‘What is the meaning of this?’ he demanded.
‘The meaning?’ Jess enquired, laughing, no doubt thinking he was joking. ‘I don’t know anyone better than Sofia for building team spirit. I’ve seen her work with her brothers, don’t forget. And Sofia’s organisational skills are second to none.’ Jess looked at him with surprise when he failed to stifle a scoffing huff. ‘That’s why her retreat is such a success,’ Jess continued doggedly, with a piercing look at him. ‘Anyone who has experienced Sofia’s retreat can tell you the benefits. They learn to live life to the full again, and they learn to trust.’
‘Excellent,’ he bit out. He’d heard enough of the nonsense. Only the calming presence of Dante at his side, and the grimly set faces of those of Sofia’s brothers who didn’t care to hear her praised went some way to soothing his frayed temper. ‘We’re relying on you, Jess,’ he emphasised, ‘for our training regime in the run-up to the matches.’
In his peripheral vision he saw Sofia stiffen but Jess continued, undaunted. ‘Without complete trust between team members you can ride the best ponies in the world and field the fittest, sharpest players, but if there isn’t proper communication between each member of the team—the kind of communication that doesn’t need anyone to shout for the ball, or make it clear that their horse is tiring, because your fellow players know exactly where you are, how you stand, and who best to shoot the ball to—your play will never be as dynamic or as fluid as it needs to be.’
Jess talked good sense, but he still failed to see what part Sofia had to play in this. ‘I invited you to become a member of this team for the duration of the charity matches,’ he murmured in Sofia’s ear, ‘but I don’t recall hiring you to help with training.’
‘You didn’t have to hire me,’ she informed him pleasantly. ‘I’m here because Jess asked me to help her, which I’m more than willing to do.’
The irony was that as Sofia didn’t work for him, he couldn’t fire her, even if he wanted to. No wonder he preferred binding contracts where anyone who failed to meet the mark could be let go without a fuss.
Sofia began to address the group as cool as you like. ‘We’re lucky to have this chance to practise together. I know how busy you all are. Knowing your team members inside out, so you’re aware of their strengths and weaknesses, as well as how they play the game, will give us the advantage we need.’
He was rocked back on his heels by the sight of two women taking centre stage, as if he were a newcomer to the game. ‘That’s enough talking,’ he decreed with a closing gesture. ‘This is nothing we don’t know. We’re professionals. We adapt. And now we work.’
Jess worked them hard. Truthfully, Sofia was finding it hard to keep up with Cesar and her brothers, but there was no way she going to let the side down. Olivia and Jess were as determined as she was to prove their worth to the team. Jess managed to make training fun. Galloping at full stretch, leaning over the side of her pony to snatch up a can that appeared to have invisible legs was something Sofia hadn’t done since she was a child. No one fell off, though noisy hilarity and catcalls released a lot of the initial tension. By the time that morning’s session was over, Sofia could do little more than slide down the side of her pony in exhaustion. But neither could she remember enjoying herself so much in a long time.
‘Can I help you with that?’
She turned to see Cesar lounging back against the wall, watching her. Removing tack from a spirited pony was normally a straightforward operation, but today the bridle seemed to weigh a ton and her mount was overly keen to be turned out into the field.
‘You look as if your knees are about to buckle,’ Cesar remarked as she almost lost her footing.
‘I can manage, thank you.’
‘But you don’t have to,’ he pointed out, and taking the saddle out of her arms he led the way to the tack room where the others in the team were waiting. ‘I’ve arranged entertainment for later,’ he announced when everything was safely stowed away.
‘So long as it doesn’t involve moving,’ Olivia groaned. ‘I don’t need entertainment. I need a long, hot bath.’
‘You can have both,’ Cesar promised.
Olivia grunted disbelievingly but Jess exclaimed, ‘Wonderful!’ as she linked arms with her husband.
Infected by Jess’s enthusiasm, Sofia smiled too. ‘If I don’t fall asleep in the bath, I’ll be there,’ she promised.
‘I’ll save you a place,’ Cesar offered, surprising everyone, not least himself, Sofia suspected when she caught the brief flash of surprise on his face.
If she’d hoped for something more—a glimmer of warmth in his eyes, for instance—she was disappointed. There was nothing in Cesar’s expression when he looked her way but the same coolness and suspicion.
He sluiced down in the yard. Everyone else had retired to their rooms to rest, clean up and prepare for the evening ahead. His grooms had taken charge of the ponies, but he chose to check everything twice. The ponies had worked as hard if not harder than their riders, and also deserved a reward.
Raking his hair back, he slung his top over his still-damp shoulders and entered the state-of-the-art building where his beloved animals were kept. He prided himself on the fact that this accommodation was as good as that of his guests.
‘Sofia?’ He might have known.
‘Cesar!’ She seemed equally shocked. ‘I was just checking the ponies were settled for the night,’ she explained.
‘I’d have put a top on if I’d known you were here.’
She angled her chin to stare at him boldly. ‘Would you?’
Silence fell as they stared at each other. In fairness, Sofia had worked as hard as anyone and yet here she was, tending to the horses when she could have been indulging in a long, hot bath.
Must she moisten her lips like that?
He held her stare. ‘Don’t you want to rest before the evening entertainment? “Freshen up”?’ he suggested.
