by Karen Ferry
“Okay, let’s wipe Lady down, get her some water, and then let her out to Domino.” I straighten my back, but keep my arm around her shoulders as we walk to the stables.
Ailith takes off her helmet and smiles softly at me.
“Thanks, Mum.”
“For what?”
“For having my back.”
Warmth settles in my heart, and I have to blink hard to clear the sudden mist in my eyes.
“Always, sweetie. Always.”
As we set about our task, my mind wanders back to Kristian. I still can’t quite grasp that he’s here. Seeing him again so soon is a shock to my system—an unwelcome one—but I think I did a fairly good job letting him know that I’ve no interest in him.
Well, that’s what I try to tell myself, anyway.
My mind is at war with my body. One part of me longs to feel the touch of a man again, and yet, the biggest part of me recoils from the thought.
Plus, there’s also Ailith to consider. It’s important that she knows she’ll always come first, no matter what, and I don’t want our lives to ever fall into a downward spiral ever again.
“I’m just going to put the saddle away in the tack room, Mum.”
Smiling, I nod at her. Her small frame looks adorably funny as she picks up the harness along with the saddle. I watch as she leaves, making sure she can handle it.
My girl is strong in so many ways. Sometimes, even I forget that she’s only eight years old.
I take a hoof pick and lean slightly into Lady’s side and, without making a fuss, she lifts her leg for me.
“You’re so good for her, sweetie,” I murmur softly as I clear some pebbles from the shoe.
Lady’s head turns and I feel the pony nudging my behind, making me chuckle.
“Yeah, we have a good life, don’t we, Lady?”
“Are you a horse whisperer?”
The question from Kristian startles me, and I tense before turning my head in his direction.
There’s an inscrutable look in his eyes as he leans back against the stall next to me, hands in his pockets.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” I answer drily.
Gently, I release Lady’s leg and go to her other side, away from Kristian’s probing eyes.
“Then what are you?” he asks me.
I pause as a lump forms in my throat, making it difficult to talk, but I try to mask it and clear my throat.
“That’s a very serious question for a stranger to ask another, isn’t it?” I hedge.
“I don’t think so.”
I pat Lady’s back as I muster up the courage to look at him properly.
Yep, my libido still works.
His longish hair teases the top of his shoulders, and he looks like something from out of a magazine as he remains where he is, eyes watchful and intense.
I wet my lips.
“I’m just a simple woman trying to raise her daughter while running a business, Kristian. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“I don’t believe you,” he deadpans.
I huff. Despite my promise to myself when I saw him earlier—to keep my distance—he has me curious.
“Why not?”
He jerks his chin at me. “The fact that you appear to be a single mother tells me that you have a story. One that you don’t want to tell me, and that’s okay, for now, anyway, since we don’t know each other.”
I narrow my eyes at him.
“So? That doesn’t mean I’m a puzzle you have to piece together. Or…” I laugh darkly, “that I’m a mystery in any way.”
He pushes away from the stall and meanders towards me. I want to run and yet, at the same time, I want to remain where I am.
He stops on the other side of Lady, resting his hand on her back.
“Again, I’d have to disagree.”
I blow out a long breath as he runs his other hand through the scruff on his chin. His fingers linger on his lips, rubbing them as his eyes cloud over in thought, and I have to force my hands to still.
My fingers itch to discover if his lips are as soft as they look.
Snap out of it, Laura!
Deciding he’s not going to accept the subtle hints I’m offering him, I try a different tactic.
“Look, Kristian, I’m sure you’re a very nice bloke and everything, but...”
“Don’t say it,” he interrupts me, voice low and his eyes dark, serious.
I blink.
“You don’t know what I was about to…”
“Yes, I do.”
Annoyed by his interruptions, I sigh. I want to stomp my feet like a child—or throw myself at him. I can’t quite decide which, and it only infuriates me further. This indecisiveness is unwelcome.
Kristian points a finger at me.
“You were about to give me the old song about how you’re sure I’m a nice man, but that you’re not interested, and I don’t believe you.”
I gape at him as he shrugs. He turns to walk around Lady, gently giving her neck a long stroke, all the while he keeps his eyes on me. My heartbeat picks up, but I hold my ground. I refuse to let my eyes betray me this time, and I won’t let him intimidate me.
Those blue eyes will do me in—they’re so intense, probing and prodding away at the chains I’ve got firmly tied around my heart. As he stops right in front of me, I’m forced to lean my head back—he’s so much taller than me, at least by six inches—and when he grins down at me, I tense as the dimples pop out.
Dimples are lethal, especially on a man such as Kristian.
“So,” he murmurs. “Let me explain how I know you’re lying.”
I clench my teeth, unwilling to buy into this little game of his.
“I bet your heart is pounding away,” he whispers, taking another step closer until our fronts almost touch. “The pulse at your throat jumps—I can see it—and I think you’re feeling a little hot right now.”
“It’s summer,” I snap. “Of course I’m hot.”
To prove my point, I wipe some sweat from my brow.
Kristian shakes his head as his eyes flicker down to my lips.
