“And here we are taking up your time. Alright, Abby, we need to start cleaning up. Sometimes we just need a change of scenery to get our juices flowing again.”
Delta blushes and hurries to help them repack. “Thank you again, for lunch.” Time to go Delta, she stands and turns to him. “You truly don't have to babysit me. I'm sure you don't take picnics to all your guests,” Delta says. Calling for Sasha, she turns to grab her purple backpack only to frown. It's gone. Spinning around, she watches Daniel mount his horse with her purple bag tied to the saddle.
“No, we don't. Grandpa said you were special.” Abby grins at the two of them and watches carefully as Delta backs away from Daniel when he swings his muscular jean-clad legs over his horse and approaches her.
When he leans down towards her with his Stetson hat on and reaches his hand out towards her, Delta’s heart stutters. She backs away quickly shaking her head, “Not happening, Daniel.”
Abby grabs her reins and mounts her horse, watching quietly as her father heads towards Delta.
“Trust me, Delta,” he urges waiting patiently for her to choose.
“No,” she moves around him and waves, “thanks again,” she calls and hurries off. She makes it four steps before he comes thundering at her and sweeps her up onto his horse. Her squeal of surprise is covered by his laughter as his arm wraps around her waist and he plops her in front of him. Delta is forced to hold on to him.
“Oh, my lord!” She buries her face in his chest and holds on for dear life.
“Delta,” he whispers in her ear, “I’ve got you.” A few seconds later, “You’re gonna need to come out and breathe.”
She shakes her head, refusing to look at him.
He can feel the trembling in her body. “Do you always run around naked under the stars?”
Her gasp of outrage has her sitting up and looking at him. “Daniel!”
“Not that I'm complaining, you look amazing in the moonlight,” his dark eyes stare into hers, and he notices she has a ring of yellow around the pupil of her blue eyes. If it weren't for his daughter, he would be kissing her senseless right now. His sexy laugh has her pinching him.
“Ow!”
“That's not funny. You big bully.” The horse hits a rough patch, and she grabs hold of his shirt and holds on tight, pressing her breasts into his hard chest.
“Not true, next time don’t be so hard-headed. It's not so bad is it?” He leans down, and she catches her breath.
“I, I don’t know. I don’t like to ride horses, Daniel.”
“What’s not to like? Your body against mine, the sunshine, and fresh air. Look around…” he urges. Instead, she turns her face to look at him. He starts in surprise when her fingers trail his face and across his lips. Chills erupt, and his body responds, shocking her. Daniel nips her fingers with his hot mouth, causing her breath to catch.
“Amazing,” she whispers.
“What do you think, Delta? Maybe we can go riding together, sometime.” Abby calls from behind them.
They jump, and he grins at her as she blushes at her boldness. They're back at the house before she realizes it and as he lowers her to the ground, she turns on wobbly knees and marches up the porch of her house with Sasha hot on her heels.
“I don’t think I will be riding again, Abby,” she answers hoarsely.
“We'll just have to teach her how to ride, Abby,” Daniel says with a laugh, he kicks his horse and calls to her, “Don't forget your backpack.” She turns in time to take it and watches as they return to the barn.
“Bye, Delta,” Abby calls out following her dad.
Delta is shaking when she unlocks the front door, rushing inside. “Oh my God. I need to leave, right now!” But her heart isn't in it. Glancing in the mirror, she's shocked to see the desire reflected in her eyes. It has been so long since she has felt passion, desire or even been attracted to a man. Jake was so sick for the last few years and when they did find time to be intimate, sex was careful. Sex! She is thinking about sex with a cowboy and not just sweet sex, but hot, sweaty sex that has her pulse pounding. “Leave now!” She snaps at the sun-kissed the woman in the mirror.
You are not a coward, Delta, she hears Jake say to her. “Oh, yes I am!” She snaps and turns away only to turn back and point at herself. “You will just have to tell him you’re here to work, not play. He will find somebody else to flirt with.” Sasha trots away to curl up on the rug.
“Simply avoid him, and he will get the picture,” she tells herself as she grabs a shower. Dinner is served at six. Delta is going to try to catch Chase and get some of the local lore for research. She pulls on a soft pink sweater dress, with black leather boots and a black suit jacket over the top. Putting the finishing touches on her makeup, she pulls her riot of waves up with a clip and stares at the woman in the mirror. Small wrinkles around her eyes, she doesn't mind those, they remind her of the joy she has seen. The wrinkles on her forehead aren't as bad as some, and she steps back to look at the dress and grins. It clings in all the right places and makes her feel sexy. “Good enough,” she murmurs and grabs her keys.
She pulls into the lodge parking lot and decides a drink is in order. The parking lot is not as full as check-in day.
