Rope My Heart A cowboy second chance romance

Chapter 34

Lily Mae

Damn it's only a horse ride with Jax so why the hell do I have butterflies in my stomach? And why am I making a song and dance about what I am going to wear?

I settle on dark Wranglers, a thermal moss-green top with a flannel over. I haven't been this nervous on going out with Jax since we had our first date back in high school, oh, and when he took me to Prom. That was a special time. I swear to God I thought I was going to throw up.

The moment I saw him in the doorway dressed all polished up in a navy suit with pale blue shirt that evening sent my body into overdrive. The man sure did brush up well, and now he's all man. I am betting he looks like something off a GQ front page. I let out a sigh. He and I, we were so happy. Nobody expected us to ever split up and hell my folks didn't think I would ever leave Eagle Ranch to spread my wings but I did. Leaving Jax was the hardest thing I have ever done and of course my folks and still today I can't explain it to y'all but I just had to go out and try the big world and see for myself.

On a final glance in my full-length mirror, I consider myself alright and of course appropriate for riding my horse to the top of the mountain. As I open the door I almost bump into my mother who is still dressed in her bathrobe and her hair in curlers. Who wears curlers still? She takes in my outfit.

"Are you going out riding, it's early? I bet you missed that in the city."

"I did miss it. I'm going out with Jax we're riding up to the mountain for breakfast."

She gets that wistful look on her face; I know she's reading way too much into just that one sentence. "That's lovely, honey. So, you two are back together if you're going up top with him then? That used to always be your little love nest area." Her smile is wide and reaches her eyes.

"Momma we are not getting back together. How many times do I have to keep on telling you? It's just a ride out and to spend a bit of time together. You know we're working closely on the rodeo charity event."

"Of course, dear but a mother can hope. So, shoot me!" That makes me grin.

"And of course, I happen to think that you and Jax would make some mighty beautiful babies. Oh, to have a house full of grandchildren, now that would be the best gift." She floats down the stairs like she hasn't just left me with my jaw dropping to the ground.

Grandbabies? Holy hell, is she serious? This is an innocent outing with my ex-boyfriend and maybe a kiss here and there. I'm not about to walk down the aisle with him and start popping out babies. Not that I don't want children just not right now. I have a career to think of and there is no place in my chosen path for rug-rats anytime in the near future. That will all have to wait. Maybe when I am in my thirties then I'll consider it but not right now.

Downstairs mom is pouring fresh coffee, the aroma hits all of my senses at once. "You want a mug before you head out, Lily Mae?"

"Sure, thanks, Mom. I always love a good brew first thing in the morning."

She pours me a mug and hands it to me with the creamer and some sugar. I leave out the sugar but add the creamer. The first sip hits all the right places even though it is strong, my momma doesn't know what mild or weak coffee is. I guess it's from all the years of making strong coffee to stand a spoon in for my dad every morning.

"Has daddy already left for the day?"

"Yes, he's got new cattle coming in and wants to make sure the fencing is sorted at the east side, Wes is with him already. They left a couple of hours ago."

I glance at the kitchen clock it's now just after half past seven. "Wow they were out early."

"Always out before dawn breaks, Lily Mae. You know how early the ranch wakes up."

I sure do, I used to be mucking out stables in the early hours and feeding the horses and sometimes I'd go help the hands with milking the cows.

Finishing my coffee, I give my mother a peck on the cheek. "I'll see you later, Momma. Do you have any plans today?"

"Gardening mostly and then running over to the library to drop some books off and to pick up a new one that our book club is getting into next." Mom, like myself is an avid reader.

"What are you all reading next? I could come and join you, I'm sure I can fit in the time around work." I'd love to go to the book club with my mother, we used to go all the time.

"We're reading All The Days Past, All The Days To Come by Mildred D. Taylor. Have you heard of it?"

I shake my head. "It's about one girl's journey and having to deal with racism, you should definitely come to the club. I'll jot down the first book so you can read it then you'll be up to speed with us."

"Thanks, Momma. Catch you later. Have a good morning." Mom gives me a hug before I slide into my riding boots that I left out last night by the front door. I take a padded coat just in case it is a bit chilly up high and make my way to the stables.

The birds are up and out singing early, it fills me with gratitude that I have somewhere like Eagle Ranch to come home to. The sky is blossoming into what will be a beautiful sunny day. The promise is definitely there. The skies always seem bigger here, vast and never ending. Unlike in the city where it is just a mass of tall skyscraping buildings of glass mainly.

Inside the stable one of the ranch hands, Joey tips his hat at me. I give him a smile and a hello before heading to my horse's stall. Princess makes a cute noise and hangs her head over the stall and waits for me to loop my arms around her neck and kiss her. She nuzzles into me and pushes my shoulder slightly waiting for me to give her a treat. I hand her a sugar cube and stroke the softness of her nose. Damn I love my horse, being in the city was hard without her.

"You're looking mighty fine this morning, Lily Mae." Jax's voice is low and husky. Dammit how can he have that affect on me? It shoots straight to my core. I feel myself blushing.

"Thanks, it's just some old riding outfit I pulled together," I lie. It took me thirty minutes to decide on which pair of jeans and which top would be most flattering on my body. Seriously, since prom I haven't ever spent that much time deliberating on what shaped my body or what made my ass look good.

"So, you looking forward to my surprise?" His eyes are focused on mine, am I melting at his feet? This man is crazy hot, his shirt sleeves are rolled up and his veins pop out. I lick my bottom lip; I think I am almost drooling. His eyes stay fixed on mine, watching me checking him out. Oh, boy!

Before I can answer he steps closer and loops an arm around my waist bringing me into his chest. His pine fragrance makes me inhale deeper. He removes his cowboy hat and dips his head, his lips pressing against mine. I'm so easy I part my lips in a hot flash to allow him access. He tastes of coffee and toothpaste; I'm guessing that's what the minty flavor is.

It's not a mild kiss either, he probes and sucks on my tongue, the intensity of the kiss heightens as he pushes me further into him with his hand placed on the lower part of my back. His groan into my mouth as I feel his hardness against my lower parts makes me moan with desire.

"I want you so bad, Lily Mae," he whispers into my mouth making me shiver all over. Then he uses his other hand and places it at the back of my head, tilting his own and deepens the kiss into what can only be described as breath-taking making every part of my body quiver and want him as much as he wants me.

Jax McCoy = big trouble for me!