Not so cocky now, are you? But you are lethally cute when you are flustered. Jessica paused at the locker room door. “I said I’ll be right down,” she repeated.
“Oh, right.” Skyler gulped a deep breath to regain her composure, then turned on a booted heel and exited with long, smooth strides. Images of Jessica’s pale, shapely hips filled her thoughts. Groaning, she muttered, “Yep, you are a big complication.”
Skyler’s boots crunched in the sand as she headed for the refuge of Creek Barn’s office. The more she thought about how easily Jessica had made her feel like a drooling idiot, the more her mood soured. She’d seen plenty of breasts before. She couldn’t believe she’d stood there stuttering like a stupid teenager. Skyler liked being in control. She resented the way those moments by the hot tub felt…like free falling with nothing to stop her. The heat was still rising up from her collar, and the throbbing between her legs irritated her. She just needed to get laid, that’s what. Too many nights in the barn lately.
Her eyes were drawn to the headlights traveling up the main drive. Alexandra Rourke. Coming in early to braid up Shoshanna’s mane before her ride. Skyler quickened her pace as she drew closer to the barn. It was time to head back on to more familiar ground.
She entered the dim interior a few minutes after Alexandra had parked and disappeared inside. The full hips of the auburn-haired woman swayed as she pulled the comb through the mane of her sorrel Thoroughbred. Oh, yeah. Skyler licked her lips in anticipation and moved in on her prey.
Next to the smaller woman’s ear, she asked softly, “Is it my imagination or have you been trying to seduce me?” Alexandra froze as Skyler pressed her against the horse she was grooming and massaged her buttocks. “Well?” Skyler prompted, reaching around her body to caress her breasts. “Tell me what you want.”
Alexandra’s chest heaved. “I want you to make me scream when I come.”
Skyler chuckled. “I had such a hard-on when I woke up this morning, I was thinking of taking matters into my own hands. But here you are, those luscious hips swaying back and forth, inviting—no, begging—for a good fucking.”
She placed hot kisses down the back of Alexandra’s neck. The redhead tried to turn to intercept them with her own, but Skyler held her firm, grinding her hips against Alexandra’s fuller ones. God, she was turned on. She needed to feel in control, and she could sense Alexandra loved to be controlled. She was one of those women who wanted her to talk nasty. To take her.
“I know what you need, Alex, and you’re just what I need right now.”
Skyler began to free the buttons on Alexandra’s jeans. She heard a whimper as she worked her fingers toward the wetness that soaked Alexandra’s crotch. She found the growing clit and stroked it once, twice, then withdrew her fingers and leaned in so Alexandra could hear her licking the moisture from her hand.
“You taste so good.”
Alexandra whimpered. “Oh God. Please, Sky.”
“How can I resist when you ask so nice.” Skyler ground hard against her quarry’s buttocks.
“Why, Skyler, I didn’t know you cared so much,” Alexandra singsonged in low, silky tones. “Let’s go up to your apartment.”
But Skyler held her firmly, pulling her away from the horse. “No. Right here. I don’t have much time.” She took Alexandra’s hands and placed them on the feed trough fastened in the corner of the stall. “Keep your hands there.”
“Sky, God, you make me so hot.”
Skyler pulled the tight jeans down to reveal Alexandra’s milky white hips. Stroking her fingers through the wet heat, she commanded, “Tell me what you want. I want to hear you say it.”
Alexandra moaned. “Please fuck me, baby. Fuck me hard.”
Skyler slid her fingers quickly inside and began to thrust. She hated herself for needing this, for feeling she had to prove something to herself. She reached around to roughly massage Alexandra’s clit. Alexandra stiffened and convulsed as she quickly peaked. On impulse, Skyler dropped to her knees and bit hard on the trembling haunch.
Alexandra whirled around to face her. “Jesus, Sky. Did you have to mark me? How am I going to explain that at home?”
Skyler’s low chuckle echoed in the stall. “Tell Eddie the horse bit you. He won’t know the difference.”
“He’s going to make me buy a new horse. Christ, you didn’t even kiss me,” Alexandra complained.
“You didn’t ask to be kissed.” Smiling, Skyler brushed a quick kiss across the other woman’s pouting lips.
Alexandra pulled her face close. Her urgent hands tangled in Skyler’s hair. “Oh, baby, you have a very talented mouth.”
“Oh, you like this, huh?” Skyler kissed a path along the delicate jaw line and traced the outline of Alexandra’s small ear.
“Please, Sky.”
“Please what? Please stop?” Skyler traced her fingertips in a teasing dance down Alexandra’s soft abdomen to glistening curls. She nudged the redhead’s legs apart to insinuate her hard thigh between them and press against the hot apex that wantonly opened to her. Nipping at Alexandra’s hard, pink nipples, she rolled her knuckle against her clit. Alexandra’s red manicured fingernails raked down her back, drawing a low growl. She gasped as Skyler’s strokes grew harder and faster.
