OLIVER: WESTERN CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE (Blackwater Canyon Ranch Book 2) (10 page)

No. “I don’t agree.” She slipped her hand free and went straight for his button again. He caught her immediately.

“We can’t, Daisy. The last thing you need is an unwanted pregnancy.”

She released a frustrated sigh. “That doesn’t mean I can’t give back what you’ve given me.”

He closed his eyes for a moment as though he struggled. “Yes, it does.”

With quick movements, he rolled her in the grass until she was on her back and he was on top again. He pinned her wrists to the ground and smiled. “If we go any further, I won’t be able to stop.”

This wasn’t right. “I’ll stop. I promise.”

Desire flickered in his gaze. “Then you’re stronger than me.”

A powerful shiver rocked her. The thought of him losing control and thrusting inside her, condom or not, stole her breath. He was right, but…damn.

His look softened. “What I’d really like is to lay here with you for a while. I just want to hold you.”

Pure warmth gathered inside her. She couldn’t speak, could barely breathe, so she nodded instead.

As he gathered her into his arms once again, she snuggled against his chest and treasured the simplicity of lying in the grass under the sun listening to the beat of his strong heart.

“Rachel doesn’t get to control my life,” she said in a quiet voice.

A chuckle rumbled deep in his chest. “No, but she does mine to a point, at least for now. Soon, you’ll be gone, and I need this job.”

She frowned, knowing he was right. She couldn’t ruin things for him just because she wanted to feel alive. Maybe she could talk to Rachel and tell her she could manage her own life without interference. But…that could also backfire and hurt Oliver, too, if Rachel still didn’t agree.

The whole thing was a huge mess with no acceptable solution in sight.

Daisy sat in the kitchen with a glass of sweet tea in her hand, watching Rachel and Caleb ride in from the pastures with the late July sun on their shoulders. They both wore happy smiles, stirring the envy inside her.

Before she’d come to Blackwater, she hadn’t realized how much she ached for what they had. That once in a lifetime love. That one person whose face lit up no matter how many times he’d looked at her.

The one she couldn’t live without.

Her interest in the scene outside peaked when Oliver rode in from the opposite direction, heading toward Rachel and Caleb. Daisy missed him. They’d barely spoken to each other during the past few weeks, and she could only assume he regretted what they’d done and that he was intent that it not happen again.

She released a deep breath as she traced the hard lines of his body. She’d lain against him not that long ago, had his powerful body so close to hers, and she couldn’t convince her heart that he didn’t belong to her.

She knew their love couldn’t be. He was a country boy, and she wanted to be a big city girl. She didn’t know horses and cattle, and she knew there was no way she could pry him from this gorgeous country. Even if they had a chance and he was willing to move with her, he’d never be happy. She’d be cruel to ask him to try.

He belonged here like he belonged on that horse, with his ball cap on backward and his powerful thighs gripping the horse’s flank. Nothing could change that.

She still wanted to discover how deep their feelings could grow, but he obviously hadn’t changed his mind about her. All she could do was respect his choices.

She had another month to go before she and her mom would head to New York, and she hoped it would pass quickly. Once she was gone, they would both feel a lot better.

She didn’t belong with these people who traveled by horse over wild terrain. Yes, she’d enjoyed riding with Oliver on the four-wheelers, but she was at his or someone else’s mercy if she wanted to go again. With her lack of skills, she couldn’t get on a four-wheeler or a horse and go riding by herself.

Her thoughts came to an abrupt halt, and she paused.

Maybe she’d looked at this all wrong. Maybe she needed to put more effort into it before she called Oliver a loss.

She stood abruptly and left her half-full glass on the table as she strode outside. Rachel and Oliver had dismounted in front of the barn. Caleb was off in the distance, returning to the hills.

Oliver focused on Rachel as she spoke. When he caught sight of Daisy, he narrowed his gaze, sending a familiar thrill racing through her. There was definitely something between them, and she needed to discover what it was.

One look from Oliver was all it took. Rachel continued speaking for several more seconds without paying any attention to him before she paused and turned in Daisy’s direction.

“Hey, sis.” Rachel’s grin warmed her expression. No doubt, her sister loved having her there.

“Hi.” She glanced between them both. “I want Oliver to teach me how to ride a horse.”

