Page 49 of Reputation
They were almost there, emerging from the small stretch of trees heartbeats later.Glancing over her shoulder, her brother was only ten feet away.Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she turned back around.They were so close—only about ten yards separated her from winning.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Shadowfax’s head pull astride of her.Leaning lower, she lifted in her stirrups, trying to be as light as possible.
The horses, used to this competition, eyed each other as they tore up the last few feet of ground.Her thighs burned from holding herself up, and she used her core to keep her body steady as Snow’s hooves pounded the dirt beneath them.
Flashing past the gate, Eavie let out a triumphant whoop when Snow crossed through a nose length before Shadowfax.
Slowing their horses to a canter, they were all breathing hard.Beneath her jacket, she could feel sweat soaking her skin, dampening her long-sleeved top.Eavie looked over her shoulder and took in her brother’s windblown face, adorned with a giant smile.
“Sorry, dear brother,” she panted.“Looks like I’m still the reigning champ.”
He laughed with her.“I’ll get you one of these days,” he said as he pulled Shadowfax up beside her.“You’re just too hard to sneak up on.But one day, I will get you.”
She smiled and looked up at the clear blue sky.“I see everything—it’s why I’m good at my job,” she laughed.
This, she thought, was what she needed.The rush of a race had burned through some of her pent-up energy and adrenaline that Jax had built up in her.Finally, she felt a little more settled.
They continued toward the stables in companionable silence before Eavie asked, “How did you know where to find me?”
He shrugged nonchalantly.“Instinct, mostly.And I let Shadowfax follow his own trail.He must have wanted a hard race since he led me to where you were charging through the fields.”She chuckled.“Feeling better?”he asked after a beat of silence.
She laughed again, shaking her head.Twins, she thought,were so annoying.
“Yes,” she answered on an exhale.
They rode through the open stable doors, where they both dismounted and began unsaddling and brushing down their horses.When they were done, each twin led their horse into a stall to rest.
Walking back to the farmhouse, Eric swung his arm around her shoulders, drawing her into his side.She wrapped her arms around his waist, soaking in the feeling only being close to him could bring.Her twin—her soul mate.She’d needed him more than she’d realized.
As they walked together back to the farmhouse, Eric dropped a kiss on the top of her head.At this moment, she felt calm and happy.Family was what she needed.
Tuesday Morning, Eavie arrived at work feeling refreshed and ready to return to business despite still being confused about Jax.Thankfully, the team was leaving for a west coast road trip tomorrow, so she was guaranteed twelve days away from him.It was time she desperately needed to figure out what she was going to do.
That plan was shattered like a dropped glass a few hours into her day when Sam called her name.Standing, she grabbed her notebook and pen and entered his office, stopping just shy of his desk.
“You called?”she asked.
“Yes, I was going over the trip schedule and decided I’d like you to come with us.Can you make that work?”he inquired, looking at her expectantly.
Staring like Bambi in headlights at her boss, she knew she couldn’t say no, no matter how much she wanted to.She would go if he wanted her to.It was her job, she reminded herself, even as a sensation she didn’t analyze too closely swirled in her stomach.
There went her time away from the one man she couldn’t escape.Internally, like the cartoon angel and devil perching on her shoulders, her hormones leapt ecstatically while her brain steamed in frustration.
“Of course,” she said, plastering what she hoped was an easy smile.“I would be happy to.”
“Great, speak with the logistics department about getting your ticket ready and have them add a hotel room for you.They should also give you a corporate card for any other costs,” he said before returning to his computer, signaling the decision was made.
“Got it, will do,” she replied, jotting down those few notes in her notebook.“You have a call in five minutes with ownership and a meeting with the operations team directly after.”
“Ah yes, thank you,” he said, nodding to her before she turned and left his office, closing the door behind her.
She walked around her desk and sat down, thinking the universe had a dark sense of humor.Sighing, she picked up her phone and called Jessica, who handled the team’s travel arrangements.She filled her in on the new plan, and Jessica told her she would take care of it.
Just as she hung up, her cell rang, a number she didn’t recognize flashing on the screen.Accepting the call, she put her cell to her ear.
“Hello?”she answered.
“Hi, ah, is this Eavie?”asked a male voice on the other end.
