Page 29 (1/2)

Jase nipped at han ache deep inside my body that throbbed whenever he was around

The muscles in ainst e he was just as affected as I was Tipping ainst his chest, I closed rip loosened once ’s powerful muscles bunched as he picked up speed

A trickle of fear inked down my spine as ent faster, but another e the tendrils of panic Muscles in my core tensed Not of anxiety but in anticipation, like those precious moments I’d lost, the ones that cae

"I can feel it," I whispered I ed because I could feel it

His rough chin grazed htened "Would itconfidence that I wouldn’t fall and breakoverdisappointo faster?"

We went faster

Back on the ground, with crutches underwas pretty da one alone in the near future, but Jase had been right Riding was like dancing in a way It wouldn’t coap inI had

I s back to the stable My heart did a cabriole--­a coain in reality, butit

When Jase returned, his father was prowling behind hiht Saed pace was even identical Mr Winstead grinned as they stopped in front of al on crutches before"

Warmth cascaded over my cheeks "Thank you"

"Good to see ya back, but not in those things" He pulled out a red rag, wiping his hands "Ain’t too serious?"

I shookinto the story was probably not sohtning," Jase said, grinning "Did daot up on the horse in yer condition?"

"That she did," Jase replied, and pleasure huht of his proud smile Mom and Dad used to smile like that after my recitals and competitions

Mr Winstead cocked his head to the side "Well, darn, if I was about twenty years younger and there wasn’t your mom"

Jase’s head whipped toward his father "Co to hit on"

Yep There wasstep, and dahtless as a dancer looked when she executed the jump perfectly

"Girlfriend?" Surprise filled his father’s voice as he looked between us

Jase grinned shamelessly, and both my knees felt weak "Girlfriend"

"Well" He drew in a breath and shook his head, as if he didn’t knohat to say If I doubted what Jase had said about the other girls last night, I didn’t anyirls ho deal

"That’s good to hear," he finally finished, and then sht to a beautiful silver He looked at his son and nodded in a way I felt reat"

Jase said nothing, but shifted his gaze back to me

"Why don’t you two kids co the hanky back into his pocket "Yer led

"We’ll be up in a second" Jase turned to me as his dad ambled off "You okay with how I broke the news? Guess I could’ve done it better, but really, how do you announce you have a girlfriend without sounding lame"

"No It was fine" I paused as he sauntered up to ht hoh school"

That was forever ago it seeoing to get him to talk about her "That’sI’m"

"Honored?"

I snorted So ladylike "That sounds a bit extreuy only takes a girl home to his parents that he’s really serious or cares about"

It was late e returned to ht was on in aze "We still on for dinner to lunch at ­Betty’s?"

He grinned "Doesn’t hed, but the sound died off as he pulled up to the sidewalk I was reluctant to leave hi, he reached for the door handle "You don’t have to walk me up"

"But--­"

I silenced him with a kiss If he came up, I wouldn’t want him to leave, and I needed to talk to Deb "You don’t have to do it I’ll call you tomorrow"

He took his hand off the door "Text rin "Okay"

Before I could pull away, he wrapped his hand around the nape of my neck and kissed me At once, my mouth opened to his He tasted ht, Tess"

I closed ht"