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I awoke and saw the sun streaming in through my bedroom window. My window A/C unit hummed. I stretched languidly and realized that Trey’s arm was wrapped around my waist. I foggily remembered a tumultuous dream; I was glad he was here. He'd slept next to me all night with his arms around me. My mind turned to the break-in and confusion of the night before. I glanced over to my dresser and the two blue velvet boxes were still there, quite real. The reality of the jewelry wasn't part of the nightmare, that puzzle still required solving.
I gently rolled over, careful not to wake Trey. I wanted to watch him in all his gorgeousness and try to remember pieces of the night before. As I watched Trey sleep, I was amazed that this beautiful man cared about me. I wasn't sure of his motivation. My mom had always repeated to me that men simply weren’t to be trusted. She'd once told me that she'd held on to her virginity until her wedding night with my dad. She'd confided to me that I was conceived the very first time she had marital relations. She explained that was the reason she was fanatical about practicing safe sex. She claimed my father had lost interest in her after I was born and went elsewhere for romance.
Trey’s hair was mussed from sleep. I reached my hand up and brushed some hair back off of his brow. He stirred feelings in me that I'd never known. They were confusing at times, but I resolved to go with my heart. This morning, I wanted to pamper him. I exited noiselessly from the bed, and slipped into my robe and slippers. I quietly opened the bedroom door and went out to the kitchen, shutting the door softly behind me. I put the coffee on figuring Trey to be a coffee drinker. I checked the fridge and got out the eggs, milk, and cheese for an omelet. I could hear Trey stirring in the bedroom, then the bathroom sink running.
When Trey emerged I had to giggle. He was wearing my older shabby blue bathrobe. It was pretty tight on him and the sleeves went only to his elbows. “You look nice this morning,” I greeted him cheerily. He cocked one eyebrow, scratching the back of his head and immediately grumbled for coffee. My man wasn't a morning person.
“Sit down,” I instructed, and filled one of the mugs with steaming coffee. “Cream or sugar?” I asked sweetly.
“Black is fine, Tylar,” he said, yawning, as I handed him the mug.
He took a sip of coffee and then another. I handed him a plate with toast and an omelet and sat down across from him with my plate.
“This looks great, Tylar,” he said as he started digging in, “Umm…it's good.”
“I’m glad you like it,” I said.
We ate in silence for a few minutes, but I knew he was going to start pressing me about my dreams. I was pleasantly surprised when the first thing he said had nothing to do with my dreams.
“What do you have planned for today, Tylar?” he asked, looking up from his plate, chewing thoughtfully.
Falling in love with you…
“I really hadn’t planned anything. Just playing it by ear I guess.”
“Do you want to take Derringer out for a ride?”
I was shocked. What happened to, “Nobody mounts my horse but me?” I wasn’t about to throw that up to him now.
“Well sure, you meantogether?”
He frowned at me. “That's the idea. I mean if you want to start exercising him in the arena, you need to get used to him. I thought maybe we'd ride him together.”
“It sounds great to me. When do you want to do this?”
He glanced down at his Rolex. “I’ve got to get back to my house and clean up. I have a few emails to answer. Let’s meet at the stables in a couple of hours, around noon?”
“It’s a date,” I answered smiling.
He leaned over the breakfast bar and gave me a peck on the cheek. I felt almost giddy. We finished up with our breakfast. Trey did the dishes while I made the bed. He told me he'd see me in a couple on his way out.
It was just past 11:30 a.m. when I headed down to the barn, making absolutely sure that my cottage was locked. It felt anxious in there now since I knew that someone had let themselves in, leaving those boxes in my bed. Someone from my past.
I entered the barn and walked down the aisle between the horse stalls to the tack room. Opening my locker, I grabbed my hunt cap and riding gloves and zipped my half-chaps up over my jeans. I heard a man’s voice in the aisle. Peeking out the tack room door, I was relieved to see it was Trey. I was more skittish these days than any horse in the stable.
My stomach had butterflies as I watched Trey get Derringer saddled up. He knew what he was doing. He'd put an all-purpose saddle on Derringer for today. It made sense being that he wanted the Lipizzaner to get accustomed to me riding him, but I wasn't worried that it would take long. Trey was dressed impeccably in English riding garb. He was wearing a white linen shirt, with fawn colored breeches that clung to his well-muscled thighs and tight ass. His black field boots shone. I was already taking much pleasure watching his sinewy moves as he readied the horse. He put his riding gloves on after he finished adjusting Derringer’s bridle, having been assured the fit was gentle.
As I gazed at him, in the back of my mind my mom’s nagging witch’s voice was harping to my subconscious convincing my id that Trey was too handsome, too rich, too polished, and too classy for trash like me. I pushed the thoughts down.
Trey smiled when he saw I’d arrived and I joined him in the aisle. Together we led Derringer out of the stable, halting at the mounting block on the lawn. Trey mounted Derringer expertly and I looked up at him.
“Where do you want me?” I asked cautiously.
“Well for now, how about up on the horse with me?” He grinned mischievously as he lowered his left arm down and with little effort, swung me up, placing me right in front of him. I was encircled by his arms, my head resting comfortably against his chest. I suddenly felt shy and giddy. With a squeeze of his calves against the horse’s side, we were off at a walk.
After a few moments of walking, we'd left the stable far behind us and came to an open meadow. Trey leaned down and whispered in my ear.
“Ready to pick up the speed?”
