Page 1 of Hannah.

PROLOGUE

Johan

The past fewhours have been so intense that it feels like the day should be over already, but of course, it’s nowhere near. We are at the Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham, just Hannah and me. Outside of the grounds, the air carries the scent of fresh hay and dirt. It’s loud, with the cheers of the crowd wrapping around us. It feels like a date, even if it shouldn’t.Why does everything I do with Hannah feel like it carries so much meaning and weight?

When I’m with her, my rational thoughts evaporate like dew off the afternoon grass. It worries me as much as it intrigues me. Knowing that this is Elise’s little sister used to keep me on a tight leash. After all, I still had hope for that relationship to work out. Now, though, there is only Hannah and the somewhat shocking realization that I never felt like this about her older sister. With Elise, it was a warm, sunny feeling; an easy attraction to a beautiful girl that I shared interests with. Everything was easy with her. Nothing is easy with Hannah. She feels like a whirlpool, and I can’t escape her pull.

Come on, man. Focus on the show. This line of thought will get you nowhere.

“It's been a while since I've been to a horse show,” I tell her as we enter the arena. Then, with a slight smile pulling at the corners of my lips, I add, “And this is the best one we could have attended. You’re such a lucky girl to be here with me.”

Hannah immediately chuckles, shaking her head. “I’d almost forgotten how humble a man you are.” She pauses for a beat, glancing around the arena, and then her voice goes playful. “Well, I hope the show is as good as you say. I’ve never been into horses.”

“Oh, it is,” I quip back before looping her arm in mine and dragging her towards our section. “I’m surprised you’ve never been before. Your sister was quite the equestrian.”

Hannah gives me a look and wrinkles her nose. “Can we please not talk about Elise right now?”

I snap my mouth shut and shove my hands in my pockets. “Sorry.”Okay…a touchy subject.“You know,” I say, trying to sound casual as I switch subjects. “I've competed here before.”

Hannah glances around us, her eyes widening as she processes what I said. “Really?”

“Yep.” I wait, knowing that she’s hoping I’ll tell her more without her having to admit her interest.

As we walk through the grounds, I see her looking up at me expectantly a few times before blowing out a breath of defeat. “And how was it? Fun? Exciting?”

“Fantastic,” I admit, finding myself smiling at her. “I wasn’t even sure if I’d compete that year. My main horse was one that no one expected a lot from. But I knew better.”

Hannah nibbles her bottom lip, still trying to keep up that appearance of aloofness. She’s adorable. “Oh. Um. Why didn’t anyone think he would do well?”

“It’s a long story.” I hand our tickets to the attendant at the front gate while explaining it to her. “I got her when I was thirteen, and she was already trained for dressage, but she had too much…I guess you could say wild energy for it. Show jumping was my area of competition, and my dad tried to talk me out of choosing that particular mare for days. But I had made up my mind. Many people would have gotten rid of her because they were convinced she’d be too hard to handle, but I worked with her. I was young and dumb, and I was sure I could fix her.”

Hannah looks at me with wide eyes. “And did you?”

I feel a glowing fondness, remembering those days and that damned stubborn mare. “To some extent, I did. All that energy made her a fantastic show jumper, even if Dad never wanted to admit I was right.”

We finally arrive at our assigned seats, and I gesture for Hannah to sit before I do so beside her. “But she was a good horse, right?”

I laugh. “Yes and no. It wasn't easy. She had a lot of bad habits. She’d fight against being handled. She'd bite. She’d kick. I wasn't afraid to get hurt because I was a teenage boy, dumb and brave. That's why I was the one who got her. I just told Pa, 'Give me this horse. I'm going to turn her around.' And then I did.”

“Wow. I’m surprised you stuck it out. Honestly, I don’t think I’d have had the patience.”

“Patience is something I have in droves if the situation is right.” I pause for a beat, thinking something through. “The broken things, animals, people…they are often the best and the most amazing of the lot. They need a little extra work, is all.”

There is a color high on Hannah’s cheeks, but she doesn’t say anything. I can feel her energy switch, and for some reason, it reminds me of our time together at her brother’s wedding and the warm smell of her vanilla perfume as I pulled her close to me in her grandmother’s office…

No. No fucking way!

Icannotthink about that and how foolish of a move it was, especially now that I have her all to myself today.

“So, what event are you most excited about?” I ask her in an attempt to distract myself from my reverie.

Her face lights up with excitement. “All of them.”

“Okay, smart aleck. You have to choose one.”

“Fine,” she sighs. “How about jumping?”

“Jumping is great. We'll stay for that.”

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