He doesn’t even flinch, taking one step forward like he’s moving through water. There’s something hypnotic about it—the way he reads the horse’s body, how heknowswhen to push and when to back off.
It’s a turn-on, watching him work. The focused set of his jaw. The way his voice evens out, steady and low. The quiet authority in every movement.
He’s calm. In control. Completely in his element.
And something in me aches, wondering what it would feel like to be the thing he’s focused on—what that control would feel like when it’s turned toward me.
I’m so caught up watching him, I hadn’t even noticed Landon leaning against the rail a few feet away with a saddle blanket draped over his arm.
His smile is bright and easy, dimples on full display. “You must be my extra set of hands.”
“That’s me,” I say, returning a grin. “I didn’t know you did training.”
“I don’t train the horses. I teach riding lessons to the kids during the summer programs.”
“Aw, that’s actually really cute. I’m sure girls love that.”
He smirks. “It doesn’t hurt.”
I glance back toward the pen. Wesley’s still working, moving in a slow circle as the horse tracks him, wary but attentive. Outlaw finally slows, ears flicking forward. Wesley shifts his stance, coaxing him into stillness without saying a word.
Landon nudges my arm gently with his elbow. “You good to help set up the jumps in the next pen over?”
“Hm? Oh, right. Yes, whatever I can do to help,” I say, still half-distracted.
As I move to follow him, Wesley glances up—just for a second—and our eyes meet. He briefly looks at Landon and his jaw ticks.
Every flutter of the butterfly wings in my stomach tells me I’m inwaytoo deep to turn back now.
Landon leads the way into the pen and Wesley’s jealousy pulses at my back like a second sun.
By the time we’re done setting the last jump, my shirt is plastered to my skin. Landon wipes sweat from his brow and gives me a nod.
“Appreciate you helping me out. You did great today,” he says, dropping beside me against the fence post.
“It took me all day to do half a day’s work.”
“Nothing wrong with that. Imagine how much longer it would’ve taken me without your help.” He kicks out both feet, crossing them at the ankles. “Are you going to stick around when summer’s over?”
I shake my head. “I’m enrolled for the fall semester.”
Even saying it out loud, it doesn’t feel real. That I’ll have to leave.
He hesitates, picking at a weed. “I’ve never seen a girl be able to distract Wes as much as you do.”
I scoff but he holds a hand up. “I’m not stupid, Sadie. But even if I was, it’s painfully obvious.”
He’s not saying anything I don’t already know. Yet I can’t help but feel guilty for being a distraction. A nuisance.
I felt Wesley’s stare all day, scorching against my skin. But it’s against the rules, so I play dumb—like the silly Cali girl they all think I am.
“I don’t think you’re stupid, but I also don’t think Wesley cares enough to let anyone distract him.”
He raises his eyebrows, clearly not buying my bullshit. I don’t blame him. I’m really regretting not taking Mia more seriously when she asked me to do acting exercises with her.
“Look, Landon, it’sreallynot—”
“Hey, Princess.” Wesley’s deep voice cuts me off.
