Page 5 of Fundamentals in Flirting

“Erm, how would I know?” The voice was male, uncertain.

“Can you see him?”

“Yes.”

“Is he standing up?”

“Yes.” The voice was growing in confidence with these easy-to-answer questions.

“Has he got all four feet on the ground?”

“Yes.” This time the voice was triumphant, like he’d just scored a win onUniversity Challenge.

“So, none of his limbs are waving in the air or dangling loosely or look weird?” I tried, upping the difficulty level slightly.

“Er, nope?” Uncertainty had crept back in.

“What’s he doing?” I was starting to get some feeling back now as the air jacket slowly deflated.

“Erm, he looks like he’s eating the hedge.” A pause. “Is that a good sign?”

“Yes. Can you see any blood on him?”

There was another tension-filled pause. “Nope.” The voice had gone a bit trembly.

This all sounded promising and I began moving my arms and legs, one at a time, to check my own body for broken bones. I was subconsciously aware that the man was now leaning over me, quite closely, but I kept my eyes tightly shut, concentrating on my own body inventory. I knew that if I looked at him, I was probably going to launch into a strongly worded diatribe and I needed my full breath back before I could do it with any kind of conviction.

“Can you open your eyes?”

Reluctantly, I cracked my eyelids open a fraction and squinted up into the shadowed face of quite a tall man in a cycling helmet, backlit by the sun and crouching on the edge of the shallow ditch. Gingerly, I carried on testing each of my limbs with my hands. Everything seemed to be moving and reacting as it should – no weird tingly feelings or absence of vital appendages – so I started to sit up and grunted in discomfort.

“Woah, wait. Are you ok?” Large, warm hands reached for my shoulders, clasping the tops of my arms firmly. “Should you be sitting up? Do I need to call an ambulance?”

“I’m fine, honestly. No need for an ambulance.” I began undoing the toggles of the air jacket and its torso-crushing hold on my body lessened, so that I was finally able to breathe normally again.

Looking up and out of my position in the ditch, I could see Pluto was eating the hedge nearby, just as goddamn Evel Knievel here had said, and seemed totally fine. My horse was watching me with faint equine interest between munches, as if to say,Not sure what you’re doing down there, lady, but I’ll be all right snacking here until you’re ready to go home.

Smiling at my goofy horse – I really did love him – I took off my riding hat and glanced over at the cause of this untimely dismount. He was stooping over me, concern etched on his face. His oddly familiar face. His gorgeous, infuriating face. His bloody-hell-you’re-a-blast-from-the-past face. His I-really-hoped-I’d-never-see-you-again face.

Shit.

I groaned in despair. No, this could not actually be happening.

“Are you ok?” he repeated, leaning down towards me and touching my shoulder gently, staring into my eyes.

“Yes, I’m fine.” I wasn’t going to acknowledge him if he didn’t know who I was. This could be ok. I could get away anonymously and he’d be none the wiser. All fine and dandy, dignity intact. Hoo-bloody-ray.

“Hannah Havens?” A hint of stunned disbelief coloured the tone of his voice.

Bugger.

“Yes, hello, Teddy Fraser,” I replied, cringing, before muttering sarcastically, “Fancy, quite literally, running into you today.”

“Oh my God,” he whispered and rocked back on his heels, studying me intently.

“Right, well, since we’re both uninjured, I’ll be going.”

Uncomfortable with his scrutiny, I started to get to my feet, a wave of dizziness causing me to pitch forward and stumble into Teddy, but his hands caught me easily, holding me briefly against his chest. Christ, he seemed so much broader and more potent than I remembered at school, the muscles of his arms bulging as he righted me before ducking his head down to look into my face.

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