Aaron nods. “I think you’re on to something. She’s calm.” He reaches in and runs his hand down Midnight’s nose.
“She’s beautiful,” I comment.
Aaron looks over his shoulder at me and grins. “You want to pet her?”
“Can I?”
“Come here.” Our hands are still linked, so I go easily when he gives a gentle tug. He pulls me to stand in front of him, and I stiffen up and step back into his chest when Midnight sticks her head out of the stall, getting closer to us. Aaron wraps an arm around my waist; the other reaches out and rubs Midnight’s head. “I got you. She’s not going to hurt you, I promise.” He grabs my hand, and together we pet her. “She likes you,” Aaron says when Midnight drops her head to let us pet her.
“I can’t believe I’m this close to a horse,” I say. I sound like a ten-year-old girl, but in a way, I guess it’s the ten-year-old girl in me who always wanted to learn how to ride coming through. The carnival would come to town each year and I always rode the ponies as a little girl.
I feel his hot breath against my cheek. “You’re doing great, Whit.”
I’m thankful for his arm around me; otherwise I would be in a puddle of goo right in in the middle of the stables. His voice, deep and southern, washes over me.
A throat clearing has Aaron dropping our hands. “I need to get her warmed up.” Joe motions to Midnight. I almost tell him not to bother, I’m plenty warm, but then I snap back to reality and realize he’s talking about the horse. Aaron Mills has my mind in the gutter.
“We’re going to go find our seats. Whitney is going to take some pictures.” Joe nods. I give a lame wave, and we leave him to work.
I can’t stop touching her. I don’t know what my problem is. It’s not like I’ve never spent time with a beautiful woman before, but this one. . . . There’s just something about her. I can’t seem to help myself.
Her soft skin and the scent of her strawberry shampoo engulfed me when I held her close, helping her overcome her fear of petting Midnight. I’m not completely sure whether it was fear or just a bit of hesitation, but I took full advantage of the situation. No way in hell after touching her skin on the way here was I going to pass up another golden opportunity. I’m not crazy.
Holding her small, soft hand in mine, I lead us to the stands. I find us seats at the top, out of view of prying eyes. “Is this okay? You have a lens that will work from here?” I ask her. I’m begging her to say yes. I don’t want to sit amidst the other owners, not today. Today I want to enjoy her company.
“Yeah, I have a great zoom. I was planning to do some distance sunrise shots with the couple, so we’re good.”
We settle in and I hold her bag for her while she gets her camera ready. “I can’t believe how big of a deal this is.”
I take a look around me at all the people and try to see if for the first time. “Yeah, it really is. I’m so used to it, I don’t even notice anymore. This is how I grew up.”
She brings her attention back to me, just where I like it. “I grew up going to plays, the movies, hanging out in the park. Our worlds are so far apart, yet so close.”
“Not that far,” I say, not sure who I’m trying to convince, her or me.
She laughs. “Look around, Aaron. I’m completely out of my element here.”
“You fit right in. It’s just a new experience.”
“Thank you for that. I seem to be having a lot of new experiences with you.”
“What can I say, I like taking your virginity.”
Her mouth drops open and she smacks my arm. “Aaron! I can’t believe you said that.” She’s grinning, so I know I didn’t really piss her off, thankfully. I don’t want to spend the day in awkward silence because my twelve-year-old brain seems to come alive around her.
I wink at her, which causes her to laugh. “Trouble.” She points at me. “Now, I have to focus. I was brought here for a reason. I need to work.” She tries to sound serious, but I can still hear the humor in her voice, and the sparkle in her eyes tells me she’s having a good time.
I wave my hands in front of me. “Do your thing. I’m just along for the ride.” She rolls her eyes and brings her camera up, and that’s when I lose her. Her focus is solely on capturing this new experience. I’m so enthralled with watching her that I would have missed Midnight if it were not for the squeal that Whitney lets out when they announce her.
“She’s up,” she says excitedly.
I pull my eyes away from Whitney and focus on my horse and trainer as they dominate the ring. Whitney stands and the camera never leaves her eyes. I can hear the shutter clicking away as she takes picture after picture. Her feet shuffle and she loses her balance. I grab her hips to steady her. It doesn’t faze her as she continues to take picture after picture. She’s oblivious to the fact that my hands are on her waist and that I’m having a hard time letting her go. Eventually, I make myself drop my hands, even though they itch to wrap around her slender hips and pull her into my lap.
“I got some great shots,” she says, taking her seat beside me. Her eyes are on her camera as she scrolls through the pictures. “Look at this one.” She leans in to me. I place my arm behind her and lean on the bleachers to get a better look. “She’s beautiful, Aaron. I can’t wait to get these on my computer and edit them.”
Her excitement is infectious. I’m always excited for a show; the thrill of having our farm name attached to a winner is always a feeling that has me flying high, but this time it’s different. I feel a high for a whole other reason. Whitney’s excitement over Midnight Rain’s beauty gives a different perspective on the event. These animals are strong, beautiful creatures, and she has indeed captured that.
“You could sell those,” I tell her.
She laughs. “Uh, I kinda do. I work for your sister, remember?”
“Okay, smartass. I mean you could sell these prints. I know you work for McKinley, but this is . . . amazing. You could easily come to these events and take pictures and sell them to the owners.”
“Isn’t there an event photographer?”
“Yeah, but you could be that person. I know they take bids. McKinley has filled in a few times when there were last-minute cancellations.”