I'm glad somebody booked another lesson at the last minute. I've been trying to keep busy because every time I go home and close my eyes, I’m haunted by a beauty with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a tongue sharp enough to cut through metal.
I scowl when I realize I'm thinking of her again and shake my head to clear her image from my mind.Taking a deep breath, I push my way through the office door, setting the bell jangling.
And lo-and-behold, the very person I'm trying to get out of my mind is standing right in front of the counter, looking pretty as a picture. I halt in my tracks and stare at her. That blonde hair is waving around her shoulders, and this time she's wearing a red tank top that matches the red fingernail polish on her perfectly manicured nails.
She turns, and those pretty blue eyes assault my senses again.
“What are you doing here, little lady?” The question slips from my lips, unbidden.
Her nose wrinkles in distaste as she glances at me coolly before answering. “Waiting for the riding instructor.”
“You're looking at him.”
Her eyes widen, and her face flushes. She shakes her head and bites her bottom lip before turning on her heel and heading for the door.
Panic squeezes my chest, and I move in front of the door to block her exit. “Whoa, there. Where are you going?”
She looks at me, and if possible, her face turns an even brighter shade of pink. She squares her shoulders and gives me a pointed look. “We don't have to make this any more awkward than it already is. I didn't know you were the riding instructor. I'm sorry.”
I raise an eyebrow at her. “I'm the one who’s sorry, darlin’. I never got the chance to properly apologize to you for backing over you the other day.”
She worries that puffy bottom lip between her teeth, and I can't stop staring at it, mesmerized. My cock stiffens behind my jeans, and I bite back a groan.
Fuck, she’s such a pretty little thing.
“No, I'm sorry,” she finally tells me. “I was rude to you. I don't know what came over me. I'm not normally like that.”
Her blue eyes are wide when she looks up at me. They’re so beautiful, they take my breath away.
I smile and hold out my hand. “So, we're both sorry. We got off on the wrong foot. I’m willing to start over if you are. I'm Cole Montgomery.”
She looks at my hand like it's a snake that might bite her before cautiously placing her hand in mine. Our palms touch and I close my hand around hers, marveling at how soft and tiny her hand is.
I resist the urge to tug her flush against my chest. I don't know what this feeling is crashing through me, but my heart is hammering against my ribcage like a stampeding bull, and my blood is rushing through my veins like a bubbling creek.
“Emily Haskins.” She tells me in that sweet voice.
“You're not from around here, are you, Emily?”
She arches a delicate eyebrow at me. “What gave me away?”
I grin at her. “Your lack of a southern accent. Where are you from?”
“New York,” she says primly.
“Ah, you’re a city girl.” I’m completely unsurprised by this news. The girl has class written all over her.
“Born and bred, as you say down here.”
I smile at her. “So, you want to learn how to ride?” My voice comes out rougher than I intend.
Her face colors, and I realize how that came out a moment too late, but fuck if I’ll take it back. I can't keep my eyes from sweeping down her perfect body.
My throat is tight when I add, “A horse, that is. You'd like to learn how to ride a horse.”
Her head bobs up and down, her cheeks still flushed. “Yes, I thought I'd try something new.”
“Well, you've come to the right place.” I grin at her, excited about spending an hour in her presence and learning more about her.
She licks her lips before fluttering those blue eyes at me. “So, you'll teach me?”
“I can teach you darn near anything, darlin’,” I drawl, my grin only widening whenever her cheeks turn as red as a tomato. Oh, this is going to be fun.