Holt's Holding part two (The Holt's Series) (27 page)

“Sure” he sat down laying out on my lounge as it was made
for two.

In a simple gesture, he pulled me into his chest.
 
Hesitantly, I laid into his chest and his
hand grazed up and down my back.

“Are you happy?” he asked

“I guess, you need to qualify that question.
 
Professionally, I’m very happy.”

“What about personally?”

“I suppose.
 
Life has
been busy, but I don’t have anything that I could possibly complain about.
 
My life is busy and at times crazy but I
wouldn’t change it. So, I suppose I am happy.”
 
Pausing I knew I wanted to know if he was. “How are you doing Charlie?”

“I suppose the same as you.” He offered. “I would ask if
you were in love with Wesley, however, I know the answer. You don’t love him.”

“Of course I don’t. I barely know him Charlie.”
 
I could feel him release his breath as if he
was holding it waiting for an answer.
 
“Charlie, I would be lying if I said that I loved him, but if you were
to ask me if my heart already belonged to another than I would have to be
honest.
 
It does.”

“Who?” he sighed. I could hear the disappointment course
through him.

“It doesn’t matter Charlie. I wasn’t what he wanted.
 
Honestly, I don’t blame him for my
carelessness.” Adjusting, I looked up at him “So who is Charlie dating these
days?” I forced the smile.

“Please, I just got divorced.
 
I’m not really the commitment type.” He offered.
“Much like you, I realized that I had given my heart, correction, had it stolen
by another.
 
It took me a long time to
realize she had it from the first time I met her.”

Suddenly my heart ached.
 
It made sense to me.
 
The reason
he toyed with woman.
 
Someone stole his
heart years ago and he hasn’t gotten over her.
 
I suspect that I was doomed in the same way as he was the one whom held
mine.

Lost in my own mind, I just laid there as he continued to
graze his fingers across my back.
 
The
simple gesture had me relaxed in his arms and my eyes feeling heavy.
 
We didn’t speak and the sounds of the night
echoed like a lullaby pulling into sleep.

“Lilly?”

“Hmm”

“Are you awake?”

“Barely” I whispered un moved.
 
I hadn’t realized I was that close to falling
asleep.

“Perhaps, we should move you to your bed.” He whispered
back

“You sound like a father talking to his child.” I giggled
into his chest.

He said nothing and laughed as he moved up and off the
lounge.
 
Coming around he didn’t wait for
me to even move he simply lifted me up into his arms.

Pausing, he looked down at me as I smiled to his display.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I lowered my head into the nape of his neck.
Taking in his scent my need for sleep seemed to disappear. I had no idea what
possessed me, but my lips landed on his neck as he attempted to walk us into
the open door frame where he paused.
 
Pulling around to the edge of his jaw, I kissed him slowly before
pulling and looking up into his very hungry eyes.

He continued his stride to my bed and lowered me down.
 
For a moment it looked like he was going to
leave as he walked back to the open door pausing.

I watched as he quietly closed the doors and locked them.
Turning back around, he lifted his shirt off dropping it to the ground.
 
His drawstring pants fell next as he made his
way to my bed. His hands landing on my feet rose to my ankles as he pulled me
down the bed.

Looking him, I realized he was holding back, taking his
time. He lowered down and kissed almost every inch up my legs as he pushed my
gown up with his movements.

I could feel my body heating both in want and desire.

Whatever the reason, I suddenly felt panicked.
  

Opening my eyes.

Shit it was a dream.
 
Pulling to the side, the sun was hot.
 
Feeling startled I could feel what was someone’s very heated breath on
my back.

Oh shit!!
 
I yelled.

Poncho, the neighbor’s horse started pushing his head into
my back forcing me off the lounge that I clearly had fallen asleep on.

His bridal slid down and grazed me.
 
Turning and adjusting my eyes.
 
Sure enough, the 17-hand palomino was
standing on my stone patio.
 
I reached up
and grabbed the reigns.

“Come on big boy, I’m sure your dad is worried about
you.”
 
I rose to my feet still sleepy.

Pulling the horse with me, he followed me down to the fence,
as I looked around for my neighbor.
 
I
didn’t see him anywhere.
 
Looking up to
Poncho, I notice he had his bridal, but no saddle.
 
It looked like he was being prepped to ride
and must have taken off.

I was barefoot and in nothing but my nightgown.
 
Holding the reigns, I climbed the fence
leading Poncho to the side as I climbed on his back.

“Ok big boy, I’m out of practice so be easy with me.”
 
I patted him down along his very strong and
muscular main. Digging my heals into his side and signaling the horse we moved
down the side of the fence finding its opening when Poncho decided that he was
ready for a short cantor that would explode into a full on gallop down the
field.

I had forgotten how exhilarating it was riding a
horse.
 
It had been years since I
had.
 
The morning air was crisp and the
dew along the grass made the field look majestic.
 

I knew the ride would be quick to the barns but I enjoyed
every moment of it.

“MS Holt” Tom, the owner of the property came running up
reaching for the reigns.
 
“I’m so sorry;
he was being prepped for a ride this morning and got away from the stable
hand.
 
I see he found his way to your
house again.”

