Page 122 of The Grumpy Boss Agreement

Hours later, at Sarah’s riding stables, I stare anxiously in the eyes of a gorgeous horse.

“Are you sure about this?”

I turn to look back at Cole, who tightens the saddle on a beautiful gray mare. He’s dressed more casually than I’ve ever seen him before in worn jeans and a gray Atlanta Kings’ sweatshirt. I’m wearing a snug pair of jeans borrowed from Sarah, one of Cole’s oversized black hoodies, and a pair of Sarah’s riding boots with extra thick socks.

Cole looks at me teasingly. “Do you trust me?”

“I guess I can trust you.” I look at the horse uncertainly. “But I don’t know about Beautyberry here.”

He takes the mare by the bridle and strokes her neck. “She’s the tamest, sweetest horse you’ll ever meet. My hand to God.”

I touch her cheek with quivering fingers. She lifts her head, and moves forward a step to move my touch to her ears. I scratch her ears, and she snorts and stomps.

“See? You two are already friends.”

Cole lets go of Beautyberry’s bridle. He makes a wide arc around her back legs as he guides a tall, gleaming chestnut horse to stand five feet away.

“This is Laurel,” he says. He ruffles her mane. “She’s a good girl too. Aren’t you?”

The horse nuzzles his pockets and he laughs.

“Sarah usually keeps apples and carrots in her coat for a treat. I’ll have to grab some from the tack room when we finish so we can give them something to munch on.”

I look up at Beautyberry speculatively.

“Or we can just feed them and let that be my first horse experience.”

Cole grins. “You have to ride on the beach one time in your life. It’s an experience like no other. If you hate it, we’ll turn around.”

“Ugh, okay.” I stare at my horse’s saddle. “But how am I supposed to sit on her back?”

“With a boost from me.” Cole wiggles his eyebrows as he comes over to stand behind me. His big hands grip my hips. “Ready?”

Feeling Cole so near and ready to help is kind of hot, not going to lie. I open my mouth.

“Uhh, I–.”

He lifts me up as if I am weightless. My hands scrabble for purchase on the saddle. I swing my leg over the horse and sit down.

No one is more stunned that I sat so easily and gracefully than I am.

Cole is busily puts my feet in the stirrups and adjusts the saddle some more. Then he steps back with a smug smile.

“You look great. I told you that you would learn quickly.”

I blush and pick up the reins.

“Easy, Zen master. Let’s see how the actual riding goes.”

Cole mounts his horse, seemingly without effort, and picks up the reins. He looks confident on horseback, something I never expected. Sarah told me that Cole rides horses, but seeing it in person is something else altogether.

“Okay. We’re going to head out the door and right out to the beach. All you have to do is hold the reins in both hands, and gently nudge Beautyberry with your heels. To stop, pull back on the reins gently. She has done this a thousand times so you can relax and let her do most of the work.”

Feeling nervous, I let out my words in a squeak. “Okay! Got it!”

“You’re going to do great. Let’s go.”

He clicks his tongue, and squeezes his heels, spurring Laurel into action. I don’t even have to do anything, because Beautyberry just trots after Laurel, eager to get outside.

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