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Special? Special? No one had called me special once in my entire life At least not in the way Jesse hadhead flicked into the air a few times before Jesse ca up on Sunny before I even noticed his foot was in the stirrup He held his hand out and waited

"Come on, Rowen You’ll be fine Besides, if he didn’t like you, you couldn’t be as close to hiain

I glanced over at the truck The guys were already tossing around sandwiches and water bottles A few of theh they’d already finished their first ones Lunch was served Tiers wove through mine "My life and limbs are in your hands, Cowboy," I said

Jesse chuckled "Put your left foot in the stirrup"

I inhaled and followed his instructions

He chuckled louder "Your other left"

I was off to a great start I did, contrary to appearances, know left froain

"Okay, good Now just step up, keep your weight in the stirrup, and swing your right leg up and over Sunny"

"I’m sure it’s nowhere near as easy as youonto his hand like it was a life ring

"It’s not," he said "It’s easier"

I narrowed my eyes at him which only made his smile widen I felt everyone’s eyes onout a breath, I tightened ot after it

Jesse’s bicep flexed as he curled his arically on top of Sunny, I knew it had more to do with his effort thanover his shoulder at me

"Don’t sound so surprised," I said as I shifted in the saddle The thing was really only made for one backside, but I couldn’t exactly coht into the back of his The apex of s was pressed into that perfect butt of his, and when Jesse shifted in the saddle, I suddenly became very aware of the spot below my belly button

"You want to back out of this adventure?" he asked, sounding like even if I wanted to, he wouldn’t let me

"I think it’s a little late for that," I replied, feeling every eye on me I hoped no one could hear the wayI’d never felt like such an open book before Usually I controlledthem, but with Jesse, I could do neither The way I felt about him wouldn’t allow ht," he said, grabbing one of my arms to wind around his torso We hadn’t taken one step and I already loved horseback riding "And don’t forget to enjoy the ride"

I wound ether "If I had a dollar for every tiave me that line"

It took a moment for that to sink in since Jesse’s head wasn’t as sick and twisted as ladly take you for any and every kind of ride you’ll let me, Rowen"

Before ue, and Sunny lunged forward

The ride was surprisingly s over my face Jesse held the reins in one hand and covered ether around his storeen field at a breakneck pace while wrapped around Jesse Walker’s body on a warm summer afternoon was the closest I’d co shot

I didn’t do perfect I didn’t believe in it and, up until right then, I hadn’t wanted it either

My whole life was shifting, like I was experiencingand rearranging below the surface I felt the fire and heat e, whether I wanted it or not It was happening, and I ht as well embrace it

So whiletoo close, I rested my head on Jesse’s back and breathed in as much of him as I could It was a powerful moment and over much too soon

Jesse pulled back on the reins a fewstreaht, not a worry in the world

"You feel that death grip around your body?" I loosened , but I was still five feet fro it," he said "I’rip around le to prove his point Hello, Jesse’s back, meet Rowen’s front

"So ht you had," I said, pinching his side

"It’s a tough act to keep up with you around" He looked over his shoulder and winked In yet another super cowboyup and over Sunny’s neck before hopping off "Are you planning on staying up there all day?"