CLEAN ROMANCE: Finding Peace (Christian Romance, Inspirational Romance, Second Chance Romance) (New Adult Contemporary Romance/Clean and Wholesome) by Grace Warren
out with me to the stables?” Lucy’s face lit up. She wouldn’t have to deal with Vanessa right away after all. “Yeah, it’s perfect.” she lied. “Great. Kids behave for Aunt Van. Lucy and I will be back for lunch.” He got up from the table and waited as Lucy hugged each child and followed him out to the truck, trying with all her effort not to limp. Nash drove them down to the lower barn. He slid the large door open and a dozen horses stomped and whinnied at their sudden presence. Nash pulled a few sugar cubes from his pocket and handed them to Lucy. “Have you ever ridden?” Lucy shook her head, popping a sugar cube into her mouth. Nash tilted his head and eyed her with amusement. “You do know those are for the horses?” Lucy blushed. “Oh yeah right, of course I do.” As they walked together through the center of the barn, Lucy saw each horse had a name on a carved plaque, similar to the one on Jasper’s stall. “Who did these?” she asked, tracing over several on their slow journey. “I did Ma’am.” He answered. “They are beautiful. You are talented,” she complimented. “Thank you.” They stopped next to a black spotted appaloosa. The plaque read “Georgia Pines”. Nash took a sugar cube from his pocket and held it out in the flat palm of his hand. The mare curled her lips around the sweet treat as Nash stroked her neck. “Give it a try. She’s very gentle.” Lucy lifted the cube up in her fingers, holding it out to Georgia. Nash wrapped his hand around hers. He opened her fingers and placed the square piece in the center of her palm, silently showing her the proper way to feed the horse. The lips tickled her hand as they lifted the cube away. Lucy dared to reach out and pet the mare’s nose. “She is a beautiful creature.” Nash had stepped away to retrieve a saddle and bridle. He climbed into the stall with easy and fitted Georgia with the equipment. “You want to give it a try?” They had gone a few miles when it started to rain. Nash guided them to a tree and tethered the horses to a low branch helping Lucy from her saddle. She rubbed at her thighs and bottom. Nash looked so natural up on his horse; she felt like a fool bouncing all over and trying not to fall flat on her face. He had promised she’d pick it up in no time, but Lucy felt it would be years before she would look graceful and would be better suited to keep her own feet on the ground. They stood under the boughs of several trees on the outskirts of the open field they had crossed. Lucy looked over the afternoon sky seeing the shelf of clouds and rain fade off over the horizon. Droplets of water dripped from her bangs and the tip of her nose. “It’s so beautiful here Nash, so very different from the noises and crowds and heavy air of New York. Every day I wake up an am amazed all over again.” She looked over to Nash and her heart caught in her throat. He was standing there starring at her. She crossed her arms over her rib cage and hugged herself, suddenly self conscious. “Your children are wonderful.” She wanted to end the uncomfortable moment. Nash touched her cheek and her words stopped. He turned her face towards him and lifted her chin. His lips were soft and his skin smelled clean and fresh like morning dew. He kissed her and time stopped. She hadn’t been prepared for it. When he pulled away her heart sank to her feet. “I’m sorry.” He whispered. She was confused. “Why?” “It stopped raining, we should get back. Van will have lunch waiting.” Nash untied the horse, helped her get back on Georgia and rode off ahead of her without another word. As he stored the tackle, and walked the horses back to their stalls giving them water and food, Lucy stood by the truck. Neither of them had said another word the full way back to the barn. She was confused. He had kissed her, she hadn’t initiated it and it felt right. So why was he sorry? Nash emerged from the barn and walked to