****
“You made it!” Lucas beamed as I got out of the car and made my way up the crazy long driveway.
He walked toward me, and I could tell by the twinkle in his eyes what he was planning. As soon as I was close enough, he wrapped me in a strong hug, his lips landing on mine in a soft, teasing kiss. Every single time he kissed me like that, my heart melted. My body would ignite with need. My breaths would become short, ragged pants that made me want to beg for more just so I could experience him stealing all breath from me.
“Did you really think I’d miss this?” I asked, pressing my palms to his chest, loving how solid and warm it was beneath my touch.
He shrugged. “I often worry you’re becoming sick of me.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Trust me, Lucas, that’s not going to happen.”
Smiling, he took my hand, lacing our fingers. “Good because you’d have a really hard time getting rid of me.” He said smiling as we walked toward the house.
Correction: the mansion. At least, that’s what it looked like to me anyway. It was a four story brick masterpiece that loomed high above the trees that surrounded it. Gorgeous pillars adorned the front of the house, and a rose covered lattice comprised one side of the house. I looked up, taking in the full sight, and realized there were stained glass windows in the cupolas that sat atop the main roof.
“Wow, Lucas, this place is gorgeous.” I slowed my steps just so I could stare at it in awe a bit longer.
Noticing what I was doing, Lucas stopped walking and stood behind me. He put his arms around me, resting his chin on my shoulder. “This was my grandmother’s dream house. My grandfather had it built for her as a ten year wedding anniversary gift. They’d lived in a rat infested apartment for years just so he could save enough to make the down payment to the builders. That’s how she always told the story anyway.” Lucas chuckled.
“That’s so romantic,” I whispered. I wondered what it would be like to have a man be so in love with me that he’d go to such great lengths to make me happy. Would I ever know love like that? Or was it just a silly fantasy?
Lucas softly kissed my cheek, then that sensitive spot right behind my ear. I suppressed a shudder as delicious sensations ricocheted through my body. “A few years after the house was finished, they built the barns and filled them with horses.”
“I love horses. My grandfather taught me to ride as soon as I was able to walk.” I laughed, looking at him over my shoulder. No matter how often I saw him, his handsome, striking features always stunned me.
“You know how to ride?” He asked.
“Yeah, but it has been a long time.”
He grinned. “Good because we’re going to take a stroll over the estate today.”
Excitement bubbled up in my stomach, and I was powerless to stop it. “Really?” I turned so I was facing him, my hands resting on his shoulders. “I haven’t been riding in so long.”
“That’s okay.” He enveloped me in another hug. “I have the perfect mare for you to ride. She’s gentle, takes direction well.” He brushed his nose against mine. “Unless you just want to ride with me.” There was that familiar, mischievous glint to his expression.
“As tempting as that is, I’m really excited to get on a horse again.” I told him.
“Whatever you want, sweetheart.” Giving the tip of my nose a kiss, he once again took my hand, and we headed back toward the house. “Did you bring the goodies?”
“Yes.” I laughed. Lucas had become rather enthralled with my baking skills, and there wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t have something sweet waiting for him.
“Good. I packed a picnic lunch for us. There’s this great little pond near the edge of the property. I thought we could stop there and have something to eat.”
“Sounds wonderful.” I said with a smile.
An hour later, Lucas brought his horse, Jackson, to a stop near the pond he’d mentioned earlier. I brought Daisy to a stop beside them, admiring the view. Not only of the surrounding view of nature, but of Lucas. He was good on a horse, a natural. I’d seen him ride at the rodeo, but there was something different about seeing him ride today. It’s like he was more relaxed, at peace with everything around him.
He dismounted and tied Jackson to a nearby tree, giving the horse enough length to reach the pond and drink from it. Then Lucas helped me off Daisy and tied her up the same way. “So, what do you think?” he asked.
“Breathtaking,” I said. “Really, Lucas, I can see why your grandmother loved it here so much. God, if I lived here I don’t think I’d ever leave.” I chuckled. “It really is no wonder your grandfather can’t bear to part with it, and I hope he never does.”
“He’s offered it to me, you know?”
“He has?” My eyebrows rose in shock.
Lucas nodded and began to spread out a blanket on the ground. “Yeah. He’s told me more than once that if I buy this place from him, it can stay in the family, and I can stay away from the rodeo.” He grabbed the picnic basket and set it down; then motioned for me to sit beside him.
“I thought he supported your rodeo career.” I said as I sat beside Lucas.
“He does.” He put his arm around me, pulling me close. I put my head on his shoulder. “But as his only grandchild, he worries.”
I sat in stunned silence, trying to process what Lucas had just said. If he had the opportunity to buy this place, and he didn’t, then he must really love the rodeo. In that moment, any lingering – albeit farfetched – hope I had about him suddenly deciding to give up life on the road to stay here with me were dashed. Lucas was a rodeo man. No one or nothing could ever change that.
“I can understand that,” I said, “about him worrying. It’s not like you’re in the safest profession.”
Lucas squeezed me closer to him and kissed the top of my head. “No, but just like my grandfather couldn’t give this place up, I can’t give up bull riding. It’s in my blood.”
“Yeah.”
We fell silent for a few moments, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I stared at the pond, mesmerized by how serene and peaceful it was. There were two ducks in the water, floating around as if they didn’t have a care in the world. They probably didn’t.
“Hungry?” Lucas asked after a while.
I straightened and smiled. “A little.”
I watched as he unpacked the basket, memorizing everything about him from the way his fingers worked to pop the cork on the bottle of wine he’d packed, to the way his muscles tensed then relaxed with each movement he made. I noticed the way the light breeze tousled his hair, and he’d absently reach up to push it out of his eyes; and the way he’d twist his mouth into contemplation as he worked.
And I had the sudden urge to cry.
How would I ever be able to say goodbye to him? In such a short period of time, he’d stolen me, heart and soul. Tears stung the back of my throat, and I swallowed against them, not wanting to ruin this perfect moment he’d created for us. No. I could wait until I got home later and cry in the privacy of my own room. I would grieve for the impending loss of Lucas on my own time, alone.
“To us,” he said, raising his glass.
“Us,” I agreed, barely able to choke out the words. No matter how short lived ‘us’ really is.