When we come back around to Anders, I stop and pet the horse’s snout before looking at him. “See? He’s a great boy. He only needs time and patience.”
Anders sighs and places his hands on his hips, a mock shy smile stretching across the length of his face. “I suppose I do need to work on that. Being patient, I mean.”
I force a smile and give a little shrug. “Maybe the two of you will be good for one another. Help each other learn a thing or two.”
“Good way of looking at it,” Anders suggests as he opens the gate for us. We start back toward the stables, the foal happily trotting at my side. “So, what’s with you and Lee?”
It takes me a moment to recall Rupert’s last name. I shake my head as though it’ll distract from the slight blush that spreads across my cheeks like wildfire. “No offense, sir, but that’s none of your business.”
“It is a little, though. Isn’t it?” he asks, his voice suddenly flirtatious.
I cock a brow at him. “Excuse me? How?”
“Well, if you’re involved with him, you could sell him a better horse than the one you gave me,” Anders explains.
I snort and peer up at him, wondering how to explain that there is no such thing as favoritism in the horse breeding business. We list them for what the market prices are for the breed, age, and sex of the horse; with the rare inclusion of pattern pricing, if there happens to be a horse with a unique coat.
However, before I can tell him anything, he adds on. “And… maybe I’m a little jealous.”
“Jealous of what?” I question, completely confused. What is happening right now?
We approach the stall and I lead the horse inside. As I start to unfasten the reigns, I feel a hand on my ass. “Perhaps I’m a bit hurt that you prance around in these tight jeans, look at me the way you do, and then go after a pompous ass like Lee.”
I spin around, knocking his hand off of me and gawk up at him. The way I look at him? I haven’t done anything but be professional with him, even if it meant throwing him a fake smile to remain cordial. A groan erupts inwardly, understanding that he’s taken my politeness as flirtation. What a typical man.
I can’t be rude… This sale is important. The foal doing well with Anders could really bring our business the boom it needs. Somehow, I have to find a way to let him down gently.
“I’m sorry, I think you have the wrong—”
He steps toward me, grabbing my arm. “If anyone has anything wrong, it’s you. How very wrong of you to tease me by being all over Lee.”
Did he see what me and Rupert…what we were doing earlier?
No. He can’t have. Surely he would have said something… Is all of this coming from seeing us kiss at my truck? I didn’t even know who Anders was then! My mind is reeling as I try to make sense of it all. “I think… I think you have the wrong idea,” I mutter, carefully trying to pull my arm away from his hold.
“It’s cute how shy you are,” he chuckles huskily. “I can be the wild stallion you need to tame. Break me in, not that dumb animal.”
I don’t think it’s possible to hide the disgust on my face. Anders is good-looking, but he’s turning uglier by the second the more he denies my rejections and insists on touching me. The horse metaphors for sex is enough to make me want to puke all over his designer polo outfit. Once again, my confusion and messy thoughts keep me from being able to act in time.
His mouth is on mine, and he grips my hand and places it on his crotch. My heartrate spikes and adrenaline floods my veins, telling me to get out of there. As I try to pull back from him, Anders’ hold tightens.
I need to get out of here. I need to get away from this.
Chapter Six
Rupert
I stand by the stall, listening to the back and forth and waiting for Luce’s hilarious and witty retort to Anders’ grotesque attempt at flirting. However, when there’s nothing and the sound of shuffling feet and mumbling— I know something horrible has happened. I should have acted sooner, but I really didn’t think… It doesn’t matter.
Stepping in front of the gate, I’m horrified to find Anders towering over Luce, holding her as she clearly tries to pry away from him. Anders has always been an asshole, but I never thought he was this breed of evil.
I jerk open the gate and rush in. I grab Anders by the shoulder and fling him backward, my rage suddenly beginning to grow uncontrollable. When he turns his head, and I see that stupid excuse for a face, I’m gone. I pull a fist back and throw the punch to the right side of his face, watching his neck snap back with the force.