A rumbling chuckle fills the air. “You could charm the skin off a snake.”
“Ew.”
“What? You don’t have snakes in Hollywood?”
“We sure do. It’s a word we use to describe bad humans.”
Warner smirks. “Well, since you’re refusing to learn to ride today, how about I ease you in?”
“How so?”
“Ride with me.” Warner grabs two apples from a basket on the counter.
“Ride with you… on a horse?”
“No, on a tractor.” He gives me a look. “Yes, on a horse. We’ll go slow, I promise.”
My lips twist. I really don’t want to get on a horse, but I know I have to. It’s required for my role, unless I put my foot down and demand a double. I don’t want to be that person though. High maintenance. Plus, there’s the cost.
“Alright.”
Warner grins. Riding the horse might just be worth being on the receiving end of that grin.
“Come on then,” Warner says, motioning me out of the kitchen.
I point down at my feet. Sandals aren’t going to cut it. “I need to change shoes.”
Warner rubs his hands together excitedly. “Meet me at the barn.”
* * *
“Her name’s Priscilla,”Warner says, running his hand along the horse’s side.
Priscilla is tall, muscular, and beautiful. Her tail flicks as I look her over. Her muscles are taut and defined under her coat. Raw power emanates from her. Maybe it’s not the height that frightens me after all. Maybe it’s the fact that she is filled withpotential. At any moment, she could rear back. Gallop. Do whatever it is that horses do. The point is, shecoulddo it.
“Come stand next to me.” Warner motions me over with his head. “Say hello.”
I step up beside him. The earthy scent of hay mingles with Warner’s scent.
“Do what I do,” he murmurs. I mimic his flat palm, running in long strokes down Priscilla’s side.
“She’s so still.” I also copy his volume.
“She’s our gentlest mare. The kids both learned to ride on her.”
“Should be perfect for me then.”
Warner crooks a smile and looks down at me. “Just right.” I watch our nearness register with him. His jaw flexes under the shadow of his stubble, and his gaze travels over my face. I know I’m not imagining the tenderness, the longing, or the fear I see in his toffee eyes.
If he kissed me now, I wouldn’t stop him.
Priscilla whinnies, and it breaks the spell. Warner drops his gaze. He walks around to face the horse and feeds her one of the apples he brought from the homestead.
“Another day, Priscilla. Tenley is afraid of you.” Warner’s teasing voice sounds forced. We both know something just happened between us, and he’s trying to put everything back in its place.
It’s you who is afraid of me. I keep that thought to myself.
I hang back and watch Warner bring out his horse. It’s bigger than Priscilla, and I try not to let my worry show.
