being less than charitable, but reaching for anything that would give her an edge against the effect he seemed to be having on her so effortlessly. “For a beginner.”
He took the comment in stride, but didn’t tip his imaginary brim again.
“Next class we’ll work on turning around and coming in to the center of the ring. After that, we’ll work on speed. Trotting, then cantering.”
“No galloping?”
“No galloping.”
His dark eyebrows lifted in mild surprise. “How about outside of the ring?”
She smiled dryly. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, okay?”
“Well, the idea is to eventually ride the horse in something other than an endless circle.”
“Yes. But this isn’t like the movies. I hate to break it to you, but trail riding rarely involves galloping.”
“Do you?”
“Trail ride?”
“Gallop your horse. In or out of the ring.”
“Neither at the moment—she’s pregnant.”
“But otherwise?”
She folded her arms. “Why do you ask?”
“You normally work with racehorses. I assume it’s rather like guys who work around race cars. Or Lear jets.”
“You think I’m a speed junkie?”
He looked down at her from his higher perch, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Actually, I don’t know what to think about you.”
“I could say the same,” she responded, before she thought better of it.
He held her in silent regard for a long moment. He seemed quite relaxed, but Petunia stepped a little restlessly, proving there was more tension in him than he was showing. “Could I interest you in grabbing a bite to eat? Later, once you’re free?”
The offer shouldn’t have caught her so off guard. They’d been circling each other almost from the moment he’d entered the stables. But it did. “I—I have chores. Then my horse…I have to see to her.” She was stuttering. She never stuttered. “I’d feel more comfortable if we kept this purely a professional relationship.”
“Okay,” he said, a little too easily.
Perverse creature that she was, she wished he’d at least been a bit more put out by her immediate refusal.
“Doesn’t mean we can’t share a meal, does it?” he went on, making her feel inordinately better, which was a double warning sign.
She didn’t want him pursuing her. On any level. No matter how good it made her feel. She couldn’t risk enjoying even something as simple as having her ego stroked. Much less any other part of her. She tried like hell not to look at his hands again.
He grinned a little. “We can discuss a strategy for helping me show Mac up when we ride together for the first time.”
She laughed in surprise. “So, that’s it, then. This is all just some kind of macho contest.”
“Where men and horses are concerned, isn’t it always?”
She chuckled. “Most of the time, yes. And yet, somehow I don’t see you as the cowboy type.”
“What do you see me as?” He laughed a little and shook his head. “Never mind. Maybe I don’t want to know.”
He caught her gaze and held it. The combination of that twinkle in his eyes and the laughter was downright lethal. Her nipples ached, her thighs were all twitchy, and there were butterflies dancing in her tummy.
“Or you can tell me over dinner.”
She’d never wanted to accept an invitation more. She had no doubt that if the two of them were alone anywhere outside of a business-only situation, dinner wouldn’t be all they’d be having. Reason enough to end this little banter session. “I’m afraid I can’t.”
She thought he might continue to press, and was surprised to find, even knowing better, she almost wanted him to. Maybe he’d find a way past her defenses, find a way to make it okay to take what she wanted and damn the consequences. Only the consequences, in this case, were huge. And didn’t involve only her. Knowing that didn’t make the ache go away, though. If anything, it only intensified. Her desires had always been career-oriented. She’d never wanted anything purely for the sake of having it.
But she’d be lying if she said that, right then, right there, she didn’t want him. Just for now. Or at least until he could make the damn ache go away.
“Okay, then,” he said, easily enough. Damn him. “Class over, I presume?”
She broke eye contact, praying that nothing of the thoughts going through her head showed anywhere on her face. He was far too astute as it was. “For this round, yes. You can dismount here. I’ll take care of the rest.” The faster she increased the distance between them, the better.
“No, that’s okay. I’ll do what’s expected,” he said. “Not fair for you to do my work.”
“First-timer’s pass,” she said. “We’ve gone a bit longer than I anticipated and I still have a list of chores to get through. It will go faster if I take care of her this go. You’ll definitely be in charge of that next time.”
“So, you’re willing to have a next time?”
Do I have a choice? she wondered, but didn’t say it out loud. Not that she thought Kate would lean on her to help out her friend, but Elena wasn’t a novice when it came to work politics. In her previous field, she’d learned quickly that getting ahead sometimes meant doing things because you might benefit later from the favor. Even if the short-term risks didn’t seem worth the effort.
“You’re a quick study,” she told him. “A few more lessons and you’ll have the basics down. Enough to trail-ride with Finn and Mac, anyway, if that’s your goal.”
“Okay,” he said, then hesitated for a second, as if he was going to say something else, but apparently changed his mind. “I appreciate you taking the time.”
“For a friend of Kate’s, not a problem.” Best he understand her motivation was purely professional, just in case he had other ideas. Especially if they were anything like the ideas she was having.
His wry grin reappeared. “So, how do I get down from here without blowing what little horse cred I built up tonight?”
She laughed again. He really had to stop making her do that. This would all be a lot easier if he’d stayed an enigmatic hard-ass. “Hand on pommel, body weight forward, swing your right leg behind you, kick your left foot out of the stirrup, and slide to the ground.”
“What do I do with the rope?”
She stepped forward and showed him, this time far more
