Page 36 of Hot Ice, Tennessee

Those types of things happened in riding schools, all the time. It wasn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of Minton Ranch.

But I justmissedhim.

It was as simple as that.

And I hated being alone here on a big ranch. I threw parties, I kept myself completely busy, and I volunteered for any and every activity I could—but at the end of the day, it was just me here.

I took out my phone and shot off messages to my top three group chats, telling them to come on over tonight for a get-together.

It would probably turn into a party.

And I was okay with that.

Distraction time, much needed.

Before then, I could get a little bit of outdoor work done.

A breeze blew through the stables as I headed out, latching the gate behind me. I went back down the path toward the house, heading into my backyard.

For the rest of today, I needed anything that would keep me from thinking about the article.

I grabbed a shovel and got started on clearing rocks from the area where the hot tub would go. I was already sneezing a little, because the backyard always gave me some allergies at this time of year, but I loved it out here anyway.

I’d tried to make myself feel better earlier by texting Jesse, getting lost in desire as I played through last night’s kiss over and over again.

And truthfully, texting him this morning had been hot asfuck.

But I couldn’t help but think it was just another thing I was searching for in the wrong places. I knew I was going to get burned, because that’s what happened every time I played with fire. Craving was stronger than logic, though. I didn’t know if I’d see him again, and I liked that I was able to push his buttons again, even if it was all just through words.

Texting was just innocent fun, right?

I slipped out my phone to look over his texts one more time, I saw that I had a new one.

One from justthree minutes ago.

“Oh, fuck,” I said as I saw it.

>>Jesse: This is from last night, by the way. Your fault.

Attached was a picture of his stomach—fuckingperfectabs, with tanned skin, and a V-shape where his muscles led down to his groin just out of frame.

Streaked all across his lower stomach were ribbons of white.

6

JESSE

The roads near Mason’s ranch looked different under full blue skies. The leaves were in peak summer green, lush and full of life.

Don’t get me wrong—I’m a winter bunny all the way because I’m at my best during hockey season. But even I couldn’t deny the beauty of the first weeks of summer. Especially in Bestens, where the ridges of the mountains in the distance formed a dramatic backdrop as I drove.

Tennessee wasn’t perfect, but I always found myself falling back in love with it anyway. Funny how that worked.

I pulled down the long driveway past the Minton Ranch sign. In the daylight the property was even better—holy fuckingtrees, Batman. Birds flitted from branch to branch and I even caught a pair of bunnies hopping their way along the sloping hills leading up to his house.

You live like a king, and party like a prince, I thought, glancing up at his home.

I pulled up to the big house, spotting Mason’s big pickup parked at the other end of the curved driveway.

---