Page 37 of Enticed
“We should grab a drink sometime,” she said the moment my eyes zeroed in on her name and phone number scrawled across the note in neat, feminine script.
Fuck.
I would have to let her down easy. There was no way I would go out with her. It wasn’t that there was anything wrong with her. She was attractive, most likely in her mid-thirties like me, and seemed friendly enough, but she wasn’t the woman I wanted.
“I’m sorry, Nicole,” I began, thankful she’d included her name since I couldn’t remember it. “I’m not really in a good place to date right now. My divorce is pretty fresh.”
“So is mine,” she said with a sad smile and a flush still staining her cheeks. “I just thought maybe it’d be nice to hang out and see where things went,” she offered hopefully.
“I don’t date clients. It’s a conflict of interest,” I clarified, handing back the paper.
“Oh,” she replied, forcing a smile to hide her embarrassment as she plucked it from my fingers. Her spine straightened, and she glanced past my shoulder.
Jasmine strode toward us wearing a pleased smile. She was overly chipper when she said, “Josie is doing amazing.” She didn’t look at me. Her focus was solely on Nicole, and I got the sense she’d overheard at least part of that conversation...
“That’s great,” Nicole said, her features tight.
“I have some exercises I’d like for her to do at home to help strengthen her core and improve her riding. When she gets back from turning Petunia out, I’ll go over them with both of you.”
Nicole nodded her assent, and I excused myself to load Josie’s horse into the trailer before slipping into the barn. I breathed a sigh of relief when the door closed behind me.
Then I snuck out the side door to make sure Petunia had fresh water while she was turned out before returning to the barn. I grabbed Juniper’s tack and brushes and headed for her stall. Leading her out to the grooming area, I secured her to the crossties. Jasmine typically practiced immediately following her afternoon client, so I thought I’d get a head start on preparing her horse.
I was brushing Juniper when Jasmine stepped back inside. She glanced up and halted in her tracks. She hadn’t expected me to be there with her horse, and it showed in her stunned expression. She quickly schooled her features before the snarky woman I recognized reappeared.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” she asked, folding her arms over her chest.
There she is.
“Just thought I’d get her ready while you finished up with your student.” I shrugged and continued running the brush over Juniper’s withers.
“Thanks,” she said, her tone softening the slightest bit, “but I can take it from here. I’m sure you’ve got better things to do than groom my horse.” She stepped up to me and held her hand out expectantly. I ignored it and continued to brush Juniper’s coat.
“Gabriel,” she said in warning. She never used my full name, but I liked it. I wanted to hear hermoanit.
“I’m almost done,” I replied casually, ignoring the tightening of my jeans across my hardening cock.
She huffed her annoyance and marched into the tack room, returning a moment later with her saddle, pad, and bridle. When I tossed the brush back into the bucket, she spread the saddle pad over Juniper’s back, then placed her saddle atop it.I helped her secure the girth before grabbing the bridle and stepping up to Juniper’s head. She let out a little snort and drew back from me.
“You know she doesn’t like you putting that on her,” Jasmine said, rolling her eyes. She held out her hand, and I reluctantly dropped the bridle into it. The horse could be a little persnickety and only liked Jasmine putting it on.
I unhooked the crossties and slipped her halter off. She was more than happy to let me do that. Jasmine spoke encouraging words to her as she placed the bit in her mouth and slid the crown piece over her head.
“You should call her,” she said, securing the nose band into place. She didn’t look at me, but there was a noticeable tension rolling off her.
“What?” I asked, momentarily stunned by her comment.
“Nicole. She’s beautiful. She’s your age, and she clearly likes you. She’s the kind of woman I could see you ending up with,” she added, her voice cracking at the end, and her throat bobbed with a rough swallow.
“I don’t want Nicole.” My voice was low and hard, and it gave her pause. She blinked a couple of times before buckling the throat latch. She stepped up to me with challenge burning in her eyes.
“Then whatdoyou want?”
I grabbed on to Juniper’s reins, trying to keep from lifting my hand to touch Jasmine’s face and telling her exactly what and who I wanted.
“Something I shouldn’t,” I confessed, my voice so low I could barely hear it over the thrumming of my pulse in my ears.
She searched my gaze, and I held my breath, wondering if she was about to unmask the truth I’d worked so hard to disguise. Understanding flared in her eyes and her chest rose and fell with a ragged breath. This was the moment my carefully crafted facade would crumble, and she learned just how badly I wanted her.
