15
‘You what?’
‘Shush,’ hissed Flora and pulled Josh away from the view of the office window and into a stable. Once alone, Flora took a deep breath and tried to appease him. ‘Listen, Josh, this is my doing – you won’t take the rap.’
‘You kidding?’ he rasped. ‘Dylan will kill me!’
‘Keep your voice down,’ Flora whispered urgently and quickly looked out of the stable door. Good, no one was about. Turning back, she continued in a low voice, ‘Dylan won’t find out, not until the race starts and he realises it’s me riding Phoenix, not you.’
‘Your name will appear on the programme,’ cut in Josh dryly.
‘We’ll have to make sure he doesn’t bloody well see the programme then, won’t we?’
‘We?’ Josh’s eyes widened.
Flora tried again to win him over. ‘Josh, there’s no way Dylan would agree to me riding in that point-to-point, or any other race for that matter. He thinks it’s too dangerous—’
‘Which is exactly why I’m not agreeing to this either,’ he interrupted, folding his arms defiantly.
‘Yes you will.’ Flora glared at him. ‘I’m the assistant trainer of this yard.’
‘And Dylan’s the owner of this yard,’ he retaliated. ‘He’ll fucking sack me!’
‘No he won’t,’ replied Flora in a stern voice. ‘I will tell him the truth: that I made you promise not to say a word. Look, we all know I’m the best rider for Phoenix.’
With that Josh couldn’t argue; he remained silent.
Flora quickly continued, ‘Just let me show Dylan that Icando it, and safely. Once he realises I’m fine racing, it won’t be a problem.’
Josh pulled a face in disbelief. Even she had to concede this may be pushing it a bit.
‘Please, Josh, don’t tell him.’ Her eyes searched his face.
He gave a deep sigh and looked away.
‘Please?’ She touched his arm until he faced her.
‘OK,’ he agreed reluctantly, already regretting his actions.
‘Oh thanks, Josh!’ She hugged him with gratitude.
*
Dylan walked past the stable and saw through the gap of the door. Blinking, he glanced again to see Flora’s arms around Josh. Gulping, he quickly strode into the office, his heart hammering in his chest.What the fuck?Surely not? Flora… and Josh? But that’s what he’d seen, with his very own eyes. He slumped down at his desk and rubbed a shaking hand through his hair.
His first instinct was to tear into that stable and rip the bastard apart, but the voice of reason quickly intervened. Josh was actually a very good groom and he wouldn’t be able to replace him that easily. Also, he was riding for him in the point-to-point next week. A nauseating sensation settled in his gut, threatening to spill out of him. He took in a long, steady breath. Flora, his precious Flora – how could she? Tears began to well in his eyes. He quickly blinked them away on hearing her enter the office.
‘Hi!’ she breezed. His mouth was dry, unable to answer. He took in the back of her, as she poured herself a drink. Her blonde hair was plaited and coming lose, her petite frame nicely showcased in a fitted, quilted jacket and tight jodhpurs. He swallowed away the bile that edged up his throat. She turned to face him. Her cheeks held a rosy glow. Was that from sexual excitement? thought Dylan miserably. ‘You OK?’ Flora asked, looking concerned. ‘You look pale.’ Still unable to speak, he dragged his chair back and got up. ‘Dylan?’
‘I need to go home,’ he said gruffly and strode out of the office, leaving a rather puzzled Flora staring after him.