“It’s not that kind of heat I’m talking about,” he continues as his eyes trail up to mine.
Oh, my God, I’m drowning in the blue sea of them.
“Your breaths are shallow, the blush in your cheeks high, and the air is electric, ripe with tension between us.”
He takes a deep breath, and the movement almost makes his chest touch my breasts. My nipples harden, and my legs feel like jelly.
“I bet if I kissed you now, I’d know for certain that you’re lying,” he whispers as he bites his lower lip.
My breath hitches as I shake my head slowly.
“I think you’re just being obstinate,” he says.
That brings me out of my stupor “What? No, I’m not.”
“Then prove that you’re not interested in me.”
“How?” I scoff.
“Kiss me.”
The nerve of him.
I become unglued from my spot at the pure arrogance he exudes.
“I shouldn’t have to prove anything to you,” I hiss. I raise my voice. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have horses to tend to.”
Careful not to touch any part of his body, I step around him and move to release Lady from the tie ring hanging on the stall.
“I take it that means you don’t want to join me for a pint tonight at the Oran Mor in Glasgow?”
I don’t even bother to look at him as I begin to lead the pony outside.
“That would be the correct assumption, yes.”
“Guess I’ll have to find someone else, then.”
The bait isn’t lost on me—I used to be quite good at his game—so I don’t give him the satisfaction of answering. Without knowing it, Ailith comes to my rescue as she skips up to walk beside me, and I suppress the relieved sigh that’s bursting to fall from my lips.
“Do you think Thunder will mind sharing his paddock with Lady and Dom
ino?” she asks me as we walk next to the paddock.
“I think they’ll be fine. The ponies are good for him—they seem to calm him down.”
We stop at the fence and I remove Lady’s harness before opening the gate. As she trots inside, I keep a close watch on Thunder, trying to anticipate his next mood. The grey gelding looks up from grazing as Lady meanders closer to Domino, but then goes back to eating as the two ponies greet each other.
“They’ll be fine.” I look down at Ailith who’s grinning from ear to ear, and I put an arm around her shoulders. “Come, it’s time for lunch.”
“But I want to talk with Kristian, Mum.” She points back to the stables. I scan quickly to where he’s standing, ignoring the way his lean muscles look as they strain against his white T-shirt.
“Okay,” I relent, “I’ll head to the kitchen and prepare lunch and come to fetch you in ten minutes. Deal?”
She nods and quickly runs off, yelling, “Kristian!”
A wide smile breaks out on his face as his gaze leaves mine to take in her excitement. The unhappy frown is gone, and I can’t help but think how young he looks when he does that.
Oh, gosh, how old is he?
“It doesn’t matter,” I mutter as I keep walking in a straight line towards the house. “I’m not interested.”
Nevertheless, I can’t help but feel rather flattered that I seem to have caught the attention of someone clearly younger than me. Every woman would feel the same, I’m sure.
7
Kristian
“You’ve got so many tattoos.” The admiration in Ailith’s voice makes me grin as we sit down on the white bench next to the stables.
“I started eight years ago, and I doubt I’ll ever really stop getting them. Not until I run out of room, that is,” I murmur. I stretch my arms in front of me, turning them so she can get a better look.
She tilts her head as she looks more closely at one on my wrist—an infinity symbol that’s pretty dorky with the words Family Forever entwined around the circles.
“Which one was your first?” she asks.
I point at the infinity symbol.
“That one. I got it on my eighteenth birthday.”
“I really like it,” she beams at me, but then looks confused and points at the letters on my knuckles. “Are you a Lone Soul like the wolf on your hand?”
I shrug as I place my palms flat on my thighs and take a moment to consider her question. I shouldn’t be surprised she’s so insightful, but it’s been a long time since I’ve been around children her age, I’ve forgotten how much they actually see.
“I suppose I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere for a long time.” I clear my throat and smile gently at her. “Sometimes, people feel out of place, and it takes a while before they find their footing.”
I stop, realising that maybe that’s not exactly the right thing to talk about with her.
But when she turns her face and gives me a sympathetic smile back, I feel more at ease.
“I think Mummy is a lone soul, too.”
“Why do you say that?”
She sighs a little and sits back on the bench, looking a little shy as she starts to fiddle with one of the straps of her boots.
“It’s just a feeling.” Her eyes perk up then. “But I don’t really understand why. I mean, look at our home, all the horses.” The way she raises her hands up and wide makes me grin. “Who could ever feel lonely here?”
I lean back in my seat and look at the surroundings.
“It’s very peaceful. Have you always lived here?”
She bites her lip, and I frown as she hesitates.
“No,” she finally answers. “We only came here two years ago, but it feels like we’ve been here forever. It’s our safe place, where no one can touch us or do us any harm.”
She clams up, crossing her arms in front of her and avoids my eyes again.
I get the feeling that there’s a whole lot of story behind those words, but I don’t feel right trying to pry it out of her. That’s not fair.
“I see. Well, I’m glad you’re happy here.” I look back at the horses. “But that grey one? I hope my aunt doesn’t end up buying him. He doesn’t look nice.”
