Hawk explained the whole process of how to saddle a horse, including tips, and what to look for. He droned on about how important it was to pick a horse’s feet and make sure they didn’t have any debris on their coat before you put the saddle pad on, since it could cause sores and irritation. Hawk didn’t seem to want or need my input, but he glanced at me on occasion to make sure I was paying attention.
I was. I couldn’t look away and I hung on every word.
Finally, he was done and he handed me the reins. I raised a brow.
“Bring him along. Let’s go get Humphrey.”
And back to the training barn we walked. This time with me leading the very big but utterly docile horse. Niko huffed on occasion, but he plodded along like he was used to this. I expected he was.
My mind was spinning. Why had Hawk made us walk all the way to the second barn, just to saddle up Niko and walk back? Wouldn’t it have made more sense for him to saddle his horse before we went to the other barn? It seemed more prudent to bring this supposedly pretty horse with us and head out from there. I had half a mind to question him, and I wondered if it was some sort of test.
Whatever. Hawk Harrington could test me all he wanted. I was going to pass.
Hawk had me wait outside with Niko while he went in and saddled Humphrey. It took him a hell of a lot less time before he emerged with a black horse with a flowing, sort of curly mane.My breath caught. Humphrey was very pretty indeed. I mean, I still thought Ramona was prettier, but I could own my bias.
“Wow.”
For the first time ever, Hawk cracked a smile. Like a real one where both sides of his lips curled up. I thought I’d been breathless before? Nothing compared to the way my lungs seized at seeing Hawk’s smile.
Fuck, I was in trouble.
Mentally, I ran through all the reasons it was a bad idea. He was far too young for me. Hell, I was closer to his parents’ age than I was his. I was his client, and business and pleasure should never mix. Plus, he didn’t seem to like me all that much, which meant the whole thing was a non-starter. All very valid reasons.
It didn’t work.
“Mount up.”
His words broke me out of my thoughts. This, at least, I knew how to do. I tossed the reins over Niko’s head, kept them in one hand as I grabbed the handle on the front of the saddle, put my left foot in the stirrup, and hauled myself up. Niko didn’t even budge.
Hawk stepped closer, adjusted the stirrups on both sides, and then wrapped a hand around my calf. “Heels down. Don’t grab the pommel. Keep the reins loose.”
All I could focus on was his touch. I cleared my throat and sat up straighter. “Got it.”
“Not a bad seat,” he murmured, half to himself. “We’ll work on it.”
Before I could say anything, he swung himself up on Humphrey’s back, clicked his tongue, and both horses started walking.
We rode for a few minutes in silence. Past the last of the buildings that made up the bulk of the ranch and into open land. Hawk kept some distance between us, both so he could lead uswhere we were going and to watch me as I rode. A couple of times he gave me a reminder to keep my heels down. Which was awkward and I could feel the pull in my muscles.
I was going to hurt tomorrow. It’d be worth it.
We continued on like that until we reached the trees. I could see a clear trail through them, but I was sort of surprised how dense it was.
“Niko will follow along. Keep doing what you’re doing, except get those heels down. It opens up in a few minutes.” Hawk urged Humphrey forward and took the lead. And that’s when the problem started.
Not with Niko. As Hawk said, he was a perfect gentleman and plodded along behind Hawk and Humphrey like this was the easiest thing ever. Even when I had to duck out of the way of branches, he didn’t seem to notice.
But now I was staring at Hawk’s back. His strong, muscled back that the T-shirt clung to. At his perfect ass, encased in jeans and highlighted by the rise of the saddle. At his legs as they hung down, using pressure to guide his horse.
In that instant, I wanted him under me. And my dick let me know just how much, which was uncomfortable as fuck in my current situation.
I cast my mind around, desperate for anything to distract me, but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from him. I shifted in the saddle, which made Niko side-step, but the horse kept going. Following wherever Hawk led.
The trail opened up a minute later, but I was too hot and bothered to be relieved. Instead, I had to get my mind off this beautiful man who could never want me—and shouldn’t, given everything—and landed on only one thing.
“You never asked me.”
Hawk twisted to look at me then turned his attention in front of him again. “Asked you what?”
