“Hey, Rivers! Come out here!” Ethan shouts as I’m finishing up the dishes, breaking me from the endless train of circling thoughts. I pray one day to live life with enough confidence that I don’t have to constantly calculate, rationalize, and recalculate every decision I make.
Behind the house is a truck and trailer where a man is unloading the most beautiful black horse I’ve ever seen in my life. Not that I’ve seen many up close, but still, it’s gorgeous.
“Get your ass over here, girl.” Ethan grabs me by the hand and drags me towards the extra-large animal.
For the second time today I don’t flinch at a man’s contact.
“It’s beautiful.” I note the white blaze on the horse’s face. A beautiful contrast to his shiny black coat, mane, and tail. His tail is so long, it almost touches the ground.
“His name is Jester. It’s Prick’s, I mean Nick’s, new racehorse.” He gives me a devilish grin, but his eyes cut to Nick to see if he’s paying attention to his comments.
I eye Ethan cautiously, unsure if it’s wise to laugh at his comment even though it’s fitting. He loves to make cracks at Nick about his personality and seems to get away with it. I’d like to think Nick might be more bark than bite, but I’m still not going to let my guard down with him. It’s very possible he lets him get away with it because of their family dynamics. That and Ethan is a likeable person—unlike me.
“Here, put this in your hand and hold it flat so he can take it from you. Horses love peppermints.” He drops the candy into my shaky hand.
“Unless you want to spend the rest of your time here cleaning sheaths, I suggest you watch your mouth,” Nick chimes in.
Ahh, there he is.He was paying attention.His delayed reaction leaves me thankful that I didn’t laugh.
“What’s sheath cleaning?” I murmur out loud. Surely whatever it is can’t be that bad, right?
“Trust me, Rivers, you don’t want to know.” Ethan makes a face like he’s gagging.
The horse, having heard the rustle of the wrapper, already has his head turned towards me, eagerly waiting. I holdmy hand flat. His lips tickle my hand as he gently takes the candy.
“Can I pet him?” I ask, my hand midair but I refrain from petting him just yet. I don’t have any experience with horses. I don’t know if they like that or not.
Ethan laughs. “Of course you can.” I reach out and stroke his soft mane. The horse looks me in the eye, and I swear he looks straight into my soul.
How can something so large and powerful look inside you and see you for who you truly are inside? I’ve heard that about horses and now I believe it. I slowly inhale, enjoying his scent. Who knew horses smelled so good?
“Come here, Maya.” Nick orders, now standing at the horse’s head, holding its lead rope in his hand.
I do as I am told.
“You’re going to lead Jester to the barn.” His eyebrows raise as he holds the rope closer to me, urging me to take it.
“Me? I don’t know how to lead a horse,” my voice stammers.
“There’s nothing to it. Take the rope and I’ll walk beside you.” My fingers tremble as I reach out to grasp the red braided line, causing my hand to brush against his. He looks up at me and his dark eyes meet mine. They’re not as black as they looked the first time I met him.
Geezus this man is so good looking, I think I’ve forgotten how to breathe. I’m not sure how much more contact my poor heart can take with him today before it beats out of my chest. With the way he is standing, he’s blocking the sun from my view, even though the rays radiate around him.
Look away, Maya. You’re playing with fire, and you’re going to get burned.I try, but I can’t bring myself to break his gaze. I’m Icarus, and he is the sun. Why does he have to be so hot and why is he still staring at me? My brain is short circuiting.
Because he’s waiting for you to lead the damn horse.I blink a few times, snapping out of my alternate reality where he’s the cat and I’m the prey he can’t wait to pounce on.
Metaphorically speaking, of course. I don’t want him to disembowel me or rip my head off. But I wouldn’t mind letting him dig his claws into my backside or sink his teeth into my neck.
Nick steps intimidatingly close to me, leans in, and whispers in my ear, “If you’re challenging me to a staring contest, cupcake, you should know that I willalwayswin.” His hot breath skates across my neck, sending goosebumps rippling over my skin. That seductive voice emphasized way too hard on “always,” and I almost melted on the spot.
My breathing has become voluntary and I’ve just about forgotten how to do it. I let out a long breath and slowly inhale, replenishing my oxygen-deprived brain before I pass out. Now would be a great time for the ground to open up and swallow me whole. Heat flares in my cheeks and somewhere else. I think I just might die of embarrassment.
“I’m…uh…I’m…sorry, I uh,” I stammer “I wasn’t trying to stare, I was just lost in my own thoughts.” Shit. Kill me now.
“Are we going to stand here all day or are we going to the barn?” Ethan’s impatient intervention couldn’t have come soon enough. I take the lead rope and start walking, trying not to show my level of discomfort.
In the barn, Nick hooks the horse to the crossties in the middle of the aisle. The guys teach me how to groom the horse. I brush his soft coat, mane and tail, and use a hoof pick to clean his hooves.
