Page 27 of When He Lies
“Fuck,” Hugo said.
Indeed.
Chapter Seven
Ryan lifted her off the horse. All gallant and careful and as if he did not still have blood drops on the fancy white shirt he wore. His hands lingered against her waist, and Simone tried to figure out just what her next move should be.
Then the stallion ran away.
She gaped after the horse, expecting Ryan to give chase or something. He did not. He just kept right on holding her. “What are you doing?” she demanded.
“Making sure you don’t fall. I got the impression you’d never ridden a horse before.”
Her chin notched up. “Whatever gave you that impression?”
“The way you clung to me with a death grip.”
Sure, why not just drop death between them? “I’m fine.” A sniff. She was not. That stallion had gone helluva fast. She’d been bouncing like crazy during the frantic ride. There had been no saddle. And her thighs hurt. “You can release me.”
He did. She nearly crumbled so her hands flew out and grabbed onto him so she could stay upright.
“Another death grip,” he rasped.
She glared at him. “The horse is getting away.”
“I am aware.”
“He’s our ride.”
“Correction, he was our ride. Now he’s heading back to the stables so he can rest.”
She kept holding him because her legs were still feeling jiggly. The only way to describe them. “How on earth do you know that he’s heading to the stables?”
“Because he’s brilliant, and I trust him.”
Sure. Why not? “You get that the bad guys can just follow his hoof prints and come find us, right?” Due to the powerful storms that had swept through the night before, the ground was a muddy mess. Her bare feet were currently sinking into the mud. It felt squishy and cold between her toes, and she’d only realized that she’d lost her fancy heels when they’d been galloping across the English countryside.
“They can follow his hoof prints, but they will not find us. We’ll be long gone before they get here.” His head tilted to the right. “Want me to just carry you?”
“No, I do not.” Truthfully, though, yes, that might be a great idea. “Carry me where?”
“To our next ride.”
Her heart raced a little faster. “You have a next ride waiting, already? Do not tease me on this.”
He smiled at her.
And her heartbeat pounded faster.
Ryan winked. “They didn’t search me, remember?”
No, she did not remember that. “I was drugged, remember? Let’s act like things are blurry for me.”
His smile dimmed. “Are things blurry for you?”
Um… “Yes.” Husky. Weak. A little trembly. “Blurry. And my heart is racing.” True story. “I…I feel a little faint.” When she thought of the dead body they’d left behind, she did feel faint. Look at her being all truthful.
He swung her into his arms. Her muddy feet kicked in the air, and her soggy dress trailed down his arm.
