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We were going to surprise Luke, and I couldn’t wait to see the horses. Maybe I’d even open up about the job search, so it wasn’t hanging over my head anymore.
My excitement brought on waves of realization. I didn’t want to leave.
No. It had been my glaring insecurities that lured me into a false sense of duty and prompted me to go job hunting. Neither Luke nor Elias wanted me taxing myself after surviving in a fight-or-flight situation every day for months. They cared. They promised me I could stay here. I would come clean and prove my love to them. No matter what it took.
Elias
The trip was uneventful, and Emma had dozed off a couple times. I secured the two of us tickets to the event as well as backstage access. My plan was to find Luke before the show, and hopefully spend some time with him afterward. Holding Emma’s hand firmly as we traversed the arena, I stopped for what felt like the dozenth time. She kept releasing my hand and checking out the booths, shops, or whatever else caught her eye.
“There are thousands of people here, sweetheart. Stay next to me.”
Emma kissed my cheek. “I know! I thought the feeling would be scary, but I love it! I want to see the horses and Luke and everything.” She bounced on the balls of her feet looking positively adorable.
“We will do whatever you want, but let’s go find Luke first.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Navigating the map with my finger, I glanced around, searching for the easiest route but when I raised my head, Emma had disappeared into the crowd.
“Bloody fucking hell.”
Searching through the event hall and shops proved fruitless. Sighing, I hurried to find Luke by myself. Two heads would be better than one when it came to locating our girl. I hoped he wouldn’t be upset with me. Spying Luke leaning against a wall, talking to someone, I walked faster than I normally did to bridge the distance between us. He waved off the older gentleman as I approached, and he pulled me against him.
“What are you doing here?” Luke hugged me but when he pulled back, his eyebrows were knitted together in concern. “Where’s Emma?”
“She kept letting go of me, and when I was trying to figure out how to get back here, she got lost in the crowd. We missed you.”
“I missed both of you, but this is a big place.” Lacing his fingers in mine, he tugged me toward the back of the arena. “I’ll see if security can find her.”
“Someone might see us.”
“What?” Luke stopped in his tracks and cocked an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”
“Us,” I gestured at our hands. “Don’t you care what people think?”
“I don’t give a fuck.” Despite the seriousness of the situation unfolding around us, Luke cupped my cheek with his free hand, and kissed me hard. “Are you done?”
“Yes, Sir.” Swallowing my anxieties, likely more worked up because our girl was missing, I followed him through the maze-like halls.
“Luke!” A young man rushed up to him waving a clipboard. “We just had a last-minute entry, but there’s no record of her.”
“No. Tell me she didn’t.” I took a deep breath, as Luke took the clipboard. His eyes widened as he read over it.
“She did.” Luke thrust the clipboard back to the younger man. “Radio to security immediately that Ms. Bowen-Rhineheart isnotpermitted to perform.”
She put my name first! The thought of her getting hurt trumped the tiny bit of glee I felt. If she didn’t have any training, getting on the back of a horse could be dangerous. Gritting my teeth, I tried to push away the crippling fear suddenly taking hold of my heart.
“Uh, yeah, but she’s already entered the ring,” the young man said sheepishly. “That’s never happened before.”
“And it’s never going to happen again,” Luke growled.
He yanked me alongside of him, heading to the event ring I imagined, but my thoughts were spinning.
“What if she gets hurt?”
“Emma will be fine, at least until she gets out of the arena. I’m busting both of your asses for this.”
Furious at the sudden threat of punishment coupled with my concerns, I jerked away from him.
