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Or, more accurately, it was working too well.
Yesterday, he’d left shortly after brunch and stayed away from the estate until evening chores. Today, his goal was to get her over the damn jump. The sooner she was over it and back to her regular training schedule, the sooner she could go home, and the less danger he would be in.
The light tick of boot heels on cement gave him a three second warning before Raine called out, “Good morning!”
Damn it, she was early. Though, to be fair, she’d been early every single morning.
Reyes glanced up as she came to a stop at the stall door, one hand hooked around the beam that rose to the rafters as she leaned into the opening, her braid dangling over her shoulder. He tried, but couldn’t stop his gaze from taking in the snug fit of her white T-shirt, black breeches, and shiny black boots.
“Where’d you go yesterday?” she asked as he threw another scoop of dirty bedding into the wheel barrow.
“Out.”
It came out harsher than he intended, and surprise flickered in her expression before she lifted her chin slightly. “Well, Fire and I went for another ride yesterday. Just the two of us, and it was nice.”
“Good. Then you should be all ready to work today.”
“I’ve been ready to work every day.” Resentment edged her voice.
“And yet there you stand.”
He expected her to whirl around and storm off. Instead, she straightened and pinned him with her gaze. “So, that’s how you’re going to play it? Like this weekend never happened?”
“Nothing did happen.”
Except it had. They’d spent most of Friday and Saturday together, and Sunday brunch, all without a single note of animosity. Friendship had definitely been in the works.
“All right then,” she said. “My mistake.”
He had to turn away from the hurt in her eyes and was relieved when he heard her footsteps retreat. He finished cleaning the stall before meeting her out in the arena at eight a.m., where she and Fire were already warming up.
Keeping his tone businesslike, he called out instructions and suggestions on a few of their sloppier efforts. When she avoided the vertical jump on the first round, he let it pass. After the second pass, he huffed out a sigh under his breath.
“You can’t keep avoiding the jump, Raine.”
“I’m working up to it,” she shot back with an icy glare.
“I thought you were a professional, but I could dare you if that helps.”
“I don’t need you to dare me.”
The elevated tone of her voice revealed her anxiety. Reyes raked a hand through his hair as he raised his hand for her to stop. When she reined her horse to a halt in front of him, he moved closer to stroke the gelding’s neck while looking up at her.
“You know this is all in your head, right?” Anger flashed in her expression, and he reached his other hand to rest on her knee. “I’m not saying what you’re feeling isn’t valid, but physically, there’s nothing keeping you from doing this.”
“You think I don’t know that? I hate this as much as everyone else.” As soon as the words were out, she averted her gaze. Her fingers held the reins in a death grip, and her gelding sidled sideways a step before she halted him.
Reyes moved close again. “Do you trust Fire?”
“Of course I do.”
He shook his head at her automatic reply. “I’m not looking for the answer you think I want to hear. Think about it first, then tell me if you truly trust your horse.”
Her gaze held his for a long moment before she leaned forward, almost hugging the gelding’s neck as she rubbed her palm over his shiny coat. “Yes, I trust him.”
“Then let him take you over the jump. Don’t worry about counting strides or anything else. Close your eyes if you have to. Just give him the reins and let him take you over.”
Raine slowly sat up straight in the saddle. The breath she released was uneven, her gaze apprehensive, but she nodded. He gave her knee an encouraging squeeze a second before she pivoted Fire away. She cantered him around the arena once and then lined up with the jump.
