“Probably not.”
I hated how deflated she sounded.
“You know you are deserving of a hot man to be totally into, right?And you deserve for that hot man to be totally excited about you too.”
“I know.I’ll stop texting him.”
“I think it’s for the best.”
“I think we just accelerated myPride and Prejudicenight.”
“Let’s stream it together tonight.My Wi-Fi is working because of you.”
Her voice brightened a bit.“I’d like that.”
A few minutes later, I put Furgie inside after running around with her.I snatched a granola bar out of the cupboard.
Around a mouthful of food, I mumbled on my way out the door, “I’m sorry, Furg, I’ll be home as soon as I can.But I have to go.”
She gave me the saddest brown eyes as the latch clicked into place.
Still feeling guilty, I hopped back into my car and started following the directions to the stables.When the cellular connection sputtered out, I was grateful I’d snapped a screenshot of the directions.Ten minutes later, I arrived following the plowed winding driveway until a large barn and stable came into view.Behind it sat a house with a high-pitched roof.
“Shoot.Nice digs here, Mr.Creger,” I said to no one.
I wasn’t sure where to go, but there were a number of older model cars, all of them rather rusted.As well as two or three newer ones.One of them could be Deb’s—she might already be inside a building.
Glancing at my watch, I confirmed that I was only two minutes early.I zipped my coat to my chin and stepped out into the cold following the trail of packed snow to the empty stable.The smell of livestock was strong in the warm building.It wasn’t overwhelming, just present.One of those details of rural living I’d forgotten in the past couple of years of city life.I continued through the open door at the other end to the large barn.A sliding door was open enough for a horse to walk through, it gently banged into the building over and over catching on the wind.
Inside, there was a collection of teens in helmets sitting atop their mounts, and a man with shaggy dark hair peaking from under his helmet.He sat ramrod straight.
There was one other man, and the sight of him set my nervous system into overdrive instantly—my stomach dropped, my palms went clammy, and my cheeks heated.
Once again, I was unexpectedly in the same place as Remi in a long-sleeve T-shirt clinging to his biceps and chest.His thighs strained against his dark blue pants that were practically painted on.They probably served a purpose for horseback riding, but when he stood in the stirrups they were ...There was nothing left to the imagination.
Not that I needed to use my imagination.I’d seen his ass before.
Not that I was thinking about it.
But it was right there and ...sculpted.
The reins hung from his easy grip, and I felt an echo of it on my upper thigh.He rode a gray speckled horse from one jump to another, his body following the movement with confidence and a grace that belied his large frame.But this time, I wasn’t caught completely off-guard, and I took control over the bombardment of emotions and stress at just the sight of him.I could even detach enough from my feelings to enjoy how he’d filled out over the past couple of years.Everything about him was broader—his shoulders, chest, abdomen.
It was rude how well he sat a horse.It wasn’t a skill I found particularly hot, but there was something annoyingly romantic about a man in a saddle.
Obviously, I still struggled with his presence, but at least now I was more prepared to encounter this man who had only gotten unfairly fucking hotter in the intervening years.The same way I could mentally prepare to encounter a flu shot.
Quietly, I insisted that it was perfectly safe for me to acknowledge all of this.I could appreciate him from afar, the way I would any man.But he wasn’t justany man.And while it was undeniable that I was attracted to him, it wasn’t entirely safe either.
Rude.
Fucking Rude.
Chapter Nine
Remi
“Alicia,”Debcalledabovethe arena.
