They worked on steering, halting, and dismounting. She would have liked to have seen him fall on his ass, too.

In a stroke of irony, Terry was matched with Calypso-a grouchy, bitey mare-and after only a moment of hesitation, Leo managed to swiftly mount Lily’s most sensitive horse, a beautiful black gelding named Ace. Dynamite was patient enough to keep steady as Walter worked up the nerve to step into the saddle.īullwinkle-as big a jokester as his rider-had Bradley on his ass twice before they’d even left the corral. Something Wilder – Chapter SevenĪFTER A BRIEF orientation to the gear they’d be using, Lily led the group over to meet the horses. He hated how brusque and sharp he’d been-he’d tried to reach her later, tried to fix it, but by then it was too late. Leo hadn’t heard her voice since the morning she’d called him, checking in when he’d failed to. He was supposed to be packing, but instead he sat heavily down inside his tent, shell-shocked. Seeing Lily wasn’t unlike being transported back to that first day at the Wilder Ranch, when she’d emerged from the barn and his world had instantly tipped upside down.Įxcept this time there was no anticipation, no immediate head rush of a dream that this woman could someday want him-only the stark recollection that he’d had the perfect love once and had pushed her away. With every step, his feet landed unsteadily on the ground-he felt like he’d walked onto a moving platform or into a wormhole. LEO WALKED TO his tent in a daze, heart racing and palms clammy. It had taken her years to shove them out and here they were, roaring back like a flash flood, uninvited. The rest of him autofilled in her memory, and Lily squeezed her eyes closed, pushing away another deluge of images. She’d know that neck anywhere she’d recognize that posture and that long stride from half a mile away. Tall, lean, smooth honeyed neck visible above the collar of his North Face fleece. Needing confirmation, she peeked over Bonnie’s back, and her heart vaulted into her windpipe. Leo-the man who’d made her believe in happily ever after and then vanished without a word-was here? Ducking behind the horse, Lily hid from view, resting her forearm on her mare’s soft flank and working to get her pulse under control. Without a word of explanation, Lily threw the wooden spoon onto the table and sprinted back over to where Bonnie lazily grazed. A perfect read! Something Wilder – Chapter Five It’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a book - laugh out loud humor, rollicking adventure, and the swooniest romance.

Something wilder lauren