They both remained speechless for several long seconds before Rachel responded with a puzzled look. “Why Oliver? Why not me?”

“Because you’ll be too nice to me and because you’ll be too afraid I’ll get hurt.”

Rachel seemed surprised by her comment. “I’m not that bad.”

“Yes, you are.” She sent her sister the nicest smile she could, softening her words.

“I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.” Rachel sent her a pleading gaze.

Daisy took her hand and squeezed. “I know. You want me to like it here so I’ll come back, and I do, okay? But I’m too bored sitting in the house all day. I want to be out here where the action is, and I might like staying here more if I know how to ride a horse.”

“What about what happened to you when you were little?”

“I’ve grown up since then. We both have.”

A relieved smile warmed Rachel’s face, and Daisy turned to Oliver. “Is that okay with you?” She met his gaze head on, not revealing any emotion.

He stared at her for several long, hard seconds, and she knew what must be going through his mind. “I won’t have you crying to your sister if I’m rough on you like you did after I made you muck the stalls. I’ll treat you like any other newbie ranch hand.” He shot her a dead serious look.

“Agreed.” Her smile blossomed. She’d already handled the worst of the crap, literally, so this had to be better. “When can we start?”

Oliver snorted a laugh. Rachel glanced back and forth between the two of them and then shrugged. “I guess now’s as good of a time as any. I was going to take Oliver into Cody with me to load stuff into my truck, but I can get the guys at the store to do it.”

“Thank you.” Daisy gave her sister a quick hug. “This is going to be fun.”

Rachel turned toward her truck parked in the drive but stopped to glance over her shoulder. “I’ll kill you if she gets hurt,” she said in a low voice directed at Oliver.

“I heard that, and no, you won’t.” Daisy shook her head at her sister.

Rachel met her gaze and then looked back to Oliver. “I mean it.” With that, she was gone.

Neither said a word as Rachel walked away.

Daisy turned to Oliver with a smile. “Thank you for agreeing. I’ve decided I should learn how to ride.”

“You should.” If he was on to her scheme, his neutral expression didn’t show it. “Though there’s not much call to ride in New York City.”

He pinned her with a questioning gaze, but she held her own.

“I might not always live in New York.” She blinked but said nothing else.

He shook his head as though doubting her sanity. “The first thing you need to learn is how to saddle your horse. I have the perfect one for you. She’s the most docile of the lot next to Sugar.”

She allowed herself a grin as she followed him into the darkened barn. As he walked, she admired his broad shoulders and firm butt. She’d had her hands on that body once, and God, she yearned to do it again.

He flipped on the light as he entered the small room near the barn door. Saddles rested on metal stands along one side of the room. Several bridles and other odd things hung on the opposite wall.

“You can use Rachel’s saddle since it will probably fit you best.” Oliver strode forward and lifted a saddle and thrusted it toward her. She instinctively reached out for it.

The weight of the saddle caught her off guard, and she had to make quick adjustments to her stance so she didn’t drop it. “Wow, that’s heavy.”

He lifted a bridle off the wall. “Get used to it if you’re going to ride. You won’t always have someone to saddle a horse for you.” With that, he strode from the room.

Something brewed beneath his surface, making her leery. She struggled to follow behind him as he walked to one of the stalls at the far end. When she reached it, he’d already led the gray-spotted horse out into the hallway.

“Daisy, meet Daisy.” An entertained smile tilted his lips.

She narrowed her gaze. “My sister named a horse after me?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know if she named it or someone else, but yep, her name is Daisy.” He drew a hand down her neck and then patted her side.

Daisy set the heavy saddle at her feet and moved forward. Not caring about the close proximity to Oliver, Daisy pushed between him and the horse. She savored the feel of his chest against her back. Unfortunately, it only lasted a fraction of a second before he moved away.

She lifted her hand for the horse to sniff as she met her soft gaze. “Hello, Daisy. It’s nice to see you again. Oliver says we have the same name, so I guess it’s only natural that we be friends.” The horse nuzzled her hand.

Daisy turned toward Oliver. “Am I doing okay?”

“You’re doing fine.” She earned a smile from him that time. “But, I’ll be impressed once you’re in the saddle.”

“Yeah.” Her, too. She turned to the lumbering saddle and picked it up again. “Do I toss it on her back?”

