"We should start the lesson.”
"Is that your way of changing the subject?"
"That's my way of teaching you to ride.The subject-changing is just a bonus."
But his smile suggested he was as aware as I was that our conversations kept veering into territory that had nothing to do with horses.
He explained the mechanics of cantering: how to ask for the gait, how to sit the longer stride, how to maintain balance at the faster pace.Then he moved to the center of the arena and sent us off.
The transition was smoother than I'd expected, and suddenly Celeste and I were flying around the ring in a rhythm that was like dancing.The sensation was incredible: powerful and graceful and completely exhilarating.
"This is amazing," I called out as we swept past him.
"You're a natural," he called back, and the pride in his voice made my heart do something complicated.
We cantered for several minutes before he asked me to come back to a walk.I was breathless and grinning like an idiot as I slowed Celeste down and walked her over to where Peter was standing.
"That was incredible," I said."I can't believe I was afraid of horses a week ago."
"Fear usually comes from not understanding something.Once you understand horses, they become partners instead of obstacles."
"Is that true for everything?"
"Most things."
He reached up to help me dismount, his hands spanning my waist as I swung my leg over the saddle.For a moment I was suspended between horse and ground, completely dependent on his strength to lower me safely.The position brought us close: closer than we'd been before.
"Steady," he murmured, and I wasn't sure if he was talking about the dismount or something else entirely.
My feet touched the ground, but he didn't immediately let go of my waist.We stood there for a moment, the air between us charged with something that had nothing to do with riding lessons.
"Betty," he said, and my name sounded different in his voice.Less like a student and more like...something else.
I looked up at him.His gaze dropped to my lips before returning to my eyes.The space between us seemed to shrink without either of us moving.
"Peter," I said back, not sure what I was asking but knowing I wanted something.
He leaned closer, and I rose up on my toes to meet him.His hands tightened on my waist, pulling me closer, and I could feel the heat radiating from his body.
"This is..."he started to say.
"I know," I breathed.
Our lips were inches apart when Celeste chose that moment to nudge me hard in the shoulder, nearly knocking me sideways.The interruption broke whatever spell had been weaving between us, and Peter dropped his hands like I'd suddenly caught fire.
"We should," he cleared his throat, "we should cool her down properly."
"Right.Of course.Cooling down.That's...important.Very important.Crucial, even."
We spent the next few minutes walking Celeste around the arena in complete silence, both of us careful not to make eye contact.The tension between us was different now: not just attraction, but the awareness that we'd almost crossed a line that probably shouldn't be crossed.
I was engaged to another man.A man I'd never met, but still.And Peter was...well, I wasn't entirely sure what Peter was, but he was definitely someone I shouldn't be having almost-kissing moments with in palace stables.
"Same time tomorrow?"he asked when we'd finished cooling down the horse.
"I'll be here.With your latte."
"I'm looking forward to it."
