Rose’s throat was constricting. Her mouth was dry and she suddenly desperately wished she’d brought a flask of water with her. Nodding, she took a long deep breath, lifted up her foot and placed it into the stirrup. Remembering how the other riders had done it, she closed her eyes, counted to three, opened them, reached up and grabbed Massimo’s saddle and then – just like that – she was up.
She was sitting in the saddle.
“Ha!” She let out a half-gasp half-shout. “I did it!” Turning to Thomas, she grinned at him. “I did it!”
Thomas was smiling proudly. “You’re a natural,” he said, nodding at her as if he really was impressed.
Rose reached out her hands and stroked Massimo’s mane. He hadn’t even moved. He had just stood quietly and allowed her to heave herself up onto his back. And now that she was there looking down at the ground, instead of feeling wobbly and unsteady, she felt strong. She felt secure.
At least, she did until Thomas clapped his hands and said, “Right, are you ready for a walk around the paddock?”
14
Returning to the ranch house, Rose was almost giddy with pride.
She’d spent nearly an hour riding up and down the paddock, then helped Thomas take off Massimo’s saddle and reins, groomed him and led him back into the stable.
She still felt a little jumpy when he moved unexpectedly, or when other horses came a bit too close. But on the whole, she felt like an entirely different person from the one who’d almost backed out and stayed home that morning.
Thomas seemed pretty happy too and had spent most of the day complimenting her – telling her she was a natural rider, so much more confident than he’d imagined she’d be, so self-assured in the saddle.
When they reached the terrace, Thomas disappeared inside to fetch them some drinks and Rose sat smiling to herself.
Picturing an evening of dinner and laughter and heart-to-heart talks, she was wondering whether she should go back to the cabin and change when Thomas appeared beside her. Except, this time he wasn’t alone.
“I was just telling everyone how fantastic you were,” he said, grinning. Behind him, Fleur smiled at her while Chris and Mike nodded approvingly. “Sit down, guys.” Thomas gestured to the seats around the table.
“Amazing progress you’ve made, Rose. In such a short time.” Fleur sat down beside Thomas and flicked her hair over her shoulder. For some reason, whenever Fleur spoke, Rose felt as if she was scrutinising her in some way.
“Well, it was all thanks to Thomas,” she said, trying not to allow the usual notes of awe and wonder to grace her voice when she looked at him.
“I told you he’s good at this kind of thing.” Fleur’s hand rested on Thomas’ forearm and it made Rose blink uncomfortably. Thomas, however, didn’t even seem to notice. He just poured himself a drink, sat back, and laced his fingers together behind his head, jutting out his elbows as if he’d never been so relaxed.
“How long are you here for, Rose?” Chris smiled at her politely as he passed her a tumbler full of iced tea.
“Not much longer. I fly home Tuesday.”
“Shame,” he replied. “Now you’re getting into your stride. Still, I’m sure Tom will invite you back.” Chris gave Thomas a knowing look and Thomas narrowed his eyes slightly.
Rose had the uneasy sensation that she was missing something – an inference she didn’t quite understand or an inside joke. She smiled, then glanced at Thomas.
“You can visit whenever you like,” he said, sincerely.
Beside her, Chris coughed and she was certain that he was hiding a smirk behind his hand.
Interrupting them, however, Fleur leaned forward and put both palms firmly on the table in front of her. “Who’s up for a game of poker tonight? It’s been ages and I feel like kicking some butt.”
Mike rolled his eyes. “Nah, not again.”
“Oh come on,” she said with a pout. “Rossi’s up for it. I called him earlier.”
“Rossi’s always up for a card game. And he pretty much always wins,” Chris added. “But, yeah, sure. I’m in. Tom?”
Thomas sipped his drink and glanced sideways at Rose, then nodded at them. “Sure. Why not? Although you do know it’s bad form to beat your boss at cards, right?”
The other three laughed, and when they stopped, Rose realised they were all looking at her. Fleur tilted her head in a movement that reminded Rose of a small delicate bird. “Rose?”
