by K. M. Hill
“Sabrina, you are so beautiful. I’ve never seen a more beautiful sight than you in the last few minutes.” Zach offered softly.
This was her trainer. Where was she supposed to go from here? She couldn’t face him. She would have to leave.
“Sabrina. Sabrina. Look at me. Please. Look at me.” Zach begged.
Slowly she raised her head and looked into his eyes. Her eyes were full with tears nearly spilling over on her face.
“Sweetheart, why are you crying?” He asked softly.
“I can’t believe I did that. I can’t believe I set us up this way. I was just playing.” She sniffled.
“Oh, baby. This was bound to happen with the amount of heat that has been between us. I felt it the same way you did from the first moment.” Zach confessed.
“Zach, I am not one of those women you date. I don’t do this. My relationships are few and far between and I…” she stammered.
“Sabrina. I don’t date much either and I know you aren’t like anyone else. Baby, just enjoy us. Don’t get crazy about this. Let me take care of you. You are always so hard charging and in control, let me share some of the burden. You are all I think about. I’ve spent the last four days trying to not flip my horses because I am thinking of you as I canter up to a jump,” he said with a laugh.
Sabrina looked at him with her big green eyes. Her strawberry blond hair dark from being wet. Her skin glistened. He could eat her up she was so gorgeous.
“Zach. I’m confused. We had a kiss in my house that I thought was amazing, even though both of us weren’t looking for it. But you left so abruptly. You were almost rude to me and so cold to me the days following. I don’t know which end is up. “
“Lewis made me see how foolish I was being about you being a client. I had a hard rule that I thought was a barn rule that there would be no dating of clients. It seems as if he only put that in place to save me from some aggressive women at the time of my parents’ death and the settling of the estate.
“After I found that out, I realized the only thing holding me back and actually the thing that made me run away the other night, was me. As soon as I let that go, I stopped denying how much I am attracted to you and how much you fascinate me,” he looked at her.
“Zach, I don’t know what to say. I’m clearly attracted to you but I agree a trainer-client relationship is probably not a good idea. But then again, I’m so attracted to you. But I just ended my engagement to someone I cared deeply about,“ she dropped her eyes to avoid his gaze.
“I don’t know what to do,” she confessed.
“You don’t need to do anything, baby. I just put a smile on your face with that orgasm. That makes me happy. You just keep enjoying the release your body and mind just gave you and let’s get you tucked into bed. You have a big day tomorrow and a big weekend. I can’t wait to spend it having a ton of success in the show ring. We’ll figure out the rest as we go.”
“What about you, Zach? I mean, um…we. You, I mean, you haven’t…” she asked embarrassed by this and the fact that he just called her on having an orgasm and to be happy about it.
He figured out what she was stammering about and laughed.
“Don’t worry Sabrina. It won’t kill me to go unsatisfied,” he said as he kissed her full on the month.
“C’mon. Let’s get you out of this pool and get you to sleep.” Zach guided her to the stairs and admired the view as she stepped out of the pool.
It’s going to be a long night, he thought. A long weekend is more like it.
Chapter 31
Actually, both of them rode great the next day. Sabrina placed with two of her horses. The other two had a rail in each class but otherwise were great. Sabrina wasn’t upset about the rails. She hadn’t competed in some time and they needed to get back into it as well.
Zach’s two young horses were very good and he won the Welcome Stake on Gulliver. Sabrina was so excited that when he dismounted, she ran over to him full of excitement.
“Zach, that was unbelievable. You were so fast and Gulliver cleared every fence by a foot!” she practically shouted with excitement.
“Yea, he really jumped well for me. I’m pleased with where he is,” he said, pleased too that she was so excited.
She went on. “Seriously, this horse has amazing scope. This set of horses is going to get you to the World Cup for sure!”
Zach gave Gulliver to the groom and he and Sabrina hopped on the golf cart to head back to the stables.
“It’s nice we are finished early today. The grooms will take care of the horses for the rest of the day and do night check. What do you want to do the rest of the day?” Zach asked.
She hadn’t thought about that. They were both finished early, which was rare at a horse show. What a luxury to be able to spend some down time in Saratoga. With Zach on top of it!
“There is a great restaurant with a fantastic deck on Saratoga Lake. What do you say we go have lunch there and then go into town and walk around and pick up groceries for dinner? I’ll cook.” Sabrina suggested.
“You cook?” Zach asked skeptically.
“Your mother isn’t the only one who raised self-sufficient children. Yes, I can cook. I often don’t cook lately because I don’t like cooking for just myself. It is such a drag to eat out every night or in my hotel rooms while I travel,” she said a little offended with his assumption that she couldn’t cook.
