Beth could see nothing but the trail, Eli and Cirrus in front of her, and trees. Lush green trees in every direction. If she’d been alone, it might have been terrifying. But she wasn’t alone.
She was with a man she was never supposed to meet.
She was on the back of a horse she was never meant to ride.
And she was feeling things she’d never intended to feel.
It was too much and not enough all at the same time. She didn’t know how to process it other than to simply ride through it and hope she came out on the other side.
“We’re almost there!” Eli called over his shoulder. “You still with me?”
“Still with you!” she called back, hoping he mistook the tremor in her voice for a natural reaction to her speaking while riding.
But she wouldn’t always be. He wouldn’t always be in front of her or beside her. But he was now. And Beth wasn’t about to let him out of her sight, especially since she’d be totally lost in the woods if she did.
But then there it was, a clearing. A wide-open space in the middle of the dense wood, save for one giant, gorgeous tree offering shade from the sun.
She followed Eli to the far edge of the clearing. He hopped off Cirrus and pulled two halters from a small pack attached to his saddle.
“We can tie them off to these two trees,” he told her, nodding between two identical trees spaced several feet apart, each with a narrow trunk conveniently cleared of branches.
Beth climbed down more gingerly than she had back in the arena, her still-healing ankle sore from her earlier bravado. She gave Midnight’s healing leg a soft stroke before leading her to one of the trees.
“You doing okay, girl?” she asked. “That was your first ride off the property. Mine too.”
Midnight nudged Beth’s shoulder with her nose and let loose a soft snort.
Beth laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
“Here,” Eli began, approaching Midnight with the same type of halter he’d just used for Cirrus. “Put this on over her bridle, and I’ll grab the second lead. I packed longer ones so they’ll have room to graze if they want.”
Together they got Midnight situated at her tree, and the mare took to grazing the second they were done. Then he spun her to face what she guessed was the real reason they were here.
“That tree is unbelievable,” Beth told him.
“Big-leaf maple,” Eli responded. “You should see it when the leaves change color.”
She nodded, then added, “Pretty sweet setup you got here. Like it was made for exactly what we’re doing. You bring all your lady friends here?” She’d meant to tease him, but she heard the jealousy in her tone and cringed. “You know what? That sounded kinda ick. Let me rephrase.”
“It’s okay.” Eli chuckled, then strode back toward Cirrus, producing a few final surprises from what she was beginning to think was a carpet bag stolen from Mary Poppins. He tucked a rolled-up plaid blanket under his arm and tossed her a cold can of flavored seltzer. “Hope it’s one you like. I just grabbed whatever was in the mini fridge in the tack room. It likely belongs to Boone or Casey, so don’t tell them it was me who pilfered their stash.”
Sparkling apple.
It could have been dirt-flavored for all she cared. Her stomach still performed several backflips and somersaults when the can landed in her palm.
Eli had not only gotten on a horse for the first time in three years, but he’d pretty much planned the most romantic date she’d ever been on…and they were in the woods.
He spread the blanket out under the tree, tossed his can onto it, then took off his hat and offered her a dramatic bow. “It’s probably a long way from the glitz and whatever that Vegas or New York has to offer, but, Ms. Spence, your table is ready.”
Heat filled her cheeks and her belly. The can felt slippery against her palms. She wasn’t sure if it was the condensation or her nerves. He needed to stop reading her mind like that, making it feel like he knew her more in a month than most people did in a lifetime.
“Thank you,” she replied, curtsying back and then taking his offered hand.
She lowered herself onto the blanket, and Eli followed, dropping his hat on the blanket beside him.
He spared no space between them, his hip nudging hers as he leaned against the trunk that was big enough to accommodate them both.
“Cheers,” he said, picking up his drink and tilting the bottom of his can toward hers.
Beth tapped her can against his. “What are we toasting to?”
He sat with one knee raised, his arm resting on it as the unopened can dangled from his fingers.
“Hmm…” he mused, staring up into the canopy of leaves. “To first rides, an amazing woman, and my super-secret childhood hideout known only to two others—Boone and Ash. So to answer your question, I bring none of the ladies here.” His eyes met hers. “Until now.”
She swallowed, realizing now the depth of her teasing question and the real truth it held.