“Me?”
“Sure. You game?”
Rose swallowed hard. But then she surprised herself by saying, “Okay. I’m in.”
After dinner, Rose returned to her cabin to collect her long sleeved black sweater and a scarf. As soon as the sun went down, it became chilly and she wasn’t good in the cold.
Fleur’s poker game was due to start as soon as the guests had made their way back to their cabins after dinner. Rose wasn’t really a fan of late nights. But, not that she’d let on to the others, she was a fan of poker.
And, more than that, she was good at it.
It was probably the one secret talent that she had. The one thing that had ever impressed people. Because they just didn’t expect it of her.
Fleur and Mike had made quite a big deal of the fact that Rossi the vet was a phenomenal poker player, but Rose was quietly confident that she could take him on. If she kept her skills under wraps for as long as possible.
When she returned to the ranch house, Thomas had moved tables and chairs aside, lit the giant fire pit in the centre of the terrace, and set up a poker table beside it.
Fleur was already seated and was staring at Rossi, who was opposite her, with a steely look in her eyes.
For a moment, Rose lingered by the steps, but then she remembered how good she’d felt when she’d ridden up and down the paddock that morning, so she took a deep breath and walked casually towards the group.
As soon as she sat down, beside Rossi, Fleur introduced them. He seemed friendly and Rose had to admit, although considerably older than the rest of them, he was pretty good looking; very Italian. Dark hair, a neat beard flecked with grey, and eyes that twinkled when he spoke.
He kissed her hand as he said hello.
“Hi, nice to meet you.”
“You’re the brave lady who helped Delilah in her hour of need?” Rossi asked, smiling and still not letting go of Rose’s hand.
“I am,” she said, taking it back and sliding it slightly awkwardly into her lap.
Rossi smiled and nodded smoothly at her. “And have you played poker before, Rose?”
“Oh,” she shrugged. “A little. Not since college though, really.”
Rossi nodded, not even attempting to hide his smile.
“You shouldn’t have told him that, Rose,” Fleur said, leaning across the table towards them. “He’ll use it to his advantage.”
Rose blinked at Fleur, as if she didn’t really know what she meant, and Fleur giggled. “You’ll see.”
After a few more minutes of chit chat and pouring drinks, they were ready to start.
Thomas had chosen to sit beside Fleur, so Rose was sandwiched between Rossi and Mike.
“Maybe we should do a practise run first, for Rose,” Fleur said, kindly.
“Oh no, that’s okay, I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it.” Rose was already looking at her hand. It was a good one and she didn’t particularly want to waste it on a fake round.
“No, that’s a good idea. Refresh your memory,” Thomas said, smiling.
“Okay, if you’re sure?” Rose bit back her annoyance and started to squint at her cards. Beside her, Rossi leaned closer and said, “Shall I take a look, help you figure it out?”
Rose blinked at him. She wasn’t keen on the fact he was so close to her but she ignored it and nodded, laughing a little. “Yes, please. I’ve no idea what this means.”
When she showed him her hand, Rossi laughed, slapped his thigh and looked around at the rest of the table. “Good job this is a practise ro
und, she’d have thrashed us all with this.”
“Would I?” said Rose, wondering if she was overdoing her naivity. But when no one seemed to question it, she carried on, nodding and saying ohhh as Rossi explained that she was holding what they called a ‘Full House’.
“Okay,” she said, after listening to the rules three times and playing along with the ‘fake’ round. “I think I’ve got it.”
“Well,” said Mike kindly. “It takes a while to get to really understand it all but just keep your bets low and enjoy it, yeah?”
Rose smiled at him. “Good idea. Thank you.”
An hour later, Rose and Rossi were the only two players left in the game. Fleur and Mike were convinced that Rose was simply experiencing beginners luck, but Chris and Thomas were watching her intently and she was almost certain that Thomas had figured her out.
Rossi, on the other hand, was so self-assured that she knew he wouldn’t even contemplate folding.