“First, you’ll need a saddle pad.”

“You’re kidding me.” The longer she held the saddle, the heavier it grew. “Where do I get one of those?”

“Back in the tack room.” He grinned.

She leveled a look at him and dropped the saddle. Dust particles took flight around them.

“Careful. That’s a thousand dollar saddle you don’t want to have to replace.”

She folded her arms across her chest and pinned him with a gaze. “Why are you being so mean?”

“I’m not,” he said. “I’m teaching you to be well-prepared.”

They were back on the same shaky ground as they’d been the first time she’d shoveled shit. “It’s hard to be prepared when I haven’t been given instructions on what I need.” With a huff, she strode to the saddle room and grabbed what she hoped was a saddle pad before marching back to him.

“Bring it here,” he said with a hint of a smile.

She moved close enough to him she could see the sunlight shining in from one of the windows glinting off the hairs on his muscular forearms.

“Pay attention now. I don’t want to have to show you twice.” He placed the pad over the horse’s back. “Make sure it’s even on all sides. This protects the horse so make sure to do it right.”

She blinked away from his engaging eyes and focused on her task. “Make sure it’s even. Got it.”

“Before you pick up the saddle, put the girth and cinch up over the top. Good,” he said as she complied by guessing what was the girth and cinch.

Her upper arms ached as she lifted the heavy saddle again and walked forward.

“You’re going to lift it and set it gently on her back.”

Daisy inhaled, lifted it as high as she could, and pushed it onto the horse’s back. If Oliver was trying to discourage her, he was doing a damn fine job.

“Not quite.” Oliver grabbed the back of the saddle and adjusted it. “Saddles can be uncomfortable for the horse if they’re not placed right.”

She exhaled partially from exertion and the rest from annoyance. “I thought this would be fun.”

“Are you not having fun?”

Her frustration got the best of her. “Are you angry with me over something?”

He was silent for a few moments. “I’m not angry.”

“Then what’s the problem because I’m certain there is one.”

“Why have you suddenly decided to learn to ride, Daisy? Why pick me to teach you? Be honest this time.”

She blinked, ignoring the sting of his words. “Because you can all ride, and I want to know how, too.” She couldn’t be more honest than that.

His gaze intensified. “Why me?”

“I trust you…and I like you. If it’s going to be a hardship, then I’ll ask Rachel.” She didn’t want to force herself on the guy.

He gave a soft snort as he relaxed his stance. “Never a hardship and you know it.” A smile warmed his face. Somehow, she’d broken through his gruff attitude.

Her heart squeezed, reminding her how much she’d missed his company over the past few weeks. “Thank you.”

From that point on, his disposition was better. He’d returned to the warm and engaging man who’d sparked all kinds of new feelings inside her.

When he finished instructing her on how to saddle a horse, he moved to the bridle. Once complete, she took hold of her horse’s reins and followed Oliver out into the bright sunshine where Cognac waited.

“Showtime. Grab the horn, put your left foot in the stirrup, and then swing your right leg over.” He nodded for her to mount.

She swallowed.
This
was the scary part. “Okay.” She blew out a breath as she grabbed the horn and then paused.

“You can do it. I’m right here to catch you if you fall.” He scooted close enough to sizzle her senses.

She took a moment to gather her confidence, and then did as he asked. The horse shifted her stance as Daisy mounted, and she grabbed the horn tightly as she found her seat. Exhilaration burst through her like wild fairies. “I did it.”
She was sitting on the horse
.

“Good job.” He mounted his horse with envious ease. “Let’s go this way.”

He led her around the barn one time before she grew impatient. “Is this all we’re going to do? I thought we could go riding, maybe out to see the river since we didn’t make it last time.”

He lifted a brow as though remembering their previous excursion. “Didn’t think you’d want to go that far since it’s your first time.”

She met his gaze directly. “I do.” She was finished hiding from fear. She wanted to live.

He studied her for a long moment. “Okay. Let’s do it.” He nudged his horse and he began to walk.

Her horse didn’t immediately follow like she’d done before. Daisy tried to mimic what Oliver had done. When her horse didn’t move, she panicked. “
Wait
,” she called out. “How do you make her go?”

He laughed as he turned around and headed toward her. “What am I going to do with you?”

She didn’t know, but as long as it was
something
, she didn’t care.