Breaking the Reins

by Juliana Haygert

  He was jealous. I knew he would be. The moment Leo caught me, I knew Eric would feel as if I he were losing me.

  “Eric,” I called, willing my voice to sound gentle, though I wanted to scream at him to let me go. I wouldn’t be surprised if a purple mark appeared on my arm from the force he was holding me. “Eric, please.”

  But he didn’t let go, nor did he stop.

  A couple of minutes later, we reached the parking lot and he threw me against his car. I bumped my back hard and gasped for air. He put his hands on either side of me and leaned in, a feral expression on his face.

  “That guy thinks I’m lucky,” he said through gritted teeth.

  Trying to come up with something to say that wouldn’t get me in more trouble, I rubbed where he’d held my arm. It was already red. “It’s not the first time you heard that.”

  “But it’s the first time a guy stared at you this openly, right under my nose.”

  “What?”

  “During the entire game. And the intervals. And after.” He punched the car and I winced. “I should go back there and break his face.”

  He turned around, but I pulled him back. “No, Eric, please. Stay with me,” I whispered as tears filled my eyes. “Let that guy go. He doesn’t matter.” I held his shoulders and whirled him to me. “You and me. That’s what matters.”

  I buried my head in his chest and put my arms around him, holding him tight. I didn’t know if I did it to comfort me or to avoid him going after Leo. And I didn’t care.

  “Stay with me,” I whispered again.

  Slowly, the tension left his body and he looked down at me. His eyes weren’t full of rage or jealousy anymore. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I hate when men look at you as if you’re a model standing there to be admired. Which is stupid since you are too beautiful and people will look at you anyway.”

  I didn’t add the fact that he loved showing me off, causing everyone to look at me, wanted or not.

  “It’s okay. I know you don’t mean to.”

  He kissed my forehead. “You’re the best thing that ever came into my life. I have no idea what I’d do without you.”

  I smiled. “I love you, Eric. You have nothing to worry about.”

  He pulled my mouth to his. “I love you too, baby.”

  ***

  “More wine, dear?”

  I shook my head. “No, Mrs. Bennett, I shouldn’t.”

  The woman smiled at me. “After two years of dating my boy, you still call me that. It’s Chloe.”

  “I know. It’s just ...” I looked around. The Bennett house was even bigger than my parents’. The living room we were in, one of the five sitting areas of the house, had vaulted ceilings and heavy crystal chandeliers hanging from the corners, Persian rugs, leather love seats, velvet armchairs, antique wooden tables, supposedly famous paintings on the walls, and draped curtains hiding large windows under them. It was beautiful, but too much. Being here, having dinner with my boyfriend and his mother, and feeling as if I was at a debutante ball instead was too much. “It’s fine. Okay then, Chloe, I’ll take more of the wine.”

  Still smiling, she gestured to the waiter at the back of the room, and he rushed to my side to refill my glass. All the while, she looked like the queen of England, though younger and less powerful. Her dark hair was pulled into a short braid that fell over her right shoulder, hiding the long scar on the side of her neck, and she wore a beige cocktail dress and lots of jewelry. I’d dressed up all right, knowing what it was like each time Eric brought me here, which was more often than I would like, but I always felt underdressed next to her.

  Seated beside me and wearing a designer suit, Eric held my hand in his. “And how was your day, Mother?”

  “It was good,” she said. “I visited your father and your brother.”

  Eric squeezed my hand, and I tried to melt into the love seat and disappear.

  I hated when they talked about Nolan and Ian Bennett. They had died in a car accident four years ago, the same accident that gave Chloe the scars on her neck and her back, and left her in an almost permanent state of depression.

  Thankfully, Eric had practice that day and wasn’t in the car with them. The fact that Eric had to step into the man-of-the-house position, deal with his father’s and older brother’s death, and deal with his mother’s depression made me sad, and I loved him a whole lot for turning out so great.

