Page 17 of Bales and Brawn

“Are you alright?” There’s a hint of concern in his voice. I turn and look at him, his hazel eyes no longer holding their usual hostile gaze. His hand burns at my hip. He’s too close. It’s too intense. I can’t breathe.

‘Um, yes, thanks,” I mumble and he nods.

“Good, you can go faster tomorrow.” He drops his hand and turns, leading Bonnie away while I suck in a lungful of air.

The next morning, I hear him getting Bonnie ready as I come down from my room.

“Do I need to learn how to do that?” I ask as he places a blanket pad on her back.

“I was going to leave it for later in the week, when I’m sure you’re gonna stick with it.”

“You think I’m not? You think I can’t do this?” I ask, prickly, and see his mouth twitch. His jaw tilts and his eyes shine in a way that makes my spine tingle.

“Just show me how to do this?” I gesture to the saddle he’s just hoisted on top of the pad and is now cinching up.

“How about you get through today’s lesson first?”

“Why? What’s wrong with today’s lesson?” I ask as I follow him and Bonnie out of the barn and into the paddock. At first it’s a repeat of yesterday, and I think he’s said it just to rile me up, which works far too effectively. Once I’ve walked her around and practiced steering, Zane asks me to stop and clips a long rope to her bridle.

“What’s that for?”

“Now you’re going to go faster, and this is so I can keep her in a circle so you don’t have to worry about where you’re going.”

“Is it that bad?” I’m not so sure about this.

“You’ll be fine. Are you ready?”

“Can I say no?”

“Nope.” He clicks his tongue and Bonnie starts walking. He clicks again and she moves into the most bone-shaking gait I’ve ever experienced. I grab the horn of the saddle before she jostles me to the floor.

“Th-i-s is f-f-ucking aw-ful,” I stutter out as my insides are shaken about and my teeth feel like they’re about to come loose.

“Relax and let your body absorb the movement,” he calls back.

That’s rich for someone who acts like he has a rod stuck up his ass most of the time. Actually, I’ve never seen him on a horse, but he does seem more relaxed when he’s around them. I try to do as he says and relax, when all I want to do is grip on harder with everything I’ve got.

“Good, that’s better.”

I nearly get whiplash turning my head to look at him. Did he just give me praise? Actual praise? I try to detect a hint of sarcasm, but his gaze is soft, almost friendly.

Huh.

I try to relax more, to see if he’s going to say it again, but all too soon he calls a stop to the lesson. This time, when I jump down, I manage to stay on my feet.

“You’re doing really well,” he says, and I preen a little. A warmth spreads through my chest and I catch his smile. Then just as quickly, he shuts it down, as if he’s used up his reserves of good will for the day. He leads Bonnie away, sucking the warmth from me and leaving an icy chill across my skin.

I don’t see him for the rest of the day as he takes Clive to a hospital appointment, but Nova grills me for all the details of my riding lessons. He also tells me about the time Zane taught him to ride.

“How old were you?” I ask.

Nova wrinkles his nose in thought. “About six, I think.”

Yeah, that figures. As I serve customers at work my mind drifts back to how Zane seems different when he’s round the horses, and I imagine what he would look like on one. I bet it’s good.

I set an early alarm for the next day, determined to be there to help him get Bonnie ready, so he can show me how to do it. I try to spring out of bed, but my body has other ideas.

Everything aches.