CHAPTER SEVEN

A few hours after she had gone home from the country club her phone dinged with a text message.

You look like you enjoyed yourself, or was it something I did? Blake asked. She could only imagine he was frowning at the screen but she chewed over her thumb nail before responding.

I did... I am sorry, I just had to get away from there. I acted like an idiot.

No, you didn't, it was perfectly fine.

Always so patient. She wrinkled her nose softly but was glad he could not see it.

You are adorable when you're getting all mad.

If you're trying to get another date out of me by saying that, that's the opposite effect of what you'll get. She sent back, frowning with a roll of her eyes.

Fine, it wasn't cute how dare you get mad. Go out with me tomorrow for lunch.

She could not help but laugh. Before she could send another text, he quickly sent:

I don't mean that, but I do want you to come to lunch with me.

Sure, sure, I will go to lunch with you.

The next few days were a happy blur of lunch dates and dinner dates spent dancing, dining, coffee, reading, and time at the Country Club. She found that she really enjoyed his company. How could she not?

They went horseback riding, she hummed softly to herself to keep calm as they walked up to the stables. She started to shake her head.

“No, Look at the size of that horse... no, thank you," she shook her head more firmly.

"I'll be right beside you; I promise it will be okay,” he said. "Besides, you agreed."

"I can take back an agreement."

"Alright, alright, we won't ride. How about we feed him an apple slice?" He pointed to where a stable hand was cutting apples in half for the horses to have a treat.

"I don't have to ride it?"

"Nope, not if you don't want to,” he said in his usual patient way.

“Alright," she hesitated. They walked over and each grabbed a half apple slice. He walked up to one horse.

"Keep your hand flat with the apple in your palm, like this—so he doesn't accidentally bite your fingers,” he told her.

“Uhhuh," she timidly squeaked and did the same thing he did for another horse. It tickled her palms with its fuzzy lips. She almost squealed, feeling a rush of slime and fuzziness all at once.

"Aww, he liked it!” Blake chuckled seeing her reaction. "Don't worry, we can wash our hands."

"I really want to wash my hand!”

"I wouldn't have pegged you for being this scared of horses, you said you rode when you were little."

"I was a fearless child, but growing up taught me there were other things to fear."

“Well, let's act like children today. That way there's no fear?" he offered.

She stared at him for a long minute before a smile pulled at her lips and she nodded.

"Good. Now, what do you want to do?" he asked.

Josie looked at him curiously for a minute or two and hummed before looking back at the horse.

"I think I would like to try to ride after all..."

"Good. Glad fear is so easily squashed,” he chuckled and moved around to help her up on the horse.

"I just... You're going to be riding too, right?”

"Yep. You don't have to worry, if anything happens, I will help you through it,” he said with a sweet smile.

"Okay..." She took a deep breath and let him help her up on the horse. She let him walk her through the various things she would have to know about riding and controlling the horse, and then he got on his own.

"See, it's not so bad,” he smiled sweetly.

“No," she murmured after several minutes of quiet. It felt peaceful. Her mind was calm, her body relaxed... the horse just slowly walking beneath her. She enjoyed the sound of the plodding hooves and the soft snorts every so often. It only surprised her when he reached over, their horses side by side, and held her hand.

"You seem very relaxed this time. Are you enjoying it?"

"Yes."

"So that means we'll be having another date?"

“Yes," she chuckled. At some point during each date he would ask her this, making sure she was having fun, making sure she was okay with what was going on. It was mind blowing to her.

"Why, if you don't mind me asking, have you been so anti-dating?”

"Well, it probably has a lot to do with my ex... he wasn't a very nice person. I don’t want to speak about him and I'm not looking to get my heart broken again,” she said.

"I see, that makes sense,” he hummed softly and looked ahead.

When they returned to the stables, they helped brush down the horses, gave them their dinner, and even watched them a little while the sun slowly set behind the barn.

"How are you feeling?"

“A little sore."

“Just a little sore?"

“Okay, a lot sore."

"You will be sore tomorrow too."

"Guess it's a good thing I have a short shift tomorrow,” she giggled softly.

“I would say call in and rest, but I doubt you’d listen to that.”

“Nope, I do not miss out on going to work unless I am physically unable to go as in, I am sicker than ever.”

“Should I cough in your general direction?” he teased.

“So, gross,” she wrinkled her nose, teasing back.

“I know, I really should lock myself up in a lab so I can’t get other people sick.”

They laughed it off and headed to her house.

“Thank you,” he muttered softly before she got out of the truck.

“For?” she tilted her head to the side curiously.

“For letting me get this close to you. I’m sure it’s hard, but I’m still glad you’re enjoying yourself when you’re with me.”

“I am, you don’t have to worry about that anymore,” she looked at her front door and then looked back at him. “You want to come in for some coffee?” she murmured.

“Coffee?”

“Yeah, coffee… and whatever’s on the movie channel?”

“That sounds very promising…”

“Maybe,” she chuckled softly and got out of the truck.

“Wait, I don’t know what I want to do yet!” he called out playfully.

“You have until I get through my door,” she called over her shoulder and waved playfully at him.

He obviously took a minute or two to think about what to do before he turned the truck off and headed after her.

He met her at the door as she had turned around to look at him.

“Coffee?” she asked softly.

“Coffee would be lovely, but what I’d really like is this,” he said just seconds before their lips met.

She felt the world spinning and freezing in that one moment of being caught off guard, but she let herself relax into the kiss. Josie smiled as she pulled back and looked him in the eye.

“That is not coffee.”

“I wanted to tell you good night, properly.”

“That’s a hell of a way to tell someone goodnight,” she said. It might have been a short kiss, but the heat of his lips lingered on her own leaving a soft tingle.

“I know, I’ll see you tomorrow for lunch.” He said and headed back to his truck.

“You don’t want to come in?”

“Not tonight,” he said with a sweet smile and a wave as he got into his truck and drove off.

“Wow!” she gushed and shook her head lightly. Closing the door behind her, she giggled to herself. She really needed that coffee now.