Page 55 of Flirting With Fire
“They spot me and think I’ve got food for them in my pockets.”
“And have you?”
“They know me too well,” he confessed, producing a carrot, but carefully so the horses couldn’t see.
“You think they can’t tell you’re hiding a treat?” I teased.
“Shush, we just play the game, okay?
I leaned on the railing next to him, and we basked in the morning sunshine. It was so relaxed, so easy, after the drama of my previous relationship. I could get used to this.
Dex tilted his head to gaze at me. “Ready for the trail ride?”
“About that,” I started.
He furrowed his brow. “You don’t want to spend the day with me?”
“I do.”
But Dex didn’t seem convinced. “Listen, if you don’t wanna come…”
I knew I was going to have to ‘fess up. “It’s not you, Dex. It’s me on the horse I’m worried about.”
His expression cleared. “But you’ve ridden for years.”
“Not for even more years,” I pointed out. “The only thing I ride is—” I clamped my teeth shut.
“The only thing you ride is…?” Dex’s eyebrow shot up. “What were you going to say?”
“Never mind,” I said hastily.
Dex leaned in. “Were you going to say the only thing you ride is men, Meyer Jones?” He chuckled as I whistled under my breath, gazing at the horses rather than blushing at him. He patted my hand. “Don’t worry, big guy. I’ll find the right horse for you. Just right for your size.”
A nasty suspicion trickled through me. “It had better not be Midnight Thunder.”
He stared at me. “You remember old Thunder?”
“Dex, weallremember him,” I said pointedly. “He nearly killed Brad in my class.”
I swear I heard the screams from my house when Thunder, the ranch’s prize stallion, threw Brad from his back. He was lucky to end up with a broken arm, a broken ankle, and aconcussion. If Thunder had stepped on him it would have been lights out for Brad.
Dex sniffed. “Brad shouldn’t have been stupid enough to try to ride him.”
Brad’s parents had tried to sue the ranch until Chief Wally pointed out that Brad shouldn’t have been anywhere near the ranch without supervision, let alone near the stallion, and Dex’s parents could sue for damaging their livelihood. They made a lot of money from Midnight Thunder’s foals.
“Anyway,” Dex continued. “Thunder’s an old boy now. He’s retired and spends his days in the paddocks.”
“He’s still here?” I couldn’t hide the fear in my voice.
Dex smirked at me. “Don’t worry, Meyer. You stay close to me. I’ll protect you.”
Sticking close to Dex sounded like an excellent idea.
“I won’t even feed you to Magnum. He’s our new stallion, a real gentle giant.”
A gentle giant. That’s what they all said until you found yourself on the back of a wild beast.
“You can ride on Yukie,” he continued.