Tom was a very attractive man in his mid-twenties.
 
His family was what I would refer to as “Old
Money”.
 
He was an Ivy League educated
man whom just recently finished a graduate degree from Harvard.
 
Though he had the upbringing of what would
and should have him stuck up, he was very down to earth.
 
His family owned many beautiful horses and it
seemed that this was his passion.
 
Looking down at him, he was tall and very well built. I suppose all the
time he spent in the stables were the cause. His hair was a wavy golden brown
that matched his honey colored hazel eyes.
 
Attractive was perhaps an understatement.
 
I couldn’t help but appraise him in his worn
jeans and white t-shirt that pulled across his chest.
 
He had on riding boots and my favorite, a
cowboy hat.
 
There was no doubt that he
had a string of just as lovely woman waiting in line for his attention.
 

“By the looks of it, it seems that Poncho had wakened you
this morning.”

Laughing, I looked down at myself, as I was in deed a woman
whom was in nothing more than her nightgown.

“Yes, he certainly did.” I laughed shaking my head at my
appearance.
 
“I truly don’t mind. It’s
been ages since I’ve been up on a horse.”

“Well, it seems Poncho here has taken a liking to you and
your property.”
 
He smiled.

“It would appear so.”
 
I patted the horse once more.
 
“Tom, do you think you can give me a ride back up?”

“That’s the least I can do.
 
Stay up on the horse since the barn is not clean and you’re barely
dressed.
 
I’ll climb up behind you then
ride him back down.”

“Ok” he led Poncho and me over to the side stool and
carefully climbed up behind me.
 
His
hands laced around my waist and reached for the reigns.

I was fine with letting him lead the horse, as he was a
better rider than I was.
 
He held one
hand around my waist holding me tight and led the reigns with the other.
 
I reached down and grabbed a hold of Poncho’s
main with one hand and held to Tom’s other.

“I see that your pool is now finished” he spoke politely.

“I believe they finished up while I was away.
 
It was amazing to come home to it being
finished.”
 
I offered back.

“The view from her of the house is pretty amazing.
 
You’ve done a beautiful job rebuilding.
 
I wondered what you were going to do with the
property after the fire.
 
I’m glad you
chose to rebuild.”

Looking up at the house from this vantage, I couldn’t agree
more.
 
It truly looked beautiful.
 
“I’m glad I did too.
 
I love this part of the county and well this
is home,” I added.

He picked up our speed from a gentle trot to a light
gallop.
 
Up and around to the fence he
stopped the horse and jumped down steadying Poncho.
 
Swinging my leg around Tom came over
extending his hands and gripped me around the waist as I used his shoulders to
steady myself down.

Lowering down, he was carefully holding my along his body
when my feet touch the dew of the grass.
 

“Thank you Tom.”

He smiled and nodded, “It seems it is me who owes you.
 
I’ll do my best to keep Poncho off your
yard.”

“Oh, don’t be silly.
 
I rather enjoyed the ride this morning.”

“You’re more than welcome to come down to the barns anytime
you feel the need.”

If I didn’t know any better, he was flirting with me.
 
Looking past him, it looked as if we had an
audience on the patio.
 
It was more
Charlie, starring down at me holding his coffee mug.
 
Sebastian too, seems overly inquisitive as he
sat at the table watching.

Tom turned his head up at the peanut gallery then smiled
back to me.

“It appears that you have a full house.
 
I should let you go.”
 
He walked over to the fence and climbed back
up on the horse. I walked a fee steps turning to him.
 

“Thanks for the ride.” I offered smiling at him.

Turning and making my way up, Tom called out my name.

“Elizabeth,” he paused as I turned back to him.
 
“I doubt that a woman such as yourself is
single, however in the off chance that you are…would care to have dinner with
me some time?”

Wow, that was interesting.
 
Maybe this was fate working.
 
Pulling me away from the mess that waited up on the patio.

“I’m not single; however I’m also not exclusive with anyone
at the moment Tom.
 
Dinner sounds
lovely.”

“Are you free tonight?” he looked eager.

“You know, I have no plans.”

“How’s 8?
 
I’ll come
by and pick you up?”

“Ok, 8 it is.”
 
I
smiled as he pulled the horse and made his way down the field.

Standing a moment longer watching him down the field, I was
debated.
 
I can’t believe I just said
yes.

Turning back to the house, Charlie was still watching me,
as everyone else seemed to be in conversation.
 
Looking past him, it appeared that Patricia was leading the
conversation.
 
I smiled and silently
laughed as she was definitely an A type personality.

Making my way up and around the pool Charlie was in my
path.

“I didn’t know your rode?” he took a sip of his coffee.

“It’s been years, but yes, I use to ride often.”
 
I offered.

“Does the horse typically find its way up to your
property?”

He must have seen the horse earlier.

“This is probably the third time.
 
I figured I would ride him back down.
 
Tom, my neighbor was kind enough to bring me
back.”

“That’s not all he wanted to do for you.”
 
Charlie commented with the undertones of a
jealous boyfriend.

“Everyone wants something from someone Charlie.”
 
I looked up at his annoyed expression and
grinned.