“It’s okay, Beth,” he told her again. “You can ask.”
“Dammit,” she muttered. “You really have to stop reading my mind.” She blew out a shaky breath, squeezed her eyes shut, then set her gaze on his. “Not Tess? She was your wife, Eli. I wouldn’t be upset if… I mean, I don’t expect you to shield me from the life you had before you met me.”
“I’m not shielding you.” He shook his head. “Okay, of course some part of me is because I want our firsts to be ours. I am up one hell of a creek without a paddle or compass or smartphone or any sort of manual to tell me how I’m supposed to do this.” He set his can down and lowered his knee, then slid his hands beneath her calves, tugging her legs over his. “But I got in the boat or on the horse or whatever…” He groaned. “I’m shit at metaphors, so let me just say this the best I can. I’m happy. Right here. Right now. With you.” He pressed a palm to her cheek, his thumb tracing an invisible line across her skin. “And as much as she liked riding, Tess hated picnics. So no, this place wasn’t for her.”
It was for Beth. For them.
She swallowed the knot in her throat and whispered, “I think that’s a really good toast, Dr. Murphy.” Then she cracked open her can, the contents exploding in a cold, apple-scented shower of fizz.
Beth yelped, and Eli swore.
On instinct, she threw the can, then sprang up to…what?
“I don’t suppose you have any wet wipes or actual water in that magic bag of yours?”
Eli shook his head and laughed. “I mean, technically, sparkling water is water. We just smell like apples now, I guess.”
He brushed his splattered T-shirt off with a nonchalance that might have been the sexiest thing she’d ever seen, especially compared to her standing with her arms stretched to either side as if she’d been slimed on a children’s game show.
He rose to his feet and took a step toward her. Then he gave both of her hands a gentle nudge, and she dropped them to her sides.
“Are you cold?” he asked. “The sun might have a hard time finding us under here.”
Beth glanced down at her own shirt, which leaned more toward soaked than splattered.
“No,” she lied, then let out a soft laugh. “Okay. Maybe a little.”
She was freezing.
Without warning, he grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and pulled it over his head.
Beth’s mouth fell open as she took in his lean but defined frame and the dark dusting of hair that traveled from his belly button down to…
She swallowed. Her skin might have still been cold, but her body now radiated heat from the inside out.
“Here,” Eli said, handing her the shirt as though him standing in front of her without a shirt was totally and completely normal. “Take this. You have goose bumps.”
Not because she was cold.
She burst out laughing, and Eli’s brow furrowed.
“Did I say something funny?” he asked.
“Um…no,” Beth began. “But seriously? You’re just going to stand there looking like…like…”
A mischievous smile played at his lips. “Like what?”
A chill ran up and down her spine, one that had nothing to do with her unfortunate can-opening incident. Every single nerve ending felt like it was simultaneously ice cold and on fire.
“You’ve seen yourself, right?” she asked. “Like, there are mirrors in your home? Because you’re a beautiful specimen of a human being, and you should come with a warning label or something, okay?” She crossed her arms haughtily over her chest, wet cotton plastered against her increasingly sensitive skin.
“Beautiful?” he asked with mock confusion. “Can’t say anyone’s ever called me that before.”
He took a step closer, close enough that she could smell him mixed with the part of her drink he wore. Close enough to touch him…and for him to touch her.
He was baiting her. She knew it, and he knew she knew it. He was leaving the ball in her court, letting her decide where they went from here.
“Well, you are.” She jutted out her chin, trying still to play at defiance, but what was the point in playing any longer?
Her skin begged to be touched.
Her lips demanded to be kissed.
And her heart? Her stupid, traitorous heart? It needed him to be the one to do it all.
“And sexy,” she whispered. “God, Eli. I think I might actually explode if you don’t kiss me, like, right now.”
Beth didn’t wait for him to react. Instead she threw her arms around him and took what she needed. And when he pressed his strong hands to her waist, his lips parting to invite her in, she knew right then and there that she was a goner, head over heels in love with this man.
They somehow made it back down onto the blanket, Eli’s shirt lost in the shuffle.
