Page 47 of Chris

“Easy, easy.”

Valeria’s attempt to soothe the broken horse worked. Abril came out here in the field and worked with the horse to make it rideable, but after a bad fall from the horse throwing her from the saddle … well, she was hesitant to approach the animal so soon.

Horses were like people. Sometimes, they didn’t always connect with someone else. Human, or animal. And other times, they needed a bit to come around. Valeria figured that was the problem with Duke, the horse she was trying to work with on his riding skills, so she tried to take him out while Abril took a break from working with him.

At least this way, he didn’t have long spells of little to no activity with a human. Something beyond being fed, brushes, or having his stall cleaned. He would be a riding horse, and so someone needed to ride him.

Simple as that.

“That’s a good boy, Duke,” Valeria said, reaching down to pat his muscular neck. “One more trip around the fence line, huh? Let’s go.”

She pulled the reins on the right side, a silent command for the animal to turn in that direction. It took a harder tug for him to listen to her command, though, which spoke to his stubbornness. That was another issue with him. He didn’t like to do what others wanted him to do when he would much rather do what he wanted.

Horses with stubborn streaks kept them even after being trained. She figured Duke would be an adult’s horse, and not appropriate for children to ride. Which was fine, honestly. Some horses were better suited to adults because they needed that strong, dominant hand.

They were halfway around the fence line of the field that the horses used to graze when she first noticed him. Chris, that was.

It was impossible for her to ignore the way her heart raced in her chest from nothing more than sight alone. He seemed so calm, unbothered, and confident leaning against the post of the wooden fence, his gaze locked on her as she came closer to his spot riding Duke.

After their moment in the stables the other day, Valeria had done her best to avoid him because she didn’t know how to deal with the strange emotions the Canadian invoked in her. Not to mention, there was just something about the way he looked at her. She couldn’t explain what it was, but she swore he was looking right into her soul, seeing all of those secrets she tried damn hard to hide, with very little effort at all.

Chris raised a hand, a small wave urging her closer to him.

Damn.

Now, she couldn’t pretend like she hadn’t seen him. Although, if she were being an honest woman, she didn’t want to avoid him at all. That would probably end badly for her in one way or another.

“Enjoying a ride?” he asked when Duke trotted closer to his spot at the fence post.

Valeria kept a good fifteen feet between her, and him. Just in case. Surely, no one would see them out here in the field and think something inappropriate might go on, but she couldn’t be too careful.

Jorge had acted on lesser beliefs.

He shouldn’t be tested.

Besides, something had happened.

In the stables …

Valeria couldn’t forget it.

Neither could her body.

“Training Duke, actually,” she replied. “Have you taken a horse out yet?”

“Considering it.” Chris flashed her a grin one might consider sinful. God knew she did if the way her thighs clenched around the body of the horse was any sign. She was not used to this—to feeling attraction for someone else. Not at all. “Although, I have to say I am enjoying watching you ride a horse far more.”

There was no hiding the suggestion in his tone.

He didn’t even make the attempt.

Why did she like that?

Because she shouldn’t.

At all.

Valeria swallowed thickly. “You shouldn’t do that.”