I skip the mounting block, offering Aura a leg up. If she asked, I’d tell her it’s faster, but the real reason is because I want to put my hands on her, to reassure myself she’s still here and maybe remind her what we’re like when we’re together. She may think she can avoid me by moving out, but the chemistry between us is too sharp to ignore.
She hesitates before lifting her left leg. It’s warm under my hand even through the denim fabric. I lean in close to her ear, whispering so nobody else can hear us. “You didn’t have to take off like that. I would have understood if you talked to me about it.”
“You were busy. I met Maggie in the morning. She was talking about me moving over to Chicory with the rest of the cast. It made sense to get it over with.”
“Hell, I would have helped you, if you’d only bothered to ask.”
With the horse’s big body concealing us from the rest of the party lined up at the trail head, I take advantage of the moment. She gasps as I run a hand down her side, sliding it around to give her ass a squeeze. A little reminder of what she’s missing out on when she avoidsme. She’s probably dying to take control, but when she turns to me, her brown eyes are liquid pools of heat, lips slightly parted.
“I can handle myself.”
“Whatever you say, Hollywood. Now, jump.”
She swings her leg over the horse’s back as I give her a boost. I check her cinch and stirrups, but since she was the last one to ride Flash, everything is still perfect.
I leave her with one long stroke down her leg before I turn back to hop on my mount.
“Hey, buddy,” I say, giving Shadow a pat. He snorts, stamping an impatient hoof as I settle into my saddle with a gentle creak of leather. “I know you’re pissed you don’t get to be in front today, but trust me. Sometimes it’s fun to let someone else lead the way.”
Shadow is supremely uninterested in my reassurance, jolting forward when I give him a gentle squeeze to join the back of the line. Right behind Aura, just as I planned it.
Although as we start off along the path winding our way through the trees, I realize I may have made a grave error. Because watching Aura’s hips sway gently back and forth with the horse’s movement is a special kind of self-inflicted torture.
Chapter 22
Aura
Imayhavestartedout the ride nervous about taking my riding outside the safe confines of the ring, but Quint putting his hands on me got me flustered for a completely different reason. My skin is still a little tingly and restless an hour later. If his goal was to get me hot and bothered, mission accomplished. Not to mention, I really want to teach him a lesson. I’m itching to put him back in his place—under me.
The only good part is having Hayden directly in front of me. He keeps twisting around in his saddle to try to make conversation and flash that movie star smile at me. While I’m chatting with him, I’m constantly aware of Quint behind me, tracking my every move. He kind of deserves it.
The barn is in sight as we break through the trees. Thank god. My ass is killing me, and my arms are gettingscratched up from the branches infringing on my space as we walk by. I duck down to avoid another one smacking me in the face, but before I’ve had a chance to straighten up, Flash’s steady body lurches underneath me and she leaps ahead. I flail around, trying to grab the horn—her neck—anything—but I can’t quite gain my balance back. All I can do is watch the grass as it speeds toward me.
Pain shoots through my shoulder as I hit the ground with a thump. Thundering hooves sound from ahead and I look up to see Hayden flying ahead toward the barn. Shayla’s voice rises above everything else as she yells at the star.
There’s a soft thud next to me as a familiar pair of boots lands in the grass. I shift, pushing myself up from the ground.
“Aura, don’t move. We should check you over.”
I ignore Quint’s concerned words while embarrassment scorches a trail through me. I don’t really want to look up at my fellow cast members, so instead I focus on him. He’s kneeling in front of me, arms out to try to stop me from getting up. But that’s not for me. I’m not the helpless maiden.
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? We should double check anyway.” He starts running his hands over me, my arms, my back, my sides. I’m not sure what he thinks he’s checking for, but his touch is causing a different sort of heat to spread through me.
“Quint, stop.”
He ducks his head down to peer into my face. “What’s the matter, what hurts?”
“Nothing but my pride, and I might have a bit of a bruise on my shoulder.” I reach up to rub at it, glancing around, but most of our party is gathered a short distance away. A couple of them are watching us, but most of them are watching the show back at the barn. Shayla is clearly not happy with Hayden. She’s yelling at him and jabbing him in the chest. The playboy star looks suitably chastised, but she keeps laying into him. I laugh, and Quint follows my gaze over to the pair.
“Looks like Hayden met his match.”
Quint chuckles along with me. “Looks like it. Are you sure you’re okay? No back pain, no neck?”
I shake my head. “Like I said. Just my pride, although…”
His hands slide to my biceps. “Although what? What is it?”