Ailith giggles, and I feel relieved she’s back to her joyful self.
“He’s not for sale.”
I look down at her.
“What’s his name?”
“Thunder. He’s only been here for a month. Gan-Gan saved him from a really mean man.”
I raise my eyes at her, confused.
“Gan-Gan?”
“Oh, that’s Grandma Wenn,” she explains.
“Ah, I see. So, how did she save him?”
We spend the next couple of minutes talking about the whole operation. I’m impressed a girl of her age is so knowledgeable about it, and as I find myself intrigued to learn more against my will, Wenn and Lise walk outside. I look up at them when they stop in front of us.
I smile at my aunt.
“Found your horse yet?” I ask her.
She beams at me, but Wenn answers my question.
“We think so. I’m just about to show Lise one of our older mares, Daffodil. I think they’ll be a good match, but you can’t really know that until they meet.”
“I have to go inside and have lunch with Mummy,” Ailith pipes up. As she stands, she reaches her hand out to me. Careful not to squish her small fingers, I shake it.
“It was nice to see you,” she says as she grins at me. “I hope we’ll meet again.”
I glance up at Lise who’s fidgeting on the spot, clearly anxious to see her horse, before I wink at Ailith.
“I have a feeling we’ll come visit you often.”
She nods, satisfied with my answer, it would seem. Then she turns and runs in the direction of the house.
Even if her mother keeps turning me down, I’ll just have to be persistent. Now that fate has thrown me in Laura’s path, and I’ve had the chance to talk with her, I’m even more determined to get to know her. I want to see where those flickering sparks of attraction between us could lead to.
I’m a stubborn man, so I’ll get through to her in the end.
I’m sure of it.
“Kristian, do you want to come with us?” Lise asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
My phone rings just as I’m about to answer her, but when it says, Unknown Caller, I push the red button, silencing it.
“Sure.” I get up from the bench and follow the two women around the corner, behind the stables, where there’s another paddock with horses grazing. As we stop at the fence Wenn lets out a whistle, and a golden horse with a white mane and tail raises its head.
“That’s Daffodil.” Wenn points to the horse as Lise and I stop on either side of her. “She used to be a steeplechase race horse, but had to be retired due to the strain on her legs. She’s only ten years old, though, and she’s got lots of years left in her.”
“She’s beautiful,” Lise whispers, clearly awestruck.
I have to agree, she is.
“Want to meet her?” Wenn nudges Lise’s shoulder, grinning at her.
“Yes, please.”
“I’ll stay here,” I tell them as Wenn opens the gate. She purses her lips at me.
“I take it you’re not that into horses?” she asks.
I shrug. “It’s not that I don’t like them. I just feel kind of like Sherlock Holmes—that they’re dangerous at both ends and crafty in the middle.”
Both Wenn and Lise grin at me and I shake my head at their amusement.
“Okay, then. Lise, come with me, please.”
As they walk inside, I lean on the fence. The fact that I don’t feel anxious to get back to the city should probably worry me, but it’s like I told Ailith—this place has a peaceful air to it. As if we’re stopped in time, and all the worries in the world can wait.
I tense as Daffodil begins to walk closer to the women, but the tension ebbs as I watch Wenn hand Lise some carr
ots. The horse’s ears perk up, clearly interested in the food. A low laugh erupts from my chest as Lise’s face lights up when the horse takes the treat from her outstretched palm. The wide smile takes years off her age, and I’m glad to see her so smitten.
Looks like my aunt has found the new love of her life, and I couldn’t be happier for her.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, alerting me to a text message, and I pull it out of my pocket to read it.
Unknown: Kristian, fancy a shag?
Frowning, I text back.
Me: Who’s this?
Unknown: It’s Jessica—we met at a party the other night. Remember me and Jodie? Want to let us remind you how it felt to fuck us? Because we’d loooooove to show you. ;-)
“Fuck,” I mutter as my dick stirs at the memory of the threesome I had.
I look back at the house, thinking about Laura and how she makes me feel, but then shrug. As long as she says she’s not interested, I’m free to do what I want. I’m still a man, and I have needs. And right now, those needs are stirring.
Quickly, I text Jessica.
Me: Sure. You free in a couple of hours?
A few seconds tick by as I wait for her answer, ignoring the way my conscience balks at what I’m about to do.
When the phone vibrates in my hand, I’m shaken from my stupor.
Unknown: Mmm, we can’t wait. Just text me when you’re ready.
“Shit.” My dick hardens further as hazy memories assault my senses, and I take a deep breath, trying to calm down.
I don’t intend to have sex with these two in the basement at my aunt’s so I quickly text Jessica one last time.
Me: What’s your address, babe? I’ll come to you.
Sighing, I turn my attention back to my aunt in the paddock, thankful she’s not a mind reader. Laura’s stormy, grey eyes enter my thoughts, but I push the image of her away.
I’ve never denied myself a fuck with a willing female—or two—if the occasion presented itself. I’m not about to do it now.
There’s something insanely erotic about watching two women make out in front of you—especially a couple of busty blondes who seem to enjoy it just as much as you do.