Page 28 of Dangerous Stakes

She made a sound that indicated she was still awake, but only barely.

“I hate to admit it,” he whispered against her ear, “but you and that mutant beast of yours were incredible this afternoon. But don’t you ever do it again.”

CHAPTER 11

Rory leaned against the grandstands watching as Susan, mounted on Tank, waited to enter the Olympic ring. Both were dressed as befitted horse and rider in the dressage competition. Both exuded an air of confidence that spoke of their talent.

He took a moment to gaze around. He smiled. He was back—back where he’d always dreamed of being. And yet, Rory knew that what he had long believed would be the most important thing in his life came in a distant second to what he’d found with Susan.

Two weeks before they left for the Olympics, Susan asked Rory to turn her after the competition was over. For one thing, she didn’t want to take a chance that the transition would impede her ability to compete in any way. And Rory had worried that there had been some random drug testing of riders, any blood test would reveal that she wasn’t fully human.

He held his breath as she waited to begin her ride on what was literally center stage in the dressage world.

* * *

Susan and Tank waited to enter the ring. She waited for the steward to give her the nod. They were ready. Susan knew and so, she knew, did Tank. This was what she, Tank and Rory had worked so hard for. All those hours riding, practicing, drilling—sometimes when she’d annoyed Rory to the point he’d put her over his knee and then told her sore backside or not, she needed to ride. She couldn’t suppress the smile that came over her face.

It was all within their grasp. They were sitting in first place after the first two phases of the dressage competition. This was the freestyle. Her planned and practiced routine was nuanced and breathtaking … and totally within the rules. Susan knew she could take it all. She glanced over her shoulder at Rory who smiled at her and nodded. She knew that what she thought would be the most important moment in her life paled in comparison to what she felt for Rory.

All the love and joy she felt in this moment… in sharing this moment with Rory bubbled up and she glanced at him again.

She grinned slyly at him and watched his expression change. Rory knew as well as his own name that Susan was considering pushing the envelope … seeing if the loophole they’d found in the rules would allow her to perform one of the Airs Above the Ground. Susan was confident that if they tried to disqualify her, they could win the argument.

She glanced at him, and the grin became a glorious smile. Rory held her eye, shook his head, reached down, and rested his hand on the buckle of his belt.

Susan and Tank entered the ring.