“I’ll raise you,” Rose said, confidently.
Rossi’s eyebrows twitched. “Are you sure? I shouldn’t really do this, Rose, but I’m giving you an out here.”
“I’m sure,” she said, pushing forwards her little stack of money.
Rossi smirked, matched her bid, then slowly exposed his cards. “Four of a kind,” he said, looking around the table as if he was expecting a round of applause.
He was reaching forwards, ready to take his winnings, when Rose said, “Hang on,” and spread her cards out in front of her.
Around her, the others gasped and ooooh’d.
“I’m not quite sure, but I think this is called a ‘Straight Flush’?” She furrowed her brow quizzically, then allowed her lips to spread into a wide and dazzling grin.
“Ha!” shouted Thomas. “Rossi, she got you!”
Rossi sat back in his chair, as if he was full of air and someone had just deflated him. “This whole thing,” he said, waving his hand at her. “It was an act?”
Rose shrugged, gathering her money and taking a sip of her drink. “Maybe,” she said, coyly. “Maybe not.”
When she looked up, while the others were thumping Rossi on the back and telling him he’d have better luck next time, Thomas was watching her. He blinked quickly when she met his eyes and looked away. But then he got up from the table and walked over to where she was sitting. “Shall I walk you back?” he asked, glancing towards the cabins.
“Sure.” Rose stifled a yawn. “It is way past my bedtime and winning really does take it out of you, you know.”
“Night Rose,” Mike and Chris called. But as Rose looked back, she noticed that Fleur was watching them. And she didn’t look happy.
Interrupting her train of thought, Thomas slung his arm around her shoulders and said, “That was incredible. I knew you were faking it – the whole ‘I don’t know what I’m doing’ thing. I just knew it.”
“Is that why you folded so early?” Rose asked, trying to keep her brain from doing somersaults because she was tucked neatly under Thomas’ arm and so close to him that she could smell his sweet, dusky cologne.
“You bet,” he laughed. “And you have no idea how good it was to see Rossi get taken down a peg or two.”
Rose shuddered as she remembered how close he’d gotten to her. “Mmm. He’s quite full on.”
“Certainly is,” Thomas nodded.
As they reached her cabin, they paused just in front of the little flint wall. “Thomas,” she said, quietly.
“Mmm.” Was he moving a little closer?
“Thank you for today. It was...”
“It was pretty great, huh?”
“It was.”
“You were great.” Thomas was definitely closer to her than he had been a moment ago. His grey T-shirt emphasised the sun-drenched complexion of his skin, and beneath his neat beard, Rose was certain that his cheeks were dimpling as he smiled at her. “Remarkable Rose.”
His hand was beside hers, lingering there, almost touching. And just when she thought he might wind his fingers around hers, a voice behind them shouted, “Thomas?! You up for round two? Rossi wants to win back his losses.”
Thomas turned and looked over his shoulder. Fleur was standing a little way away, waving. “I–”
“It’s okay,” Rose said, stepping back and starting to fumble for her key in her jeans pocket. “I’m tired. But you go. Have fun. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Thomas smiled, although it wasn’t the smile she was used to seeing.
“Thomas!” Fleur called, motioning for him to hurry up.
“Okay,” he shouted back. Then he leaned forward, kissed Rose swiftly on the cheek, and jogged back to the ranch house.
15
The following day, Thomas brought coffee, as always, and they sat drinking it and watching the sun come up, as always.
But, for some reason, deep in her stomach Rose now felt... reticent.
Something about the way Fleur had looked at her last night and the way she’d called Thomas back to the group had butted up against what Katie had said – that Thomas had a different girlfriend every week – and left Rose wondering if she’d been completely misguided. Could Thomas be using her to make Fleur jealous? Or was he simply the kind of guy who was nice to everyone, who made all women feel like they were supermodels because of the way he looked at them with his deep, smouldering, chocolate brown eyes.
Had their date in the Italian gardens simply been a kind gesture? A friendly gesture?
Sighing, she finished her coffee and set it down on the ground.
