scratch of his scruff. Damn, he wanted to rub up against all that. Feel the hot wetness of Jake’s succulent tongue and lips on his thighs, dick, and ass. “Lemme take you for a ride.”
Alarm replaced the hazy sensuality in Jake’s eyes. “Uh, horseback riding wasn’t exactly what I was thinking.”
Shea chuckled and ran his finger along the sharpness of Jake’s jaw. “Neither was I, darlin’. Neither was I.” Jake’s eyes blazed green fire, and Shea’s entire body hardened. “Whatever you’re thinkin’, hold it for later,” Shea murmured.
Stacey ran over to them, the dog bounding by her side. He dropped his hand from Jake’s face. She gave him a little wave, then cast her eyes downward.
“Hello, Princess. Havin’ fun?” At her nod, Shea had an idea. “How would you like me to take you for a ride on Rambo, and you ’n I can go swimmin’ in the lake? That’ll give your daddy a chance to set up his new phone and take a shower. He can meet us there later if he wants.” Shea’s eyes met Jake’s. “One of the guys can drive you over if you want. Would that be okay? Terry’s busy chitchattin’ with Patty on the back porch, and I figured it would be nice for them to stay put in the heat, and I can take my little Rose of Texas here to cool off.”
“You want to take Stacey by yourself?” Jake gaped at him. “Swimming?”
“I’ll make sure she wears a life jacket, and I’ll be in the water with her, if that’s what’s concerning you.”
“No. Not at all.” Jake blinked and crouched down to Stacey’s eye level. “Do you want to go with Shea, honey, and swim? Kiss will go too. And you get to ride on his big horse instead of the pony. Does that sound fun? I’ll be there after I make a few phone calls.”
Her blinding smile was all the answer he needed, but when she said, “Yes, please, I wanna go with Shea,” his heart squeezed tight, and he met Jake’s shining eyes.
“Okay?”
Jake’s hand rested on Stacey’s curls. “Okay. I’ll get her in her suit and meet you on the porch?”
“Sounds like a plan. Right, Princess?”
She giggled, and he watched Jake take her hand. Shea sprinted over to his suite of rooms. In a minute flat he’d kicked off his boots and stripped out of his clothes, then dug in his dresser for a bathing suit. When he was by himself, half the time he didn’t even bother wearing one, preferring to swim naked when it was so hot.
He stuffed sunscreen and sunglasses in a backpack, sat his cowboy hat onto his head, and stuck his feet into sneakers. Jake might not be able to ride a horse with them on, but he’d been riding since before he could walk and could go bareback and barefoot if need be. Shea left his room and went to forage in the kitchen. He filled a plastic container with cookies and brownies, and remembering he also needed something healthy, swiped some apples, peaches, and carrots. Several bottles of water and some juice packs also went into the backpack.
By the time Shea walked outside, Jake and Stacey were out there talking with Terry and Patty.
“Here I am. Was just makin’ sure I have everythin’.”
“Shea, you don’t have to do this,” Terry said. “I’m happy to take her instead. All we’ll need is for someone to drive us there and back.”
It wasn’t his imagination that Stacey lost that sweet smile. “I know, Miss Terry. But I was hopin’ me an’ the princess could have a little special time together. Plus, I promised. Right?”
The smile reappeared, and Stacey nodded.
“So there you go. Jake, we’ll be at the lake when you’re finished.” Without waiting for anyone else to object, he picked Stacey up and swung her onto his shoulders. “I’ll be your horsie until we get to Rambo.”
And holding on to her, he galloped away. Three horses were in the paddock, with the rest out grazing in the pasture behind the barn. When they approached, Rambo trotted over, and he set Stacey down and took her hand. “Now we’re gonna go right inside the barn and get his saddle. How about that?”
She nodded. “He’s big.” Her eyes saucer-wide, she gazed up at the horse.
“Yeah, he’s a big old boy, but gentle as a pussycat, aren’t you, buddy?” He patted the horse’s neck. “You know, I was your age when my daddy taught me how to saddle a