“Wow, warn me next time.” Dylan’s eyes widened and his mouth gaped. He’d grabbed her arm as they’d traveled and he let it go slowly.
“Sorry.” With a mischievous smile, she left him in the living room to walk into the kitchen. The room was sparkling clean and neat; it was such a beautiful place.
Life was good right now. Aspen was in a fantastic mood, and the day couldn’t get much better. Her mom had left Stephan and they lived with her real uncle in an incredible house and they were safe. She was in her dad’s old home with Dylan and she didn’t have to go to school for a few days. Yeah, life was perfect.
Musing over the changes in her life, she felt Dylan’s presence next to her. “I’ve run out of paint,” he said, “and I think we need some more furniture polish from the store.”
The sound of his deep voice next to her ear made her shiver. He had such an effect on her, and she glanced over her shoulder at him. He looked so handsome in that tight black T-shirt. It looked like he’d run his fingers through his dark hair recently, and his smile showed perfect white teeth. Her heart pounded as he stepped closer.
“I think Ginny broke a mop, so we’ll have to replace that too,” he added.
Aspen sighed. “Okay, let’s go.”
She opened the front door and skipped down the steps into the lush grass outside. The air was hot and dry, and the sky was light. Dylan walked down the steps and surprised her by threading his fingers through hers. He pulled her along and she laughed as her skin hummed pleasantly from the current in his hands.
There was no reason for him to keep holding her hand, but he did so until they reached the village, and she couldn’t be happier.
The small village looked like a scene in an old Western movie. Wagons drawn by horses made their way slowly past the general store, and the only road through town was dusty, with no sign of tar. A few Dream Walkers were in the street, and small children raced past and shrieked with joy. Someone played a piano nearby, and the notes tinkled softly in the air.
Mona’s shop was to the left of them, but they walked past it to reach the store at the end of the road. As they climbed the wooden steps of the shop, a loud noise rumbled behind her, and she turned around. Dylan’s hand fell from hers as a group of horses thundered down the road.
Ruby’s red hair rippled in the wind, making her look like a goddess on the back of a roan steed. She maneuvered the horse expertly into the open space in front of the shop, and sprang nimbly from the saddle. The huge beast snorted with exertion and tossed his head back. His eyes widened as air rushed into his lungs, and Aspen’s good mood faded quickly.
“Dylan.” The word slipped out of Ruby’s red lips like a caress.
“Hey, Rube.”
“I’m so glad I found you here,” she said as her green eyes glowed. With a flick of her hands, she drew attention to her flat stomach by retying the ends of her white shirt into a knot above her navel. The skin on her midriff was smooth and tanned, and she tilted her head to toss her long locks back.
Ray trotted up behind her and guided his monstrous black horse next to Ruby’s. “Aspen!” he shouted. “You’re back. I’m so glad you’re here.” He grinned and focused his attention on her, and her cheeks reddened at his frank appraisal.
Jumping off the massive animal, he patted its heaving flanks. Cole took the reins from his friend and Caden, the Water Walker she’d met before, remained on his horse as it trotted up behind the group.
Ray marched up the steps and swung Aspen off her feet in a massive bear hug. “You haven’t been at school and I’ve missed you, pretty girl.”
Aspen laughed. Maybe her mood wouldn’t be ruined after all. Ray could charm the birds out of the trees if he set his mind to it.
She pretended to struggle out of his arms, but he kept her off the ground against his chest. Dylan stiffened next to her, and Ruby climbed the stairs to join them.
“Put me down, you big oaf,” she said with a chuckle. “What are you doing here?”
His eyes twinkled as he squeezed her, and then he set her down on the landing. He reached into his jeans and whipped a piece of paper from the pocket. “Our ma needed some things from the store, and I’m not upset that I had to come and get them anymore. As far as I can tell, this shopping trip just got a whole lot better.”
Aspen glanced over his shoulder to see Dylan’s eyes darken.
Ruby walked up to Dylan and before Aspen could step away from Ray, she’d hooked her arm around his waist and had slipped right up against him.
“Walk me in?” She smiled.
Dylan’s nostrils flared as he glared at Ray. He looked down at Ruby and hugged her tightly against his chest. “It’s so nice to see you again.”