Page 37 of Ocotillo Kisses
“Oh, Con, I don’t know.”
“I don’t think we have much of a choice,” he said as another flash of lightning shot across the sky, this time closer, judging by the accompanying clap of thunder.
He wondered if she had a phobia of storms since the accident. He knew some of their group had developed a healthy fear of bad weather. He didn’t care for storms at all, especially not if they were going to be caught out in it. He attached his saddlebag to Loki’s saddle. The horse was agitated, a situation that would not be remedied by adding a second rider. He didn’t think Loki had ever carried two people, at least not two adults.
He should have brought rain gear. Should have checked the forecast. But maybe they still had time to get to shelter if they moved now.
“You want to ride in front or behind?” Did she want his arms around her, or hers around him?
“I’ll ride behind.”
He mounted first, then kicked the stirrup back for her to use as he reached a hand down to lift her onto Loki behind him.
As expected, Loki shied, moving to the right to avoid a second rider, but Con’s grip on Britt tightened and he brought her up behind him. First she rested her hands on his hips as they started down the rise, but then she leaned a little closer, and wrapped her arms around his waist.
The sun was behind the clouds now. The dogs and Dove were out of sight. He’d waited too long. If he’d left when he first saw the clouds, they wouldn’t be riding pillion down the hill along an overgrown path.
And he would only be worried about the coming storm, not the feel of her arms around him, the press of her body against his back, and wouldn’t be thinking about the time they’d lost.
He’d wanted to push Loki into a canter to outrun the storm, but didn’t dare along the uneven ground. Not sure Loki would run with two riders, anyway. He was already hard to control right now, so skittish with the storm.
The first few drops hit them when they were in sight of the house, and Loki picked up the pace. At least the ground was more level here closer to home.
And then the bottom fell out of the sky, drenching them in seconds. Con wished at least for a hat to keep the water from streaming into his eyes, but he had to trust his horse to get them back to the barn. Behind him, he felt Britt rest the top of her head against his back, probably also trying to keep the rain from her face, and her arms were in a death grip around his waist.
The thunder was a constant rumble, the lightning flashing all around them, and man, it was not a good idea to be out here.
Loki sensed the barn, and began to lope, and Con just gave him his head.
The barn doors were closed, and before Con could reason out how to dismount without kicking Britt, she slid off and ran to the doors, swinging one open against the wind to allow Con to ride Loki through. Once the horse was inside, Con hopped down to help her drag the door closed. Once they secured it, she turned to him, pushing her hair out of her face and laughing.
Laughing. Her eyes were bright and her face was flushed, her hair and clothes clinging to her body, and she was laughing.
He couldn’t help himself. He slipped one hand around the back of her head, stepped close, and kissed her.
Chapter Fifteen
