Christy

I lean back on my elbows and stare up at the bits of sky visible through the gnarled branches of the pine tree. “It’s so peaceful here,” I say, aware of Chet stretched out on the blanket beside me. I can still feel his hand against my cheek and wish he hadn’t stopped touching me. “It’s almost enough to make me forget the chaos of the last couple days. Mark has been less than graceful about leaving.”

Chet narrows his eyes and sits forward. “Has he been threatening you?”

I let out a long breath. “Kind of. He’s blown up my phone with texts and calls since the moment he left. I haven’t answered or responded because I refuse to encourage him, but that doesn’t stop my stomach from plunging into my feet every time my phone vibrates.”

Chet studies me for a long time. “You’re happy he’s gone?”

I laugh. “Knowing he’s not waiting for me when I get home tonight is such a huge weight off my shoulders. That relationship has done nothing but disintegrate for years, but it happened so slowly, I never really understood how bad things had gotten until recently. The last few days have done nothing but prove how much better I feel without him.”

It doesn’t hurt that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Chet since he left my house that night. The way his presence filled my kitchen. The way his lips felt on mine. How safe I felt in his arms. It’s been a long time since I felt this way about Mark. Hell, I don’t know if I ever felt this way about Mark. It’s been such a long time since we got together and we’ve both changed so much over the years.

Chet looks out to where the mountains meet the sky and I take the chance to study his profile. He has such strong features, there’s nothing about him that doesn’t look masculine and powerful, especially in comparison to Mark’s pink shirts and overly styled hair. Chet turns and finds me staring.

A slow smile spreads across his face. “All my life, the scenery has left me awestruck. I never thought I’d see something as beautiful as this.” He gestures to indicate the meadow. “And then I met you.” He holds my gaze until I drop my own and my cheeks grow warm as butterflies spring to life in my stomach. When I glance at him, Chet smiles and turns his focus back to where the sun is setting behind the mountains.

“So,” I say, desperate to fill the silence. “I’ve met Gabe, but from what I gather, there are more of you Wilde boys?”

Chet bobs his head. “There’s six of us in all. Me, Gabe, Frank, Hank, Jack, and Leo.”

“Six boys?” I widen my eyes. “Your mama must have had her hands full.”

“At times. We kept her on her toes to be sure—some of us more than others, but she’s always been the kind of woman who could keep us all in line with a look.” He smiles, caught in the memory.

“I can’t even imagine what it was like growing up in a big family like that. I was an only child. What about your dad? How did he handle a family that large?”

“He was a strong, quiet man. I suppose I take after him in that respect. As far as I recall, he was only ever concerned with taking care of this place and his family. But he carried himself in a way that just commanded respect, if that makes sense.” He pauses and I nod in understanding. “I don’t think any of us realized it until we lost him, but he was the foundation of our family. He was the kind of man who deserved a woman like my mom.” Chet runs a hand through his hair. “Didn’t you mention your dad wasn’t around much?”

“I did and he wasn’t, and he was not the kind of man who deserved a woman like my mom. He was more into chasing after women and drinking himself into oblivion than he was sitting at home with his family.” I sit forward and cross my legs, resting my elbows on my knees. “But I had Uncle Julius to step up and fill in where my dad let me down. I can pretty much give him credit for every good thing in my life right now.”

Chet studies me for a long time. “Did you grow up in Pennsylvania?” he asks.

“I did.”

“Seems like I never remember a time when Doc Hawes wasn’t out here. Wouldn’t that make it hard to fill in for your dad when he himself was so far away?”

“That’s true, but something was better than nothing in that case and Uncle Julius was the kind of man who could dole out life lessons that stuck, regardless as to how much actual time we spent together. I spent so many summers out here on the homestead and he taught me everything there was to know about livestock and horse riding. I learned my love of animals from him. Went to vet school because of him. Moved out here because of him. All the important stuff happened because of him. There isn’t a day that passes where I don’t send out a little gratitude for everything he gave me.”

And I met Chet because of him, which feels like something that fits perfectly into the ‘important stuff’ category, although I’d never say that out loud.

Chet turns to me. “I guess I should be thankful for him, too.”

“Why?”

“If you’re here because of him...” He trails off, a smile crinkling the corners of his eyes.

I could watch this man smile forever and never get tired of it. One of the horses whickers and a breeze blows through the trees. A wisp of hair falls across my face and he leans in close to brush it away. I stare into his eyes, entranced by the play of blue and green, and then my gaze drops to his lips. I want to taste them again. I want to feel them pressed to mine, his hand tangling in my hair. My core tightens and desire flares to life in my belly.

Almost as if he read my mind, Chet closes the distance between us and presses his lips to mine, obliterating all my senses with a single touch. He slides his hand along my cheek and into my hair, and then slowly lowers me back onto the blanket, his lips never breaking contact. I close my eyes and breathe him in as I clutch at his back. His body looms over me, shielding me, protecting me. Slowly, sensually, he claims me with his kiss, equal parts demanding and gentle. When he cups my breast, I arch my back, begging him to take more of me, all of me. In this moment, I am his.

He breaks the kiss and presses his forehead to mine. “I’m not going to apologize for that,” he says. “And you better not, either.”

“What’s there to apologize for?” I run my hands under his shirt and gently drag my fingernails across his lower back. He sighs in pleasure and kisses me again, slips his knee between my thighs, and I flatten my hands on either side of his spine. The firm outline of his erection presses against me and I roll my hips, the evidence of his desire lighting a fire to my own.

Just when I think I’m ready to give myself to him, if he’s ready to take me, Chet pulls back again. “Don’t get me wrong, I could do this all night, but I should probably be getting you back to the ranch.”

I smile and run my hand through his hair. “I don’t want to leave.” Everything feels better with him. All the stress of life fades away and it’s just the two of us that matters above anything else.

“Believe me, I don’t want you to leave, but I doubt you feel like facing the inquisition that will be waiting for you back at the ranch if we stay out here much longer.” Chet runs his hand along my waist, his gaze locked on mine. “Can I see you again? Friday?”

A million reasons to say no fill my mind, mostly because Chet is the kind of man I could start something real with, the kind of man I could spend the rest of my life with. If I fall out of Mark’s arms and into his, am I jeopardizing something beautiful, simply because the timing isn’t right? I shouldn’t want this man. Not now. Not with all the upheaval in my life.

But, staring up into those beautiful eyes wipes away all of those doubts. Maybe, just maybe, the timing isn’t wrong at all. What if everything that happened has been designed to lead us to this point? How can I say no to a man who makes me feel this good? This safe? This understood?

“I would love that,” I say and am rewarded with the most wonderful smile I have ever seen.

The timing might be all wrong or it might be completely right. It doesn’t matter either way because nothing could keep me away from this man.