  Visiting them meant she went to the cemetery, to their magnificent mausoleum.

  The butler came into the living room. “Dinner is served,” he announced.

  Eric exhaled a heavy sigh and stood up, pulling me along with him.

  In the dining room, the subject changed to an all too familiar one.

  “How is school, dear?” Chloe asked from across the table.

  I smiled. “Good. The semester is over and I’ve decided not to take any summer classes, so I can spend more time at the ranch to learn everything I still don’t know, and to sort out whatever needs sorting out.”

  She frowned at me. “Oh, so you’re keeping the ranch?”

  Why the hell did everyone ask me if I would sell it? “Yes, I plan on keeping the ranch.”

  “Even though everyone wants you to sell it,” Eric said from his place at the head of the table, his tone nonchalant and his eyes on his plate.

  What was wrong with keeping the damn ranch? I’d explained it a thousand times, but nobody understood me. Sometimes I thought they pretended they didn’t understand me.

  I chose not to say anything, and stuffed my mouth with food. Clueless of my change in mood, Mrs. Bennett continued, “But the ranch doesn’t make a lot of money, does it? I bet it gives you a lot of work. In the end, you’re probably not making any profit.”

  Eric raised his eyebrows at me. “See? Everyone knows that, baby. Even my mother, who has no business background.” I shook my head, willing the bad words to stay under my tongue. However, Eric continued, “And you wouldn’t have to go looking for a buyer. Mr. Nash is still interested in buying the ranch, isn’t he?”

  I brought my hands under the table where no one could see them clenching and unclenching. “You know I hate the man. Even if I considered selling the ranch, which I’m not, I would never sell it to him.”

  “Baby.” Eric dropped his silverware and reached for my hand, but I pulled it away, glaring at him. Whatever he was going to say was quickly forgotten.

  He pursed his lips and stiffened his back. He was mad at me? Why? I was the one that should be mad here.

  Thankfully, the dinner went by without any more significant conversation. Dessert was brought, then coffee. We retreated to the living room, but soon Mrs. Bennett bid us goodnight, saying she had a headache and wanted to lie down.

  I wished she had stayed longer, because I wasn’t in the mood to deal with what was coming.

  “Hannah.”

  “No, Eric. Don’t.” We sat on the love seat, and I scooted away from him as much as I could. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “But, baby, you have to listen to reason.”

  I glared at him. “Reason? Why do you think you’re the right one here?”

  He rested his arm over the back of the seat, his hand reaching for my shoulder, but I didn’t let him touch me. “If you forget the sentimental part and add up the facts, you’ll see the logical solution.”

  Forget the sentimental part? As if I could erase my grandma and Hercules from my mind. As if I wanted to.

  “Please, Eric, drop it. I don’t want to argue.”

  He turned his body to face me, one of his legs folded over the love seat. “Then don’t argue with me. Sell the ranch. You’ll have peace of mind then.”

  “Please, don’t say it.”

  “I will say it because I want to.”

  “The thousandth time you say it won’t be the charm.”

  He continued as if I hadn’t said anything. “You should drop college. We should get married, buy a new house, and you
should run our place. You should let me run your father’s business when it’s time. Baby, can’t you see? It would be our happily ever after.”

  I took a deep breath, thinking of how to answer him without making things worse. I really didn’t want to argue. “Eric, I’m only twenty years old. We have plenty of time to get married.”

  “We don’t have to wait.”

  I sighed and tried another approach. “We’ll only live our happily ever after if you let me do what I want to do.”

  “I don’t see why this can’t be a decision we make in conjunction.”

  “Will you consult with me before you make any decision about your business and your polo career?”

  “What? Of course not.”

  “Then I don’t see why I need to consult with you before deciding what I want to do with my life.”

  “That’s nonsense! My polo career and my farm won’t affect our life together. Your ranch and your father’s business, though, affect our relationship. Because of them, you barely have time to relax with me anymore.”