“I can understand. That’s why I try to rent a house everywhere we compete. It’s cheaper in the long run than hotels after I factor in the grooms accommodations, etc. Plus, I like to unwind when I am not showing.” Zach offered, noting her taking offense at his surprise at her being able to cook.
“I love this. I’ll have to see about doing the same thing wherever we show.” Sabrina agreed.
“No worries Sabrina. I’ll always have a place for you to stay wherever we go.” Zach said with a smile.
Sabrina regarded him quietly.
“Zach, do you take care of accommodations for all your clients?” she asked directly.
“Sabrina, I keep telling you, I try not to have clients.”
“Ok, but for the clients you have, do you take care of their accommodations?” Sabrina persisted.
“I can assure you I am currently taking care of accommodations for 100% of my clients,” he said.
“Zach, am I your only client right now?” she asked, looking straight at him.
Zach smiled. “Sabrina, you ask too many questions. Let’s go get lunch.”
Chapter 32
Lunch was delicious and delightful. It was nearly 3:30 by they time the got to the restaurant and they slowly and casually made their way through an appetizer, an entrée and a few strawberry daiquiris. It was lovely.
They ended up hanging out for a few hours as the sun continued to lower itself from the sky to meet the lake. It was breathtaking.
“This is one of my favorite spots in the world.” Sabrina offered.
“I hadn’t realized you were such a fan of Saratoga when I suggested this horse show.”
“Yes, I’ve spent a great deal of time here both showing and during non-show times.”
Zach looked expectantly waiting for her to continue.
“I came here a lot with Troy, my fiancée. I mean my ex-fiancée. His family has had a summer home here for years. His sister Lillie rides. That’s actually how we met, at a show here. Lillie and I have been friends for years. It was hard when we broke up because his family had been my family for so long.” Sabrina explained.
He regarded her. “Are you and Lillie still friends? In light of the break up?”
“Yes. We were friends before Troy and I began dating. But she has refused to accept that Troy and I are broken up. She says we are on a time out. Which is actually what Troy said to me the last time we spoke. He said he wasn’t accepting my decision. He said he knew with time, I would change my mind and that he would wait. He said I was scared of making a lifetime commitment but he knew
I loved him and I was worth waiting for.” Sabrina said quietly.
Zach didn’t like the sound of that.
“Did you?” Zach asked.
“Did I what?”
“Love him?” Zach wanted to know.
“Well. Yes. We were together for a long time. Troy is a great guy.” Sabrina tried to explain.
“Was he right then? Were you just scared?” Zach pushed her.
“No. I just felt like he loved me more than I loved him and I felt like he deserved more. I guess I still love him. How do you stop when the person is still the same person and it’s always been good? But I couldn’t figure out if I was in love with him and I didn’t want to be unfair to him.”
“Maybe that’s why he thinks you just need time. Maybe some mixed emotions going on? Mixed messages?” Zach said, a little sternly.
“No, Zach. I was very clear with him that I was ending it. He wouldn’t even talk to me.” Sabrina said looking at him.
“I can’t blame the guy, Brine.”
“What did you call me?” she asked cautiously.
“Brine. Sabrina is too stuffy. I always think of you as Brine in my head.” Zach said easily.
The only other person who called her Brine was her dad. She always felt loved and cherished when her dad called her by his nickname. She wasn’t sure how she felt about him calling her that. It seemed too intimate. She laughed to herself. Well, after the scene in the pool last night, it’s not like they were just trainer and student any more. Or were they?
Zach watched as a myriad of emotions were playing across her face. He couldn’t tell what was going on in that pretty head of hers. He knew it was complicated whatever it was. He wanted the light Sabrina back. The one that greeted him with an easy smile and enthusiasm.
“Come on. Let’s go.” Zach stood and grabbed her hand.
“Go where?” Sabrina asked, flustered at the quick change of conversation.
“I’m willing to take a walk through town so you can poke your head into shops because if you come here regularly then you are someone who loves all those damn shops. And then I’m taking you to the market to hold you to your pledge of making me a damn good dinner. Let’s go lady.”
Sabrina just looked at him. She had a feeling he was trying to break up the mood coming off of the Troy conversation. That was fine with her. She LOVED going into town in Saratoga.
Chapter 32
Normally he hated shopping but Sabrina made it fun. Just like with everything he did with her, he found a new side to her. The hard charging executive was different than the competitive equestrian was different from the explosive woman in the pool who was also different from the light, casual woman that meandered through the shops.
