Madison stood up, giving herself a shake. “I’m very motivated with new exercises. When I started jogging I wanted to die, but I can be stubborn as a mule when I want to accomplish something. How long do you think until it doesn’t hurt?”
“Depends on how often you’re riding. If you do it once a week you’re probably gonna get old before you get used to it.”
Her pout almost undid me. The determination in her sweet brown eyes was unfairly hot.
“I guess riding every day is probably not possible.”
“Every day might be a stretch, but we could figure out something.”
She bounced excitedly on her toes. “I’m gonna get so fucking fit. I go a little balls to the wall with new skills, and that’s probably going to get insufferable. I apologize in advance.”
I wasn’t going to say no to more time with her, no matter how agonizing it might be.
My pride didn’t give a shit where Madison was concerned. If I needed to be pathetic, then I was willing to do that. It wasn’t my fault the universe had dropped this captivating and vivacious omega in front of me when I couldn’t have her. I could accept that she was spoken for and commit myself to simply teaching her how to ride.
Some Madison was better than none. Or so I told myself.
“What now?” she asked, looking up at me with eyes of melted chocolate.
“Eclipse didn’t really work up a sweat, but I’ll show you how to take everything off and take care of him.”
“I’m happy to take care of the stable’s best boy.”
She was cute as hell brushing down Eclipse after her lesson. Praise fell easily from her lips and he soaked up the kisses she planted on his cheek, leaning into her touch.
Lucky horse.
“You’re going to be his new favorite if you keep that up. Don’t tell Charlotte she’s going to have competition.”
Madison giggled and buried her face against Eclipse’s neck. “I can’t help it. He’s so pretty and sweet. Like my cat Pepper in horse form.”
“I love cats.”
Her gaze lit up. “They’re the best. I have two.”
“What’s the other one called?”
“Poppy. They’re my babies.”
“They’re certainly a much more manageable size of baby than this precious weirdo,” I said, patting Eclipse. “I don’t suppose you’d want to show me pictures of your cats?”
That question was the opening of Pandora’s box, but she was so fucking happy to whip out her phone that I didn’t mind gazing upon a thousand pictures of her cats one bit.
“This is Poppy’s gotcha day. Oh my god, she used to be so tiny.” The photo showed off a slightly younger Madison cradling an extremely rough looking tabby kitten. “I found her in the trash when she was six weeks old, and less than a month later I found Pepper while out on a walk.”
“They’re lucky you found them. I assume they’re living cushy lives now with the prettiest mama in town.”
Madison’s cheeks flushed. “I dunno about prettiest, but I try to give them a good life.”
“Are you being modest or do I need to side-eye the people in your life for not complimenting you enough?” I could be content with the first, but if it was the second, then the people in her life needed to step up their game.
Her laugh was sweet and she leaned her face on Eclipse, looking at me with those big doe eyes. “I don’t know what to do with compliments.”
“Fair enough, but I’m not going to avoid making them because of that.”
I was never going to get enough of how pink her cheeks got.
“Would you take a picture of me and Eclipse?” she asked, offering her phone.