  “I don’t have time? Eric, you’re the one running up and down all day, with practice and meetings all the time, even on weekends.”

  Again, he chose not to hear me. “And there’s also college. Thank God, you don’t live on campus anymore. Not that the ranch is safe. The police never found out who started that fire after all.”

  He didn’t even notice as I winced and squeezed my eyes shut. If I stopped to think that whoever killed my grandma and Hercules and the other horses was out there, I wouldn’t relax. I would go nuts and try to find the murderer myself.

  “I’m not afraid,” I said, willing my tone to stay calm.

  “But I am! I would prefer having you near me, knowing you’re safe.” The desperate and frustrated shine in his blue eyes melted my will a little. “I love you, Hannah, and—”

  “This isn’t a matter of loving or not, Eric.”

  “—all I want is to make you happy. Let me make you happy.” He leaned closer to me, and I realized I would lose this battle if I didn’t focus on something else.

  I stood up, intending to walk around the coffee table and talk to him from there, far away and safe from his charms, but his hand on my arm pulled me back down.

  “Eric—” My protest died when his lips crashed on mine.

  On its own volition, my mouth parted and welcomed his urgent caress. His arm slid around my waist, and his fingers splayed over my lower back. He lifted himself up, while using his hand to lay me over the love seat, under him. His body pressed against mine, and a longing sigh escaped my mouth.

  His kiss intensified as his hand cupped my butt and pulled my hips closer to his. He was already hard and ready, and I groaned in anticipation.

  “I want you,” he whispered in my ear, his breathing hot on my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

  He wanted me. He wanted a lot of things, which included telling me what to do.

  What the hell? We had been arguing a couple of seconds ago, and now we were hot and all over each other?

  With my hands on his chest, I pushed him away. “Stop.” He didn’t move and didn’t stop either. “Eric, stop.”

  He nibbled on my ear. “Why? You like it.”

  I pushed against his chest again, but he still didn’t move. “Because we were arguing. You can’t just charm me and think you won the discussion.”

  “Wanna bet?” He grounded his hips against me and I gasped. “See.”

  I twisted my body, trying to escape him. “Eric, please.”

  He pulled back a little, but didn’t release. “Baby, look at me.” When I did, he continued, “We’re not going anywhere, right? Even arguing, we still love each other, right? So, why not enjoy the moment? We can continue arguing tomorrow.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense.” It actually did, but I wasn’t about to award him any points.

  Eric stood up and extended his hand to me. A little wary, I took it. He pulled me to my feet, and led me upstairs to his suite. He closed the door as I sat on his king size bed and turned on one of the bedside lamps.

  He leaned against the wall, his serious eyes on me. “I love you, Hannah, too much. Even when we argue or disagree, I don’t plan on going anywhere. We’ll work this out. Our differences. We’ll work them out.” He walked to the bed and gripped the thick wooden footboard. “We haven’t spent too many nights together lately, and I would love to take advantage of this one.”

  My heart constricted. He was right. Our nights together had been limited between college, the ranch, and his tournaments, and if we spent them arguing, we would only end up tired and sad.

  I hated giving in so easily, but we could argue some other time.

  Sighing, I patted the spot on the bed beside me. A large smile took over Eric’s face, but he didn’t sit on the bed. Oh no. He threw himself over me, knocking the air out of my lungs. His mouth found mine as I fell back on the bed, his body over mine.

  “Let me make you happy,” he whispered against my lips.

  Well, he could definitely try.

  Chapter Five

  The last riding group of the day left, and I set out to clean their mess, relieved the rush was over. Sunday afternoons were the ranch’s busiest day of the week, and I didn’t blame them. The horses were beautiful and amicable, and the view around the ranch was breathtaking. Plus, they all stopped at the waterfall to take a dip.

  Happy as that made me, I felt exhausted.

