He tapped Bartleby’s side with his boots and urged the mare to take them through the pasture. She let out another startled gasp. “You know how to ride!” she accused.
“Only a little.” He dug in his heels and they galloped across the Slades’ pasture, past the open gate and into the cattle range. The singing stream gurgled next to them in a riot of sparkling light. Liv knew this land well; she was surprised that River was already familiar with it. What a lie that he couldn’t ride! He must’ve been on Bartleby all morning. They followed the pathway to the lake at a lope. The spot was about three-and-a-half miles from the house and quite picturesque. The play between the light and the sky and the coming storm glistening over the waterhole would make some fantastic pictures.
As River and Liv neared the old Grandfather Oak tree near the waterhole, the horse slowed, its stomach pushing against the cinches with its breaths after the exercise. River’s hand loosened on the reins and he leaned back, his fingers trailing over her waist as they stared over the beautiful scene where the long sky met the smooth water. Well, at least she thought that was where he was looking, but when she turned, she saw his eyes were only on her.
Her breath felt like it was racing through her windpipe. His lips were only an inch from hers. They looked soft, strong, happy. She wanted him to close that distance between them so badly. His sparkling eyes hinted at it. Would she give into that kiss? It had been forever since she’d felt anything towards anyone, and now those familiar feelings she’d felt so long ago came crashing through her senses, almost making her dizzy. But no, no, River was too caught up in her ex’s life. She’d wanted to leave any memory of West behind. She could go after anyone else, but not River.
There’s no one else I want.
Taking a steadying breath, she smiled, and clenching her camera tightly, she slid off the horse, pretending to stretch, fix the settings on her camera, anything! She needed to buy time to figure out her feelings… away from his intoxicating and manly presence.
Chapter Eight
Had he really been about to kiss her? River honestly had no idea what had possessed him to get Liv on his horse with him and take her to this charming and secluded waterhole on Slade Ranch. He could guess that it had something to do with Liv’s happy eyes flashing up at him, and those long, long shapely legs. Those cute jean shorts and cowgirl boots had completely messed with his mind.
She skipped onto a stepping stone and checked the lens on her camera, taking a few experimental shots of the oak tree. “We always called this grandfather tree, Gramps,” she said.
Catching his breath, he slid down from the horse. He’d promised himself this morning that he’d be a professional, ease her into a conversation, ask her casually about that photograph before arranging a way to get that negative from her without sounding too needy. The only problem had been that when she showed up, his brain flew straight out the window. He couldn’t think about anything else, except her captivating smile and getting his hands into her long hair.
He tied the horse to a hitching post, his fingers fumbling with the knots. No wonder Slade didn’t talk about her. She was the type to drive a man wild with those sweet looks. Of course, there was a demon inside—she knew how to flirt with the best of them—even Slade, a man of the world, had been horribly burnt by her. So why did River keep forgetting that danger every time he looked at her? Liv seemed like the type of woman he’d write songs about, and not the break-up kinds either, but sappy, dripping-with-cheese love songs that would make him groan at what a fool he’d been when he was in his right mind.
Thankfully, she’d had some sense to pull away because he was clean out of his skull with how much he’d wanted to kiss her. He clumsily finished off the last of the knot, hearing Liv’s camera snap more pictures behind him. She was doing her best to give him some good publicity shots. Maybe he should make her job easier, but clearly, he had other things on his mind.
He glanced back at her and she nodded, like she was just some girl and they were