Without You (Love Wanted in Texas 1)

Daddy smiled and shook his head. “Aunt Ari will train him with ground work and get him ready.”

My mouth dropped open. “No, Daddy, no. I want to train him.”

He let out a chuckle, and I placed my hands on my hips.

He lifted his hands. “Okay. If this is something you want to do, then by all means, you can do it but not alone. I want someone with you.”

I glanced over and looked at Will. After helping Daddy get Banjo out of the trailer, he had been leaning against the barn, watching everything.

I smiled. “I won’t be alone. Will can help me with the training.”

Will pushed off the barn and smiled back at me. “I’d love to help.”

Daddy nodded his head. “All right—as long as you only train when Will is with you.” He turned and faced Will. “Will, you’ve broken in about three horses so far, correct?”

Will nodded his head. “Yes, sir. I’ve broken in two for Luke along with my own.”

Daddy smiled. “Good. Keep my little girl safe at all times. That’s my number one rule.”

“Always, sir. I’d never let anything happen to Lex.”

I felt the heat move through my cheeks as Will smiled at my father, and then he turned to me and smiled bigger.

Will and I had been working together and training my horse for the last few weeks. Today, he had me standing on a stool, grooming Banjo.

“Lean over his back, L

ex. Then, let him turn to the right and reach for the carrot.”

I did as he’d said. “What is this teaching him—with the carrot?”

“Teaches him to stay well positioned for mounting.”

“Oh,” I said as I smiled.

Will had been the one leaning over Banjo the last three days. My baby had bucked a few times, but Will would just slide off and land on his feet.

I loved this horse more than anything. He was proving to be a gentle giant. To bond us even closer, I’d been coming down and sitting in his stall with him at night. I’d fallen asleep in the stall a few times, and Will had carried me back up to the house four times already. Last night, Daddy had told Will that if I kept up at it, that would be all the exercise Will would need. I didn’t want to admit it, but the last two times, I had done it on purpose just so Will would carry me in his arms.

“Lex?”

“Mmm?” I said as I daydreamed of being in Will’s arms.

Will snapped his fingers in my face. “Earth to Lex.”

“Sorry. I was lost in thought.”

He let out a chuckle. “I’ll say. Hop down, babe, and let me put on the bareback pad.”

My cheeks instantly felt hot, and the lower pit of my stomach clenched. I slowly slid down and looked at Will as he walked around. I couldn’t pull my eyes from him. I stepped off the stool, moved a bit forward, and leaned against my big guy. Banjo didn’t even budge.

Will stopped in front of me and went to turn to put the pad on, but he stopped mid-movement. When our eyes met, I was pretty sure I felt the earth rumble. He smiled slightly, and I licked my lips in preparation for what I prayed would be our first kiss.

His eyes darted down to my lips before he quickly looked back into my eyes. “Lex?”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t want to ruin our friendship, but…”