Ice (Elite Forces #1)(47)
His ranch is huge. He has workers who take care of his horses and their breeding. I’m more excited about riding one. And she’s right about the smell being bad.
“You get used to it, and once you get out into the open field or roam around the trails, you can’t smell shit out there.” I love how Harris uses her words and shoves them right back in her face with a laugh. She needs it.
“Fuck Harris, these horses are beauties. Never pegged you for this.” Kaleb strolls up to a reddish-colored horse that’s all saddled up and ready to go. Three more of the same-colored ones are ready to go. They are breathtakingly beautiful. It’s all a little intimidating, but the shiny coats are absolutely perfect.
“That’s Serena. This is Tiger Lily, that one there is Diego, and the other one is Tinkerbell.” He points to all of them in turn.
“Tinkerbell is for you, chicken shit.” He walks over and grabs the reins, never taking his eye off of Mallory.
“I never said I was chicken.” Mallory crosses her arms under her breasts. Harris’ eyes divert right to them.
“Come on, mouth. I’ll show you around, while these two can drift off to wherever they want.” He reaches for her hand and guides her up on the horse.
“Oh shit,” she squeals.
“Yeah. That’s what I thought. I got you.” He takes hold of her reins, heaving himself up on his horse with ease.
“You know what you're doing, Maverick?” he asks while showing Mallory how to hold the reins, pulling back slightly for the horse to stop. I’m more into watching these two interact than anything else. I’ve never seen her act so skittish. Either that or she’s faking her damn ass off just so he’ll touch her.
“Yeah, I got this.” I give these two a lot of credit. What started out as a hell of a raw deal for Harris and the way Maverick has treated him, has turned into respect for one another. Over breakfast they joked around, chatted a bit. I felt comfortable for the first time around them together since they met. I was also very aware of the small glimpses of concern Harris kept shooting Maverick’s way. Something else is going on. It doesn’t have a thing to do with the three of us, but yet somehow it does. It’s different though, like Kaleb is keeping something from me and Harris is warning him to tell me. All of my training and my gut tell me that whatever it is, I’m not going to like it at all.
“Good, just stay on the trail I told you about. You’ll see the lake not too far from here. We’ll meet you guys back here in a few hours.”
“You ready?” Kaleb turns in my direction.
“Yes.” Even though I’m nervous, I manage to get my foot in the stirrup and start to drag myself up, only to be guided by a strong pair of hands palming the curves of my ass.
“What? Those damn shorts leave nothing to my imagination. If that fine ass is going to be shoved in my face, then I’d be a damn fool not to touch it. Keep looking at me like that and I’ll find something to bend you over out there and f*ck that sweet ass again. This time while you scream my name.” Well, shit. My legs are spread across this damn horse, making it impossible to clench them together, but my ass cheeks flex. God, that seems like forever ago.
“We’ll see,” I say sarcastically as I grab the reins and take charge of the horse like Harris instructed us to do over breakfast. It doesn’t take Kaleb long to catch up with me as we trot side by side down the trail, taking in and enjoying the view. He pulls out of his shell and shares so much information with me about himself. He went to school in Florida and joined the Army right after high school. His father left his mother when he, a younger brother, and his sister were young.
“Your mom sounds incredible to have raised all of you by herself.”
“She is. That’s one of the reasons for my tattoo and why it’s my favorite. She’s great, so is my sister. They would love you.”
“What about your brother? Are you close to him too?” I hear his breath catch. My head snaps to look at him. I’m not sure what I witness on his face; sadness, or maybe it’s frustration.
“I’m not ready to talk about him. Can we leave it at that?” He looks my way. It’s bitterness I see.
“Okay.” That’s all I manage to say. We travel in silence for a bit. He looks like he’s lost in his own thoughts and memories.
I have every intention of inviting Kaleb to dinner with my family this weekend. I would love for him to meet my family before I meet his. Not sure why that’s overly important to me, it just is. I blurt it out before I lose my nerve or he disappears deeper in his thoughts.
“My family is getting together for dinner Friday night. Would you like to come with me?” God, why does it feel like I’m in high school asking some guy to come and meet my parents? He stops his horse and exhales loudly.
“I can’t. I won’t be here. I was waiting for the right time to tell you, Jade.” He looks me in the eyes. I’m not liking what I see reflecting back at me at all. I bring my horse to a stop and gather the reins, turning us both to face him.
“Is it another mission? So soon?” I swallow. Please tell me no. Tell me you're taking me to some deserted island in the middle of the Caribbean. Or to bum f*ck nowhere land. Just not a mission.
“Yes. We received a call from The President himself. It’s highly confidential. I thought I had a week, but I don’t. Kase called me this morning, and I have to fly out Monday morning. You and Harris leave Thursday.” I close my eyes as his words are sinking in. I know I’m cleared. But am I really ready for this?