She straddled him, her knees pressed against his hips as she kissed his lips, cheeks, nose, eyes, the line of his jaw. She wanted to touch and taste every inch of him, but a tiny voice in the back of her head felt the need to interrupt.
You know you’re outside, right? Like, out in the world for all to see?
But could all really see?
“Eli?” she asked, her voice breathy as she paused in the middle of kissing his neck.
“Yeah?” His voice came out hoarse.
She stared at him, teeth grazing her bottom lip.
“Does anyone come to this spot other than you and your brothers?”
His devilish grin returned.
“No…and Boone is helping Casey’s parents at the tavern this afternoon and evening.”
“And your other brother? Ash?”
Eli laughed. “Wherever he is on his tour, which is nowhere near Meadow Valley, I doubt he’s even awake yet.”
Beth’s eyes widened. “On tour? Your brother Ash is Ash Murphy?”
Eli groaned. “Yep.”
“The country singer,” she added, no longer a question.
“That would be him. You worried you chose the wrong Murphy brother now?”
All playfulness left his expression, and she hated she’d made him question how she felt, even for a second.
She rose onto her knees and pulled her wet top over her head, then quickly undid her bra and let it fall to the ground.
She heard his breath catch and couldn’t believe that this beautiful man—yes, beautiful—could think she possibly wanted anyone on the entire planet other than him.
“Not even a little,” she assured him. “I don’t even like country music. Just wanted to make sure we are alone.”
She lowered herself over him so they were skin to skin, chest to chest.
Eli growled, and Beth’s heart pounded against him.
But she hadn’t forgotten that day in his office after they said goodbye to Frederick…or the way he hightailed it out of the guesthouse soon after. Was she competing with a ghost? It shouldn’t matter. He wasn’t hers for the long term, so why couldn’t she be satisfied with whatever he could give her while they had time?
“Eli…” Her voice cracked on the second syllable of his name. She rolled off him and onto her side, head propped on her hand. “Are you sure?” That it’s me you want? “I don’t want to be… I mean, it’s okay if I’m…” Your second choice. Except it so wasn’t okay. Beth hadn’t waited this long to fall for someone only to have it be under the shadow of his first love.
“Hey.” He turned to face her, rising up on one elbow and cupping her cheek in his free hand. “I got spooked that first week, but it’s not what you think.” He stroked her temple with his thumb. “I see you, Beth. Only you.” He kissed her. “And yes. I’m sure.”
She let loose a shaky breath and smiled.
“I’m sure too,” she told him, then reached for his jeans, unbuttoning them in one swift move.
“Shit!” he hissed. “I don’t have… It’s not like I was planning for us to…”
This time, she was the one with mischief in her smile. “Check my back pocket.”
He slid his fingers down her torso, over the swell of her backside, and into the pocket of her jeans.
His eyes widened. “Well, well, well, Mighty Dancer. What kind of plans did you have for today?”
Her cheeks flamed. “That’s just it. I didn’t plan. But I wanted it to happen when it was supposed to happen without anything ruining the moment.”
He dipped his head and kissed the sensitive skin between her breasts.
Her stomach flipped, and her core tightened as his eyes met hers.
“My hero,” he whispered. Then he produced the condom, and she snatched it from his hand.
Beth held the small packet between her teeth. She rolled Eli onto his back and unzipped his jeans, tugging them and his boxer briefs down to his boots, then removing everything and tossing it into the grass.
She opened her mouth and let the condom fall into her palm.
“Seriously, Dr. Murphy. Get yourself a full-length mirror if you don’t have one already, because good lord, look at what we are working with here.”
Eli laughed. He rose up on his elbows. “You better lose those jeans of yours and whatever you’ve got going on underneath quick.”
She didn’t need to be told twice. In a matter of seconds, Beth’s boots and jeans joined Eli’s in the grass, and soon they were back where they’d been before she got spooked and wondered if she’d spook him again. Except this time there was nothing between them. No cotton. No denim. No past.
I see you, Beth. Only you.
“I hope you like what you see.” She hadn’t realized she’d spoken the words aloud until Eli answered.
“I love it,” he told her. “I love what I see.”
And because she didn’t think she could utter another word without her voice breaking, she rolled the condom down his length and sank over him, burying him inside her.