Mocha Latte (Silk Stocking Inn #3) by Tess Oliver, Anna Hart

more. The path thinned down so that we had to ride single file. Archie just about glued his head to Rebel’s butt as we walked through the trees. A crow hopped down from a branch, startling Rebel, and Archie, who felt the need to mimic everything his leader did, jumped a good foot sideways. I slid to the side of the saddle but managed to right myself easily.
    “You all right back there?” Jackson asked.
    “I’m still in the saddle, so yep, I’m good.”
    Sunlight clawed its way back as the heavy foliage thinned to a light canopy of pine branches. We stepped into a clearing that seemed to have popped right out of a travel postcard.
    I sat back, which immediately cued my well-broke horse to stop. “Is that a waterfall?” I glanced around at the idyllic setting. “I’d ask how this place is possible just miles from the concrete jungle I live and work in, but nothing about this weekend seems real.”
    “Far as I know, this river and the pitch in the rocks creating the waterfall and pool beneath it have been here for a long time.”
    I pointed at him. “Far as you know, but with the magical way Coco cooks and bakes and finds perfect clothes and seems to know everything I’m thinking, I’m not ruling out that she did this.” I waved my arm around the piece of paradise we’d found.
    Jackson climbed off his horse. “I’ll admit that Coco has some extraordinary gifts, but I doubt we can credit her with hundred year old trees and a majestic waterfall.”
    I raised a brow to show him I disagreed.
    “All right, so maybe it isn’t beyond her powers.”
    “Then we’re in agreement,” I said satisfied. I climbed down off of Archie.
    Jackson unwound a lead rope and halter that he had attached to his saddle. “Archie’s halter is on your saddle too. We can tie them off under these trees. Archie would probably be safe tied up by his reins, but all it would take is one fast moving squirrel or a big bee and Rebel would yank out all his teeth with one move.”
    I pulled the halter and lead rope off the saddle and exchanged Archie’s bridle for his halter. We tied the horses loosely where they could entertain themselves on small tufts of green grass growing beneath the trees.
    Jackson took my hand. It had been a long time since a man had taken hold of my hand, and it dawned on me that I’d missed it. He led me to the edge of the pool, a swirl of deep green water that had formed where the waterfall ended and the river began.
    We sat down on the mossy bank.
    I picked up a stone and tossed it into the water. The surface of the pond was smooth enough, even with being so close to the foam of the waterfall, that a group of concentric circles formed in the spot that the stone had landed. The rock disappeared quickly below the surface. “That water looks cold.”
    “It is. But on a hot day like this, it’s a nice place for a dip. If you’re feeling spunky, that is.”
    “ Spunky is my middle name, buddy. But, freezing my butt off has nothing to do with spunk and everything to do with my jeans fitting right.”
    His deep laugh made both horses lift their heads before returning to their late morning nibble. Jackson leaned forward to take off his boots. “Suit yourself, but I’m going in.”
    “But we have no bathing suits.”
    He dropped his boots next to him and stood up. He grinned down at me as he reached down to the hem of his shirt. “Little late to worry about me seeing you naked, don’t ya think?”
    His shirt came off, revealing the incredible physique beneath. The vision of Jackson standing shirtless in front of me, prompted me to pull off my boots. “You’re sure we’re alone, right?”
    “Not gonna guarantee that. Right now, I only know about Archie and Rebel, and they’re far more interested in that grass than a couple of naked humans.” Jackson took hold of the button on his jeans. “Come on in. Could be fun.” The way he said the last three words got me to my feet.
    “Maybe I should leave on my bra