There's Just Something Sexy About...

There's Just Something Sexy About... *7*

There's Just Something Sexy About... *7*

The next morning I woke up to the sound of little children squealing and running around. I guessed Luke's family and cousins were here, so I quickly jumped into the shower. When I got out, I threw my hair into a high messy ponytail, threw on a white sweatshirt and jeans, and headed out into the mass of people.

Two little boys ran past me, making me giggle despite the fact I almost tripped over them. Luke caught my arm before I completely fell, though.

"Want to go for a horseback ride?" he asked. There wasn't much emotion to it, just a genuine question.

I nodded my head. It seemed I wouldn't be able to relax much with all these kids, but maybe after riding through the forest would I feel like running around and playing with them. But for now, I just followed Luke out to the barn.

It was just us in the stables, all of the horses present. Luke strapped up Oreo for me when I asked, and after he had Daisy saddled, we trotted out into the open land.

Luke led me up a series of paths, some of them I'd never seen before. The horses walked through thick brush most of the time, the path made only from worn down grass. The feel of the fresh air around me, mixed the familiar feel of the horses' ganter had me feeling completely refreshed; it also seemed to clear my mind of everything, seeming to let me start over with a fresh attitude today. And finally, when Luke stopped, I realized our destination.

A clear pool of water stretched in front of us, a wall of rocks creating a barrier in which a miniature waterfall fell in the middle. Bright green grass- that looked out of place from the usual dried, yellow grass- surrounded the pristine water, a few dandelions popping up here and there. It was purely magnificent, a scene in which words cannot describe.

"I never knew this place was here," I breathed as I jumped off of Oreo. I took his bit out of his mouth and let him graze before running a hand through the chilly liquid.

I heard the puzzlement in Luke's voice. "You mean you've been here?"

"Once upon a time," I smiled. "I used to come here every summer before...before The Incident," I finished in a hurry. "But of all the times I'd come here, I never knew this was here."

Luke took the spot next to me on the grass, his eyes gazing intently at me. "So, you mean to say that you knew this place before I brought you here?"

"Not this specific spot, but the ranch itself? Yeah."

"But, how come I've never seen you then?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Granny Jane is my grandma- my REAL grandmother. I came here every summer as a child and not once did I ever meet you!"

"When did you come?" I asked absentmindedly. My memories just kept coming back, more unpleasant than the last time they did. I shook my head and turned my attention fully back on the boy next to me.

"My family always came on the twentieth of June through the fourth of July."

"That's why," I nodded my head. "We always came on my mom's birthday- July nineteenth and stayed through August first. And so our paths never crossed."

"Why'd you stop coming?"

I knew that question was coming and I completely dreaded it. No one- not even Cami- knew the EXACT reason why I stopped coming here. Actually, no one knew about The Incident whatsoever. I had kept the hurt and the anger of that night a secret, and that wasn't changing today.

"I don't want to talk about it," I mumbled.

"You can trust me, you know." Luke sounded somewhat disappointed at my lack of trust, but it had no affect on me.

"Yeah," I said. "But that doesn't change the fact that I don't want to talk about it."

"I'll be here if and whenever you do, then."

"Why do you do that?" I asked with an exasperated breath.

"Do what?"

"You never give up, at least not completely. Whenever I try and push you away, you never seem to budge! I shove you away time and time again, yet you always come back. And I feel kind of bad because no matter how snippy or dramatic I get with you, you're always so sweet..."

"I do it because I respect you, Jordie. And because I have to show you just how much I like you and care about you before you decide if you like me back, I'm going to keep doing it."

"Why do you like me anyways? I'm nothing special."

He gave a short huff. "Like I told you before- you're different than all those other girls. But I think I like you because you make me feel different. I feel happier, more like ME when I'm near you. And although I've only known you for a short time, I feel like I've known you for forever."

"Why are you so open?"

"Because I feel the need to be."

"Why, though?"

"Because you won't."

That hit kind of hard. And in a way, he was exactly right. I wasn't willing to be open to him, not just yet. I felt bad about it, but I reminded myself that he shouldn't expect so much of me so soon.

"I'll tell you one of these days," I finally decided out loud. All Luke did was wrap me in a side hug, and for the moment, I let myself enjoy the way his touch sent little electric shocks through my skin, filling me with a sense of warmth.

[Song: Only You Can Love Me This Way by Keith Urban]