had Anah shrieking in surprise as he clasped her waist from behind and swung her up to the mare's saddle.
"Ethan!" Anah glared at him in consternation even as the part of her body he had so briefly touched still burned and tingled.
"What?" Ethan's voice was filled with sham innocence, and the smile he gave her over his shoulder was so disarming it had her knees knocking against the mare's flanks, which then had Coral Dawn misinterpreting as a command.
Anah barely had time to grab the reins as the mare set out for a brisk totter, and she could hear Ethan chuckling even as he had his black stallion catch up to her in one swift gallop.
"Race you to the clearing," Ethan challenged, and just like she had done earlier, he had Dark Sky sprinting off before Anah could even answer. It was payback, plain and simple, and Anah burst into laughter even as she leaned forward to urge Coral Dawn into a speedy run.
As with most of their rides, the first half hour was an exhilarating uphill climb that gradually slowed down as they negotiated a steep descent to a gently streaming brook. It was here they allowed the horses to rest and graze while Ethan untied the picnic hamper from his saddle and Anah laid a picnic blanket over the grass.
When Ethan came to sit next to her, Anah had to slowly turn her head and look away, just so she could regulate her breathing without him seeing it. Breathe in, breathe out. It took a few more seconds, but Anah's breathing eventually returned to normal, and she turned to face Ethan again just as he finished unwrapping today's culinary surprise from the Blackwoods' head cook.
Ethan grinned when he heard Anah's gasp of delight and wasn't at all surprised when her hand shot out all at once. Cook Nancy's bacon-cheddar biscuits were one of Anah's all-time favorites, and he shook his head in mock disappointment when she started munching on a biscuit.
"We haven't said grace yet, little Anah."
Anah turned red and stammered out an apology. "I was just so hungry—-" Her voice broke off when Ethan suddenly leaned forward, and she could only freeze in shock when she felt him wipe away the crumbs that had dusted the corner of her lip.
"You really are just like a kid at times," Ethan murmured in amusement.
Anah could only smile weakly, not trusting herself to speak.
Ethan glanced at the hamper. "We have bottled water, juice, and soda. Pick your poison."
Anah played it safe by clearing her throat before answering. "Any lemon soda?"
"Here you go." As Ethan handed Anah her drink, he casually asked her about school, hoping to have her volunteer information about any boy that might've caught her interest.
"Just the usual." Anah couldn't help sounding awkward. The truth was, everyone in school treated her like royalty because of her seemingly close relationship to Ethan. She had denied this repeatedly, of course, but just like Ember, the other kids thought she was only being "modest".
Ethan's gaze narrowed. By now, he knew how much Anah hated to complain about anything, but he also knew her well enough to sense her unease. "Something's clearly wrong."
"Not wrong, exactly," Anah hedged, "but it's something I think I should, um, solve on my own."
"Boy problems, perhaps?"
Anah forced out a laugh. "I have no boy problems at all."
Ethan nearly snorted. Did the kid know how bad of an actress she was? She was so obviously lying, and that wasn't a good thing at all. Maybe the boy was bad news, but she was too in love to admit the truth?
"If you do find a boy you like," Ethan said finally, "you should have the twins or me check him out first."
"Um, of course."
"I'm just looking out for you," he stressed.
And so he was indeed, Anah thought glumly, but it was more like a big brother than a jealous boyfriend.
"Anah?" Ethan was strangely irritated at the way Anah suddenly looked like she was miles away. She was normally more...more polite than this. Didn't she know it was rude to think of another guy while she was still with him? Shouldn't their friendship mean more than some silly schoolgirl crush?
Anah was surprised when she noticed Ethan frowning at her. "What?"
"Nothing."
The curtness of his voice made Anah feel more than a little flustered, and she quickly went over their conversation. Was