  Jimmy brought in the saddles and whips and bridles scattered around by our guests, and left them on the floor of the stable, while I stored them in the tack room. Each saddle weighed a ton, and I knew I would have back problems if I continued with this heavy work. Of course, I could always hire someone else to help, but my grandma had done all of this with only Jimmy’s help. The riding instructor, Paul, didn’t count, and grandma had always complained he was the exact opposite of helpful, leaving everything a complete mess after each lesson. If she could do it at her age, so could I. Besides, letting a stranger mess with her stuff seemed like I didn’t care for them.

  “Oi.”

  The saddle I’d been holding fell on top of my foot. I shut my mouth and screamed on the inside as pain spread throughout my foot.

  “Desculpa,” Leo said, rushing to my side. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  He pushed the saddle aside and knelt in front of me. His hand found my boot, and he attempted to take it off, but I limped away before he could get a good grip on it.

  I splayed my hand on a wall and tried to balance myself. “What are you doing here?” My tone sounded as frustrated as I felt.

  He frowned. “Hello to you too.”

  As he stood, his gray shirt stretched over his chest and shoulders, and the jeans didn’t hide his form either. I forced my gaze to my hurt foot.

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  He picked up the saddle from the floor and put it in its place along with the others. “And you didn’t say hi.”

  I put my foot on the floor and tested it. Each time I pressed down on it, pain shot up from my toes to my ankle. “Damn it.”

  I limped to the bench in the center of the room, and sat down with a heavy sigh. Pain won and I took off my boot. A big red welt stained the top of my foot.

  “Desculpa, really,” Leo said, sitting beside me.

  I made the mistake of looking into his mesmerizing eyes. A girl could easily get lost in those. “It’s okay. Nothing some ice won’t fix.” I returned my attention to my foot. “Seriously, what are you doing here?”

  He pulled a purple Douglas Iris from behind him and offered it to me.

  My heart stopped, and all I could do was gape at it.

  He reached up and slid the flower behind my ear. “This flower reminds me of the other day, when we met.” He averted his eyes. “I just ……”

  Jimmy walked into the tack room, holding a bunch of reins and bridles. He halted a few steps away and stared at my foot. “Everything o
kay, Miss Taylor?”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “Hi, Jimmy,” Leo said, confusing me.

  Jimmy nodded to him. “Hello, Mr. Fernandes. Good to see you again.”

  “Again?” I asked. “How do you two know each other?”

  Jimmy began putting the stuff he carried in the right place. “Mr. Fernandes showed up here last evening looking for you, and I told him you were at Eric’s.” He made a face, showing me exactly what he felt for my boyfriend. “But he stayed for a bit and we talked horses.”

  Unbelievable. “You don’t say?”

  Leo busied himself by helping Jimmy with his load and didn’t say anything.

  When done, Jimmy turned to me. “I’ll feed the horses now, then I’m off.”

  That reminded me. “Has Argus eaten anything?”

  Jimmy sighed. “Yes, but not enough. That horse is going to pass out soon, and he ain’t gonna wake up again.”

  “Try to feed him some more now, please,” I said. “I’ll check on him later.”

  “All right.” Jimmy tipped his hat toward Leo and me. “Good night.”

  “Good night,” Leo and I answered together.

  Jimmy left and an awkward silence filled the room.

  Without looking at me, Leo leaned against a free spot on the wall, his arms crossed. I didn’t know what to say to him, what to do. Just looking at him awakened something in me. All these unwelcome but inciting feelings swirled inside me, confusing me.

  “You came here yesterday?”

  His eyes finally met mine, and the wariness there hurt me. “Yes. A couple of hours after the game. I had …”

  When he didn’t say anything, I prodded, “What?”

  “I had to talk to you. To ask you something.”

  “Okay.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me you have a boyfriend?”

  I swallowed hard. A good question I didn’t have an answer for. “I don’t know. It’s not like people walk around holding signs showing if they’re single or not. And the subject never came up.”

  “Still. I thought I’d seen something. As if you found me as intriguing as I found you.”