Page 41 of Blind Trust
“Good luck, everyone.” Brynn leaned sideways, meeting Jack as he leaned toward her. “Be careful out there.”
Jack kissed the tip of her nose. “I will.”
For the first time, Lyla felt a jarring pang of discontentment. It wasn’t that she hated being single. She liked her independence, but she was beginning to feel like maybe she was missing out.
Mason moved into her field of vision and waved. She waved back until she caught Nicolás watching her. The field master gave the signal to move and the dogs were set loose, their barks echoing as they led the first flight and Mason into the field.
Jack and Elinor walked their horses forward. Lyla ran her hand along the reins, feeling that familiar jitter of nerves she always got before a ride.
“So, are we going to talk about this?”
Lyla exhaled. “Nicolás, I want to apologize for earlier. I didn’t mean to lie. Well, actually, I did mean to lie, but I didn’t mean to make you a part of that lie. I know how uncomfortable that made you, and I’m sorry.”
Nicolás’s brows lowered. “Oh, you’re talking about that thing with Memphis.”
“Mason,” Lyla corrected, but she could see from the glint in his eyes that Nicolás knew his name. “What were you talking about?”
Nicolás lifted a brow. “You put me onButtercup?”
Lyla laughed at his unamused expression. She leaned down to pat Nicolás’s horse a few times. “Ah, Buttercup, you’re a sweet girl, aren’t you?”
“You know Jack and Kekoa laughed for a full five minutes.”
“Buttercup is one of our best mares. She could run this trail with her eyes closed.” Lyla watched the field master for the second flight move forward. “She has only one weakness.”
“What’s that?”
Lyla leaned over her saddle and hugged her horse. “She always lets Sir Winston lead.”
“Exploiting my weakness. Well played.” Nicolás set his jaw, the edge of his lip tweaking up. “You better hold on, Stinkerbell.”
The field master gave the signal, and the horses took off. Nicolás winked and gave a quick kick of his heel in Buttercup’s flanks, and the horse responded instantly.
Lyla smiled.Oh, the hunt is on.
14
Nic’s pulse raced nearly as hard as Buttercup’s, the steady beat of her hooves pounding the ground the only thing loud enough to silence the beating of his heart. He could still feel Lyla’s body against his side, and if his head hadn’t been so turned around trying to figure out what was going on, he might’ve enjoyed it more.
He glanced over his shoulder. Lyla’s tiny frame was tucked close to Sir Winston, his long, muscular legs quickly catching up. There was a fire in Lyla’s eyes that matched the smile lighting her face, revealing how much she loved this. The adrenaline. The competition. The risk.
Facing forward, Nic let Buttercup go a bit farther before pulling the reins just enough to slow her down to a canter.
Lyla pulled Sir Winston up beside him, and Buttercup gave a snort. “You’re slowing down already?”
Her cheeks were pink, and the wind had freed a few pieces of hair that framed her face beneath her helmet. She was breathless...and breathtaking.
“Why are you smiling?”
As they let their horses slow to a walk, he turned a serious gaze on her. “I didn’t want you to feel bad because I was winning.”
“Pshh.” Lyla patted Sir Winston’s neck. “We were holding back, huh, boy?”
Nic chuckled, but the way she was riding told him that if she’dgiven it her all, she would’ve smoked him—racing and jumping her horse like the polished equestrian she was.
“I thought you said you’ve only ridden Western?”
“That’s right.”
