“That’s bullshit, Julia,” he said, his voice a little lower, a little harsher. “It was you, and I’m not going to let you think otherwise.” He grabbed her hand. “Come with me. I’m going to prove it to you that I knew it was you who I was with this week.” He led her to the barn. “I was saving this surprise for later, but well. I think you need to see it now.”

He pulled open one of the stalls that had been empty up until now, and Julia looked in.

“Coop?” she asked when she saw the pretty mare. “What’s going on?”

He turned to her and put his arms on her shoulders. “She’s yours,” he said, his voice rough with emotions.

Her brain stalled. “Mine?”

“She’s all yours, babe. Yours to take care of and to ride when you’re here, and I want you here, with me, a lot. She just needs a name.”

Julia’s hands went to her face as her throat tightened. “No, I can’t.”

“Sure you can.”

He gently touched her cheek, and the gesture brought tears to her eyes. “It’s too much.”

Just then the mare whinnied and poked Julia with her muzzle. Coop laughed. “I think she likes you. Not that I can blame her.”

Julia stepped closer and ran her hands over the mare’s forehead, examining the horse through blurry eyes. No one had ever given her a gift like this before. “She’s beautiful. Everything I’ve ever wanted.” She sniffed and said, “I can’t believe you did this.”

“I have something else for you.”

She looked into his eyes, and the love she saw there filled her with warm longing. He reached into the stall and grabbed something. She shook her head and laughed when she saw the daisy-duke shorts and pink riding crop.

“What are those for?”

“You’ve been wearing Tessa’s clothes all week, and I thought you might want something of your own.”

“And you had to find the shortest shorts in the universe?” God, she loved him. She loved him so much, she was ready to explode from the inside out.

He gave her a grin that weakened her knees. “Well…yeah.”

She shook her head and took the pink crop. She ran her hand along the length of it, stroking it with her fingers, and Coop groaned as he watched the action. “And this?”

He shrugged. “You’ve never seen a riding crop before?”

She looked at the mare. “I have, yes, but I could never use this on her.”

He took it from her and flicked it against her ass. “Who says it’s for the horse?”

The cheek of her ass had received the sting of the crop, but it was the unexpected clench of her sex that brought her breath out with a soft moan. “Oh.”

“Don’t you see, this is the real you, Julia. I’ve always known that, and the horse and crop represent both sides.” He drew her into his arms, and she slid her hands around his back. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and said, “Beneath the beauty and brains, you’re fun-loving, sexy as hell, kind, caring, and so easy to be with. You just suppressed that side of yourself because you’re sweet and giving and are always putting everyone else’s needs above your own. But I’m not going to let you do that anymore. You have needs, too, and I’m going to see that they’re taken care of.” He flicked the crop over her backside again and grinned. “Every single one of them.”

Julia stood there blinking up at him, trying to absorb everything he was telling her. Coop wanted her. Her. Julia Blair.

“Do you believe me now?” he asked. “Believe that I know who I was sleeping with this week?”

“I do,” she said around the lump in her throat, everything she felt for this man making her head spin and her heart swell.

“Good, because you see, Julia, when I asked you if you knew what you were getting yourself into, you really didn’t, because the second you stepped off that plane, I was determined to make you mine. When I said I was glad you were here, I meant it.”

“I’m glad I came, too.”

“I want you, Julia. I always have.”

Her pulse pounded in her neck, her heart swelling. “I’ve always wanted you, too,” she admitted.

Grinning, he lightly brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. “So I am your type?”

“Yeah,” she said. “I have a thing for those manly types who eat peanut butter and banana beaver tails.”

He laughed and scooped her up.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked.

“To the pond, then the loft, and then my bed.” As he began ticking off all the places they’d made love, an invisible fist clenched around her heart.

“Don’t forget the pasture,” she added, her heart soaring.

“Oh, don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten a single thing.” He grinned.

Julia arched a brow. “Oh really? Do tell.”

“Actually,” he said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “I’m tired of talking.”

“Well, I must say,” she began, embracing the wild side of herself and feeling free for the first time in her life, “I do love a man of action.”

He planted a warm kiss on her mouth and said, “And I love you, Julia Blair. The girl who is smart, sexy, wild, and wicked.” He stopped to give her a wink before he added, “The girl who loves horses, and riding, and has yet to be punished for that stallion comment.”

Never happier, joy welled up inside Julia, and a squeal of delight sounded deep in her throat. Coop squeezed her tighter, and with her body in his arms and her heart in his hands, he led her to the ladder leading to the upstairs loft. Julia smiled up at him, embracing the two sides of herself, and knowing there was no other man she’d trust with both.

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Acknowledgments

First and foremost a huge thank you to my amazing editor Candace Havens. Thank you for believing in this series and helping me make the stories shine. You are a rock star! I’m looking forward to working with you on more books.

My husband definitely needs to be mentioned in this acknowledgement. I can always count on him to listen to me ramble, or brainstorm when I’m stuck. Most times I think he’s tuned me out, as he mainly sits there staring at me blankly. But then he tosses out brilliant ideas that I usually run with.

Danita, thank you for keeping me organized and sane. You are a true gem, and I value your PA services, and your friendship.

To all the fabulous members of Foxy Fiction. You are all my extended family and the support you give me is phenomenal. Thank you all!

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cathryn Fox is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and red wine. Cathryn has two teenagers who keep her busy and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. When not writing, Cathryn can be found laughing over lunch with friends, hanging out with her kids, or watching a big action flick with her husband.

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