“You okay?” Thomas asked. “I thought after your triumph last night, you’d be on top of the world.”
“I’m fine, good, just tired.”
“Well, maybe you should spend today relaxing,” he said, getting up and scooping her empty flask into his hand. “I’m leading a beginners’ trek this morning and have a stack of paperwork to do this afternoon. So I may have to abandon you for a while.”
“That’s fine,” said Rose, almost relieved. “I could do with some time to come down from my winner’s high.” She tried to smile, but she knew it didn’t quite reach her eyes because Thomas frowned.
“Okay, if you’re sure you’re all right?”
“I’m sure,” she said, waving him off. “See you later. If you’re about.”
For most of the day, however, Thomas was not about. He flitted past every now and then but, largely, was too busy to stop and chat.
Rose both missed him and was relieved to have some distance from him at the same time. The way he made her feel when he sauntered up to her was beginning to become impossible to ignore. The almost-touches and the smiles and the kind words were too much.
And she’d been giving in to them. She’d been so close to letting herself kiss him. But then something had planted a horrible niggling seed of doubt in her brain that she couldn’t seem to dislodge.
It was the way Fleur had behaved last night, and the things Katie had said. Together, they were toxic. And it was making Rose’s head hurt.
So, after spending the main part of the afternoon by the pool, she retreated to the cabin and read her book on the patio.
It was almost dinner time and her stomach was rumbling when Fleur walked by.
Rose stood up and waved before she could stop herself.
“Rose, hey.” Fleur walked over and leaned on the wall, the way Thomas did. “You were awesome last night. Well done.”
Now, without Thomas around, Fleur was being completely normal. Or, perhaps she’d always been completely normal and Rose had simply imagined the strange looks and brusque behaviour. “Thanks,” she said. “How was the second game?”
“Good. Rossi won. Obviously.”
“Obviously,” Rose replied. She wanted to ask about Thomas. But she didn’t know how and suddenly, horribly awkwardly, she found herself saying, “So, Fleur, you and Thomas seem pretty close...” She trailed off, feeling her cheeks start to flush.
For a moment, Fleur simply looked at
her. But then she laughed. “Yeah, I guess we are. Why’d you ask?”
“Oh, nothing really. Katie made some comment about him having lots of girlfriends but he’s seemed pretty well behaved since I’ve been here.”
Fleur laughed. “Okay. Well, firstly, Thomas doesn’t do girlfriends. He does fun. Easy, laid back, nothing serious. You know – no big deal kind of thing.”
“And secondly?”
“Secondly, he’s bound to be on his best behaviour around you. He doesn’t want you reporting back to his sister!”
Rose tried to laugh.
“Listen, I’ve got to go. I won’t tell Thomas that you’re spying on him for his little sister though, okay?”
Rose smiled, as if it was all a funny joke. “Thanks,” she said, waving.
As Fleur walked away, Rose watched her. She watched her easy movements and confident stride, her long legs and her TV commercial hair. And when she looked down at her own mis-matched outfit, pale skin, and thick calves, she sighed.
When she was around Thomas, she felt as if he saw her, and liked her. She felt the hum of attraction between them. A vibration that hung in the air whenever they were close.
Surely, Thomas wasn’t that good an actor? But then maybe he just couldn’t help it. Maybe that was how he was with all females. And Rose was doing precisely what Katie had warned her not to – reading too much into it and getting too involved.
Sighing, she sat back down and put her head in her hands.
It had been a long time since she’d felt this way about a guy. Usually, she kept her guard up and a good amount of distance between herself and anyone who could possibly cause her to experience hurt or embarrassment.
But maybe that was it; maybe, deep down in her subconscious, her brain thought that Thomas was a safe bet because she’d be leaving in a few days and she’d never have to see him again. So, her silly, messed up self had allowed all these feelings to happen just for the thrill of feeling them. Because there was absolutely no way they’d turn into anything more than a crush. Because there was no way he’d reciprocate them.
The True Love Travels Series Box Set Page 48