She wasn’t really a shopper, he decided. More of an assessor… She expressed no interest in buying anything. Rather, he saw that she admired the colors or uniqueness of various pieces. He reflected back to her home and the immediate feeling he had of being both impressed and comfortable at the same time. It occurred to him that it didn’t happen by chance. She was intent on everything she did.
“Zach, what about this piece for your house?” Sabrina asked as she laughed.
He looked over and saw a set of horns mounted on a plaque of wood. He then looked at her. She had a mischievous grin fighting for an appearance across her face.
“And why do you think I would need those?” He asked slowly, wondering what she was up to.
“Well, if you put them over the entrance of your house, people will know what they are getting into… bull headed, male dominant, etc. That way all those society ladies can manage their expectations as they enter the lair…. “
She was laughing so hard that she barely got it out.
Well, well. Look at this still other side of our Sabrina, thought Zach. Look at her busting my balls. Is that what she really thought of me? God, he hoped not.
“Really, Sabrina? You want to start something?” Zach asked baiting her.
Quick as lightening, he grabbed her, put her in a brace and started tickling her right in front of the store on Main Street.
She squealed at the top of her lungs, trying to get away from him. She was flush with laughter and the fight.
“Stop! Stop! Zach!! Ok, ok. I give up!” Sabrina shouted out in-between laughs.
“It seems as if tickling is the only way I can get you back for you busting balls, Sabrina!” Zach said while continuing to laugh while he tickled her some more.
“Say you are sorry,” he demanded.
“Sorry!”
“Say Zach is the greatest of everything!” He further demanded.
“I’m not…”
And another round of tickling ensued.
“Ok, Zach is the.”
“Sabrina? Is that you?” a woman asked walking towards them.
They both froze.
The woman continued towards them.
“I thought it was you, Sabrina.”
Sabrina couldn’t believe it. She looked up.
Eve North. Troy’s mother! His mother’s reaction to their break-up was very similar to Lillie’s and Troy’s…like it wasn’t serious and was going to blow over. Must run in the family…
Now Sabrina was caught in the embrace of someone else.
Sabrina straightened up and tried to put herself back together. Zach watched her carefully, noting the change in her demeanor.
“Eve. This is a surprise. How have you been?” Sabrina tried to ask with dignity.
“I’ve been well. Who is your friend, Sabrina?” Eve asked, ever the straight shooter.
“This is Zach Chase. I recently moved back to Boston and moved my horses to Zach’s facility. I originally was signed up to train with Lewis Trip, the other trainer there but he got hurt and Zach doesn’t take clients and agreed with Lewis that he would take me because I was already coming and my horses were set to come,” she tried to explain quickly.
She stopped. She realized she was rambling. She cast a quick glance Zach’s way and saw him trying to hide his smirk.
“Oh, yes. Zach, you just won the Westfield Grand Prix and finished a strong season in Europe.” She said, shaking her head knowingly.
“You are very current. Thank you. Nice to meet you,” he offered her his hand.
“Eve. Eve Duncan. Sabrina is engaged to my son, Troy,” she was quick to put in.
Sabrina’s eyes went wide.
“Eve.”
“Oh, Sabrina. We all know that it is just a little breather you are taking before getting married so it’s just better to not make any big production about it.” Eve brushed Sabrina’s concern away.
“Eve. That’s not true. Troy and I are no longer together.” Sabrina said seriously.
Eve completely ignored her and continued.
“Lillie and I were just chatting this morning about whether you were here. Are you free tomorrow night?” Eve asked.
“Actually, I... “
“You must come to dinner. Lillie would be so upset if you didn’t. Where are you staying?” Eve plowed forward.
Sabrina started to stammer again and Zach jumped in.
“My decision for Sabrina to come to Saratoga came up very quickly with her just recently coming to us. She was traveling in Asia and so I offered her a room in the house our farm had rented for all of us.”
Eve was quiet. “That was very fortunate to have such help, Sabrina! And it seems as if you have already developed into good friends based on what I walked up on. Anyway…I am pleased to see you. I thought I would only see you in Hawaii next week. This is indeed a treat. Zach, do you have a large group here?” Eve inquired; covering so many bases so quickly that Sabrina didn’t know where to begin.
“No.” Zach said.
“Oh, how many are showing? I’ll be sure to watch out for your riders.” Eve said casually, although Zach sensed she was getting at something else rather than preparing herself to cheer for his stable.
“You are looking at them.” Zach offered s
imply.
Eve’s eyes narrowed. “So, you are here only with Sabrina?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes narrowed. You could almost hear her thinking out loud.
“Well, then. So Sabrina we’ll see you at dinner tomorrow night. Zach it is nice to meet you. I must run along.” She turned and crossed the street as Sabrina tried to call after her. Eve just waved.