Page 35 of Puck and Prejudice

“Shouldn’t we continue to pull? The foal is almost out.”

“Oh no. We need to leave the hind legs in the vaginal vault for fifteen minutes or so.”

“Why? I mean, I’m not questioning your judgment. I’m just curious.”

I can see the openness and wonder in his eyes, and it almost makes me lose my train of thought. But I recover fast. “Is this your first foaling?”

“Yes. Can’t you tell?” He laughs nervously.

“You’re doing great. And to answer your question, it’s good for the foal if it stays partially inside the mare. Blood will transfer from the placenta to the foal, which will give it more strength.”

“Wow, I didn’t know that.”

“That’s true,” Mickey pipes up.

I forgot he was there. He could have helped me—he obviously has more experience than Jackson—but I’m glad that he didn’t offer to assist. I like that I shared this experience with Jackson, and my accelerated pulse is proof of that.

“Thanks for helping me. This was my first foaling too,” I confess. “I mean, the first one where I had to assist the mare.”

I look at Jackson and our eyes meet. We don’t speak for several beats, but this moment doesn’t require words. For the first time since I met him, he has his guard down. There’s no contempt, annoyance, or malice in his gaze. I’m seeing a person full of wonder after witnessing the miracle of life, and it speaks to my soul.

“Thanks so much, doc. I can handle things from here,” Mickey chimes in again, breaking the moment.

I glance at the mare and the foal, a beautiful filly the same brown color as the mare. “I can wait.”

“Yeah, me too,” Jackson replies.

I don’t look at him again, but I can’t help the upturn of my lips, or the fluttering in my stomach. I’m acting like a high school girl, sitting next to her crush, which is totally crazy when, hours ago, I was ready to punch Jackson in the throat.

What’s happening to me?

* * *

JACKSON

The adrenaline from helping Izzie deliver the foal has left my body, and tiredness finally sets in. I’m usually in bed a couple hours after I get home from a game. We waited until the foal was completely out, standing, and nursing from its mother, and then Dione pretty much dragged us out of the stable.

“We should get going,” I tell Izzie, then a yawn sneaks up on me.

“Are you okay to drive? It’s very late.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ll drink an expresso before we go.”

“Why don’t you two spend the night?” Dione chimes in. “It’s not safe to drive at this hour when you can barely keep your eyes open.”

I think about not having to make the long trek back to Miami, and I’m tempted, but then I glance at Izzie. I’m sure she doesn’t want to stay.

“It’s up to you,” I tell her. “The house has plenty of rooms and you can pick one far from mine.”

“It’s fine. We can wait until morning to drive back.”

My brows shoot up. “For real?”

She tilts her head. “Why do you sound surprised? It’s been a long night for both of us. I can survive sleeping under the same roof as you. I just need to call the clinic and let them know I’m not coming back.”

“Okay. Good.” I veer for the car, then I look at myself and realize I’m covered in birth fluids.

“Do you mind if we walk? I don’t want to get your car dirty.”

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