Summer Nights. Сьюзен Мэллери

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      CHAPTER FOUR

      ANNABELLE TOLD HERSELF she would be the bigger person. Possibly for the first time in her life, she thought, managing a smile. Maybe she was making too big a deal out of what Shane had said. It’s just he’d obviously hated his ex and then to have him say she reminded him of the woman had been disconcerting. And okay, it had hurt a little.

      “I need to learn to ride,” she said aloud, then squared her shoulders and tightened her grip on the steering wheel. “For the bookmobile.”

      She needed to keep her eyes on the prize. The festival to raise the money would culminate with the dance. She was the one who had said she would learn to do it. Someone had anonymously donated the money for riding lessons. It’s not like she was going begging.

      Someone tapped on the driver’s side window of her parked car. She yelped and jumped in her seat, then saw Shane standing there.

      Her first instinct was to drive back home. But she was already here and they needed to come to terms.

      She hit the button to lower her window. “Hi.”

      “Hi, yourself. I wasn’t sure you’d show up.”

      She tried to tell if he was pleased or disappointed, only his dark eyes were impossible to read.

      “I’m sorry,” he said abruptly. “About what I said. I didn’t mean it the way it came out.”

      “How did you mean it?”

      He hesitated, then drew in a breath. “Can I pass on that one?” He reached through the open window and pulled up the lock, then opened her door and held out his hand. “I’d like very much to teach you to ride and teach one of the horses to do the dance. If you’ll accept my apology.”

      If she’d been standing, she would have stomped her foot. Now he was being all nice and conciliatory. If she said no, she would look like she was pouting. Plus, she really did need the lessons.

      “That would be great,” she said, and placed her hand in his.

      For a second, she thought she felt a little tingle, but told herself she was imagining it. It had to be static electricity.

      He helped her out of her car, then released her.

      “I’ll get Mason,” he told her as he closed her car door. Shane suddenly stiffened and swore under his breath.

      She turned and saw Khatar trotting toward them.

      “I changed the lock on his gate,” Shane said. “Stay back.”

      Annabelle ignored him and walked toward the beautiful white stallion. “He’s smart and handsome. Aren’t you, big guy? Who’s a clever horse?” As she spoke, she reached up and stroked his face.

      Khatar stepped closer, as if eager to be near. He angled his body between her and Shane, then lowered his head so he could press it against her chest.

      “You’re quite the kitten, aren’t you?” She looked over his ears toward Shane. “You should let me ride him.”

      “I don’t think so.”

      “Is it because he’s expensive? I’ll be careful. Doesn’t he need exercise? Couldn’t I do that? He’s so sweet.”

      “He’s not sweet.”

      If he hadn’t looked so serious and worried, she would have laughed. “You must be confusing him with another horse,” she said, and wrapped her arms around the horse’s strong neck. “You wouldn’t hurt me, would you?”

      “You can’t ride him.”

      There was something in Shane’s tone. Something that made her want to stick out her tongue and remind him he wasn’t the boss of her. Not exactly mature.

      She told herself this was his horse and he had the right to say who could ride him and who couldn’t. Still, Khatar was so friendly.

      “Could I try?” she asked.

      “No.”

      “For a minute?”

      “He’ll throw you then trample you.”

      “He won’t. He adores me. I’ll show you.”

      She was standing by the fence, with the horse between her and Shane. In one quick move, she climbed onto a lower rung and reached for the horse. Khatar moved toward her, turning to give her a better angle. Shane’s entire body stiffened as his face went white.

      “Annabelle, don’t!”

      His tone was frantic. She realized he wasn’t kidding about his concern. She started to get down, only to slip on the wood and start to fall. She caught herself by grabbing onto Khatar. He stayed perfectly still, as if wanting to make sure she didn’t get hurt.

      Shane came around СКАЧАТЬ