Page 36 of The Only Seconds that Matter
Brag about it some more, why don’t you, Victor thought.“Like I said, she’s married.”
“And it’s a happy marriage?”
“Johnny.”
Johnny laughed with a shit-eating grin.“Always pays to ask.”
Victor turned around and shoved the dressage saddle hard enough into Johnny’s chest to make him stumble back a step with anoof.“Put this on a rack in the aisle and behave yourself.”
Victor finished up untacking Skyler’s mare and turned his attention to Taylor.By the time their lesson moved to the arena, Skyler was on her way out with Blitz.As Victor worked with both Taylor and Midnight, he couldn’t help but get distracted by the muffled laughter happening by the gate.Skyler and Johnny were now engaged in a conversation, and Victor’s body felt tight and hot at the sight.Was he protective of Skyler or was he jealous that she was the one Johnny was flirting with?No time to work that out right now, because Midnight was tossing her head and flicking her tail in annoyance and he had to make sure Taylor’s ride didn’t end with her on the ground.
By the end of the lesson, Midnight was moving around at a relaxed trot, which was the only win they were going to get today.Taylor dismounted and agreed to cool Midnight.Meanwhile, Victor took another look toward the gate.Skyler and Johnny were still talking.What were they talking about that warranted that much interest?He hoped Johnny wasn’t saying anything inappropriate.Victor wasn’t typically willing to fight for a woman’s honor, but he’d fight for Skyler.
Taylor finished up with Midnight and took her to the cross-ties to untack her.Victor followed along behind.Johnny gave Taylor a high five and patted Midnight’s rump before turning back to Skyler.Victor caught the tail end of their conversation.
“… if that’s somethin’ y’all are interested in.”
Skyler turned to Victor with a smile.“You interested in going dancing?”
“What?”
“There’s a place where they do line dancin’ Friday nights.I figure if you’re here for the true Oklahoma experience, you gotta do somethin’ a lil country.”
“Line dancing,” Victor clarified.
“They got a mechanical bull if you wanna see a man in his element.”At this, Johnny tipped his hat and winked.Skyler laughed.Kill him now.“Whataya think, Vic?”
“Do you wanna go?”Victor asked Skyler, already knowing her answer.
“Sure!I think it’ll be fun.”
Great.He didn’t see a gracious way out of it.“Then I guess we’re going dancing.”
CHAPTER 11
“How do those feel?”
Skyler thrust her leg out and rotated her foot around at the ankle.The turquoise cowboy boots she’d tried on were of the incredibly impractical variety, complete with rhinestones and intricate white embroidery.Victor wouldn’t have chosen them for her, considering how little Skyler seemed to care about appearances, but she sometimes surprised him.She’d already tried on and rejected a few other pairs at the western wear store they’d visited in Tulsa this morning.
“They fit pretty well.Seem kinda pinchy at the toes though.”
“I told you that you could just wear a pair of mine.”
“Your feet are smaller than mine.”
“I’m two sizes bigger now.”
Skyler turned to Victor with skepticism.“Really?Hormones can do that?”
“I guess so.”
“Huh.The human body is a magical mystery.”She pulled off the boot and slipped it back into the box.“For better or worse.”
“What’s worse about me?”
Skyler chuckled.“Nothing.I’m talking about me.”
“What about you?”
