Page 88 of Dirty Player
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Lee had already pulled out Ralph and Winne by the time I’d changed my clothes and grabbed the lunch I’d had him ask his wife, Sue, to make for us. The small cooler was slung over my shoulder and I hurried to the fence where Lee and Shannon were talking.
“A picnic, too?” she asked, brown eyes sparking in the sun when she saw the cooler.
“My wife made it for you,” Lee chimed in, grinning like the cat that ate the canary. “Thrilled when Oliver asked her to. Can’t remember a time when he’d asked for a picnic lunch. To Sue, it was like Christmas, so excited she danced and sang in the kitchen all morning, preparing a feast for you two.”
I glared at him, but it lacked heat. “Tell Sue thanks.”
“Will do.” He tipped his hat to me and winked. “Now you two kids don’t do anything I wouldn’t do today.”
Next to me, Shannon giggled, and I waved him away. “Scram, you old coot.”
“I’m going, I’m going. Be back Monday.”
I kept an eye on Lee as he climbed into the truck, and when he’d turned and driven down the driveway, both of us waving goodbye to him, I turned back to Shannon and arched a brow. “You ready to ride?”
Her eyes lit with unabashed excitement. “I can’t wait.”
“Let’s go then.” I took her hand and pulled her through the gated fence. Winne and Ralph danced a bit before settling down when we walked up to them. “You’ll sit on Ralph because he’s calmer and won’t throw you.”
“Wow, you know how to calm a girl’s nerves.”
“Just preparing you,” I said, smacking her rear end. “I’ll take Hulk out later and exercise him, but he’s too ornery for a slow ride, and I didn’t want him getting the other horses excited. Next time, when you’re ready, I’ll put you on Winne. She’s a bit more feisty, but something tells me you’ll be able to handle her in no time.” I brushed my hand down Ralph’s crest to his shoulder until I knew he was calm. “Ready, boy? Be good to her. She’s new to this.”
As if he understood, he neighed and dipped his head and met Shannon’s gaze.
“Hey, Ralph,” she whispered, reaching out to touch his neck. “You’ll be nice, right?”
“He’ll sense your nerves,” I warned her. “So he might be jumpy at first, but hold on tight and sit with your back straight, centering your balance, and he’ll calm once I’m on Winne. When I get on her, I’ll take your reins and guide him for a bit, okay? All you have to do is hold the pommel of the saddle.”
I pointed to where I meant on the saddle and waited for the sign that she was ready.
It rolled through her like it did every time I suggested something outside her comfort zone. It was usually about sex, but her nerves brightened and then evaporated much the same way now as she blew out a breath.
“Okay. I’m ready.”
I told her how to hold on to the saddle of the horse and helped her up, holding on to Ralph’s reins around his throat to keep him steady. He wiggled a bit once she was on, and I saw her eyes flash wide when he sidestepped, pulling me toward him a bit, but he quickly settled back.
“You good?” I looked up at Shannon and the force of her smile hit me like a meteor straight to my chest. It made my lips part and my ribs burn as she grinned down at me, so fucking excited she could light up the sky.
“Ready, old man.”
“I’ll show you old man,” I grumbled teasingly and hoisted myself onto Winne. Once I was saddled, I reached over and took Ralph’s reins. Shannon’s giggle echoed through the air every time Ralph moved in a way she wasn’t suggesting.
We took two laps around the large ring while I helped her with her balance and gave her basic instructions for digging her heels in and how to pull on the reins to make him stop or slow down.
The entire time, her grin kept her lips spread wide and she continued that sweet giggling sound even though I knew she was focused on paying attention and learning too.
She was like Beaux in that moment, enjoying the hell out of life while at the same time focused on doing her best.
For the first time since I could remember, it made jealousy burn deep inside me. That both of them lived like that. Carefree and focused. Kicked back but paying attention. I’d been so focused on one thing for so long, I hadn’t realized until that moment with Shannon how much I’d forgotten to have fun along the way.
“Thank you,” I said, walking Winne next to Ralph until I could reach over and place my hand on Shannon’s thigh. “Thank you for doing this with me today.”
I let my sincerity shine in my eyes, hoping like hell she could read everything I felt in that moment. It was perfection. Something I wanted to remember forever.
“I should be thanking you,” she said, her voice awed and soft. “For teaching me this. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had so much fun.”
