Georgia's Gamble [A Historical Fiction Novel; The Pratt Chronicles Book 1]

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Georgia Pratt

The cold air had turned sharp, stinging my cheeks and making my breath hang in the air like soft clouds, but I barely felt it. My heart was still racing, my lips still tingling from the kiss—*that kiss.* I couldn't think straight. Couldn't get past the feel of Ben's hands on me, his lips against mine, the way he'd looked at me afterward, like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.

I stood there, stunned, as his breath warmed the space between us. My forehead still rested against his, and for the first time in a long time, the constant rush of thoughts and worries in my head had quieted. All I could hear was the steady rhythm of his breathing, all I could feel was the closeness of him. The world outside had fallen away, leaving only the two of us standing in the dim barn, surrounded by the warm, musky scent of hay and horses.

And, God, it felt right.

I'd always liked Ben, always enjoyed our easy banter and the way he could make me laugh, even when I didn't want to. He was a part of my everyday life, as natural as the sun rising over the Lone Star Ranch. But somewhere along the way, that friendship had deepened into something more, something I'd been too scared to admit to myself. I couldn't pretend anymore. Not after that kiss.

My body was still buzzing with the intensity of it, and as I pulled back just a little, I saw the look in his eyes, that mixture of surprise and something deeper, something I hadn't realized I craved from him. He looked almost shy, like he hadn't meant for things to go that far, but I wasn't about to let him feel bad about it. Not when I had wanted it just as much.

"Well," I started, trying to regain some control over my scattered thoughts. "That's one way to stay warm in this cold weather."

He laughed, his breath puffing in the chill, but there was an intensity in his gaze that hadn't been there before. A tension that was only barely held back. "You complaining?" he asked, his voice low, teasing.

I shook my head, biting my bottom lip to keep from grinning like a fool. "Not even a little."

For a moment, neither of us moved. I think we were both still caught in the surprise of what had happened, still unsure what to do now. There should have been some part of me that was worried—worried about the consequences, about what this would mean for us going forward—but that part of me was silent. I didn't care about tomorrow, about the ranch, or even what people might say. All I cared about was this feeling, the way my heart seemed to beat in time with his, the way his presence seemed to wrap around me like a blanket against the cold.

I felt alive. More alive than I had in a long time.

"You know," I said softly, running my hand over my hair to smooth it down, still feeling the tingling from where his fingers had brushed my cheek. "I didn't see this coming."

He grinned, that boyish, crooked grin that always made my stomach flip. "Neither did I, if I'm being honest."

I looked down at my boots, scuffing the toe against the frozen ground as I searched for the right words. "I guess I've been ignoring it. How I felt. Because it didn't seem possible that you'd... I don't know, feel the same way?"

Ben's expression softened, and he took a step closer, his warmth chasing away the cold. "Georgia, I've been trying to figure out how to tell you for months. Hell, maybe longer than that. You've been all I can think about."

His confession hit me like a freight train, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. All this time, I thought I was the only one harboring these feelings, the only one too afraid to cross the line between friendship and something more. But hearing him say it, hearing the raw honesty in his voice, made everything feel so simple.

"I guess I'm a little slow on the uptake," I admitted with a small smile, my heart pounding in my chest. "But I'm glad you kissed me."

His grin widened, and he reached up to brush a strand of hair behind my ear. The gesture was so tender, so un-Ben-like in its softness, that it sent a fresh wave of warmth through me. "I'm glad you kissed me back."

We stood there for a moment longer, just looking at each other, and I realised there was no going back from this. I didn't want to go back. The thought of returning to the way things had been, of pretending like this kiss hadn't happened, seemed impossible. I wanted him—his teasing, his laughter, his loyalty—and now that I'd had a taste of what it could be like between us, I wasn't sure I could ever let him go.

I took a deep breath, trying to get my thoughts back in order. "So, what now?"

"Now?" he echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Well, now I think we should finish rugging the horses before they freeze to death."

I laughed, and it felt good, like a release. "Always the practical one, huh?"

He shrugged, his eyes still twinkling with that mischievous light. "Someone's gotta keep you in line."

"Oh, is that what you're doing?" I teased, grabbing another horse rug and throwing it over the nearest horse. The familiar motion helped steady me, made everything feel just a little bit more normal. But I couldn't stop glancing at him, couldn't stop smiling like a complete fool.

"Yep," he said, stepping beside me to help adjust the rug. "Although I'm starting to think you might be the one keeping me on my toes."

I chuckled, my hand brushing his as we worked side by side. The silence between us wasn't uncomfortable now. It was full of promise, of things left unsaid but understood.

Once the horses were all snug in their blankets, I leaned back against the stall door, watching Ben as he tugged on the last rug to make sure it was secure. His hair was a mess from the cold wind, and there was a dusting of snow on his shoulders, but he looked so at ease, so... right.

"Hey," I called, leaning against the stall door, a mischievous grin pulling at my lips. Ben glanced over, curiosity sparking in his eyes. "I guess I can't mess with you as a stablehand anymore, huh?"

He narrowed his eyes, clearly amused but confused. "Mess with me?"

I shrugged, trying to hold back a laugh. "You know, hiding the tools, switching the labels on the feed bins. You really thought the horses were choosing grain over hay? And you blamed it all on that 'Little Cocky kid' running around."

His brow furrowed in confusion for a second before it dawned on him. His eyes widened, his mouth dropping slightly in disbelief.

"Wait... that was you?" he asked, his voice low with shock.

I couldn't hold back anymore and burst into laughter, the look on his face making it even better. "Yep. I've been impersonating the stablehand you've been complaining about for weeks!"

He stared at me, blinking as if he was trying to reconcile the idea. "You dressed up like a boy... just to mess with me?"

I nodded, still laughing. "And you fell for it every single time!"

He shook his head, muttering under his breath. "I can't believe I fell for it." His expression was priceless. "And you let me complain all along and didn't let on it was you? You're more trouble than you let on, Princess."

I wiped a tear from my eye, my sides aching from laughing so hard. "I guess I'll have to find a new way to keep you on your toes now."

Ben grinned, stepping closer until we were face to face again. "Don't worry," he said softly, his voice low and full of promise. "I think you'll manage."

And as we stood there, surrounded by the quiet hum of the barn and the soft rustling of the horses, I realized that whatever came next—whether it was more stolen kisses or figuring out how to navigate this new territory between us—I wasn't scared. Not with Ben by my side.

We'd figure it out.