Holding You (Love Wanted in Texas #3)(66)

Damn I was turned on just listening to Lauren talk about horses. Reaching down, I adjusted my growing dick. Lauren followed my hand, then snapped her eyes up to mine. “Are you getting turned on Mr. Mathews by horse talk?”

Licking my lips, I slowly smiled the smile I knew melted Lauren’s panties. I watched as her eyes darkened and her body perked up. Taking a step closer to her, I pulled her into my arms and kissed her. Wrapping her arms around my neck, we quickly got lost in our kiss. Before things got too carried away, the new man in Lauren’s life put a stop to it. Mike nudged me with his head and pushed me away from Lauren. Laughing, Lauren quickly kissed me on the lips.

“Do you think if we put them out to pasture they could get it done on their own, Colt?” Lauren asked as she began to walk Mike back to the barn.

My heart felt as if it would burst out of my chest as we headed back to the barn. This was what I picture our future as. Lauren and me working and doing the one thing we both loved . . . and doing it together.

Walking into the barn a few other horses snickered as Lauren put Mike back in his stall and began taking off the reins and riding pad. “I don’t see why we couldn’t try. He’s sixteen hands, so not that much bigger than Mia. I’m pretty sure she can hold her own like you said. Go with your gut, Lauren.”

Lauren stared at Mike as she nodded her head. “Let’s go talk to Daddy about it.”

Grabbing her hand, we made our way out of the barn and to the house. I wasn’t sure how Scott was going to respond to Lauren. I prayed like hell he didn’t ask me what my thoughts were. He needed to trust Lauren on this one. Show her he believed in her.

Stepping into the kitchen, I smiled and looked away when we walked up on Scott kissing Jessie.

“Um, really Mom and Dad? Really?”

Jessie pulled away and smiled at Scott and simply said, “Really, Lauren.”

The way Scott looked at Jessie was the way my father looked at my mother. You could practically see the love pouring off of him. Peeking over to Lauren, I smiled as I felt my heart and stomach do that crazy little act they put on anytime I looked at Lauren. Thought about Lauren. Kissed Lauren. Hell just anything to do with Lauren.

Scott whispered something into Jessie’s ear and she blushed but quickly turned and headed out of the kitchen. “I’m off to go for a run. Colt, are you staying for dinner?” Jessie asked, peeking back around the corner.

“I wish I could, but I’ve promised Alex I’d go into Austin tonight to help her get some things for the wedding.”

Jessie smiled big. “I can’t believe Alex and Will are getting married in a few weeks. Unreal.”

Nodding my head, I agreed. “Yes, ma’am. My mother has been an emotional mess the last few weeks, along with Alex. It’s been hell for me and my father.”

“Amen,” Scott said as Lauren hit me, then her father.

“Stop it both of you.” Scott glanced at me and gave me a wink as he sat down at the table.

“So, tell me what you thought about Mighty Mike, Lauren?”

Swallowing hard, I sat down and let Lauren do all the talking. Even though Scott had given me full control over Mike, this was Lauren’s show.

“He’s amazing, Daddy. I could almost feel his power just as he trotted around the track.

Scott’s eyes quickly snapped over to me. “You rode him? How’d he do?” Scott looked at me as he asked Lauren the question. My heart rate began to pick up and I imagined what it would feel like to have Scott beat the shit out of me for letting his daughter get up on a horse that we still weren’t really sure about.

Wiping my sweaty hands on my pant legs, I turned to Lauren.

“He did great. It was as if he was holding back though. I could for sure tell he wanted to get something out of his system. I have a sneaky suspicion that Colt had Mr. Betrim run Mike before we got here this morning though.”

Scott nodded his head and glanced back at me. I could see it in his eyes. He was thanking me for looking out for his little girl. What he didn’t realize was that she was just as much my girl as his. The moment I found out Lauren was coming home, I made arrangements for Betrim to take Mighty Mike for a few laps around the track first thing this morning.

Scott rubbed his chin as he looked between Lauren and me. “Is that so?”

Giving him a quick wink and nod of my head, Scott smiled and turned back to Lauren. “Tell me what you’re thinking, darlin.’”

Lauren sat up straighter. I knew she wasn’t expecting that from her father. She was expecting him to ask me. “Oh, um, well . . . what I think is we should put Mike out to pasture with a broodmare.”

Scott nodded his head. “You don’t think we should try to control the breeding?”

Shaking her head, she continued. “No. I think Mike is the type of horse who is going to do things his way or no way. He needs that sense of freedom, I can see it when I look into his eyes.”

My heart was soaring as I sat next to Lauren and listened to her talk. This is what she was meant to do.

Scott nodded and motioned for Lauren to continue talking. Clearing her throat, she kept talking. “With Colt taking the reins on training Mighty Mike for racing, I’d like to handle his breeding.”

Scott pursed his lips together, attempting to hide the smile that I knew he was holding back. Glancing back at Lauren, I waited for her to continue.