“Oh, Sky! Sweet Jesus!”
“Come for me, Alex,” Skyler demanded as the red nails dug into her narrow, muscled hips. She abandoned her stroking and plunged her fingers, two then three, deep inside. Using the thrust of her hips, she drove her fingers hard and fast as she bit down on the pulse that hammered along Alexandra’s straining neck. Alexandra’s body arched and Skyler felt the muscles tense around her ramming fingers as she reached the edge of her orgasm.
“Oh! Oh, Sky.” She convulsed into a screaming orgasm.
“I love how wet you are.” Skyler slowed, but continued the stroke of her hips and the thrust of her fingers until Alexandra fell limply against her, gasping for breath.
“Twice! I hardly ever have even one orgasm with Eddie.” Alexandra’s hot, hungry mouth found hers. After a greedy kiss, she pulled up her jeans and said, “I could get used to this.”
“Yeah, well, I’m afraid I only give equestrian lessons. If your husband needs lessons in the bedroom, you’ll have to find another instructor.” Skyler straightened up and tucked her shirt in. “I’m going to take a quick shower. I’ve got horses to work and lessons to give. I don’t need the stallions smelling sex all over me.”
Alexandra pouted. “Well, you’re not totally unlike my husband. That’s it? Get your rocks off and you’re done?”
“The difference between me and Eddie, my dear, is that you were the one who got your rocks off,” Skyler said. “Sorry about that bite mark on your neck. You’ll have to think of something to explain that to him.”
Alexandra’s hand flew to her throat. “Bitch!” she muttered.
Skyler grinned. “Seriously. Eddie doesn’t deserve you. Thank you, Alex.”
Alexandra ran her fingers through her auburn locks. “Any time, stud.”
Would there be another time? Maybe, maybe not. The truth was, Skyler would really rather just take care of her needs herself. But she enjoyed being in control. She was empowered each time she passed the test to her satisfaction, taking everything offered to her and then being able walk away without a twinge of emotion or regret.
She would never be hurt again. Not as long as she could still pass the test.
Skyler quickly washed up in her apartment, then hurried downstairs. She whistled softly to herself as she made her way down the center aisle of the barn, pausing to throw a wink at Alexandra as she passed Shoshanna’s stall. Alexandra blew a kiss at her, and then went back to braiding the Thoroughbred’s mane.
The office door was open, but Jessica leaned against the wall outside of the doorway, arms folded and a distant expression on her face. Skyler quickly shut out the image of the naked woman standing in front of her by the hot tub. She concentrated instead on the milky white buttocks from moments before. Yeah, that worked.
“Ready to plan out some training schedules?” Skyler asked.
“If it’s not an inconvenient time for you,” Jessica snapped.
Skyler raised an eyebrow, but before she could reply, she felt Alexandra’s hand brush across the seat of her riding breeches.
“Just got to get some more rubbers, um, rubber bands for Shoshanna’s mane,” Alexandra purred as she gently insinuated herself between Skyler and Jessica. Directing an insincere smile at Jessica, she added, “And, honey, no time is inconvenient for Eveready here.” She brushed a fleeting caress across Skyler’s cheek before disappearing into the office.
Skyler glanced at Jessica, and then looked quickly away, unable to meet her eyes. She flushed with embarrassment. This was what she wanted, wasn’t it, that Jessica would know she was bad news, like everybody said?
“See you later, sugar.” Alexandra breezed back through the office door. Trailing a possessive hand across Skyler’s belly as she passed, she headed for her horse’s stall.
The look on Jessica’s face said it all. She wouldn’t flirt with Skyler again, not after this. Skyler stared at her boots. She felt sort of sick. For some reason, it mattered what this beautiful woman thought of her.
Jessica watched a myriad of emotions swirl in Skyler’s dark eyes. A moment ago, she’d felt only disgust when she entered the barn. The moans she’d heard were loud enough to leave no doubt what was going on. Skyler hadn’t noticed her, but Alexandra’s gloating expression was like a slap in the face. Jessica had been almost breathless with anticipation walking down from the pool, looking forward to being alone with Skyler and having her complete attention. She felt foolish now, yet she saw something in Skyler’s expression that surprised her almost as much the trainer’s awkward stuttering by the Jacuzzi. She saw pain and self-loathing.
“Jess, I feel like I owe you an apology,” Skyler said gruffly. “I thought you’d be a while in the gym.” She rubbed at some dirt on her hand. “We had an appointment. I’m sorry I kept you waiting.”
“No harm done,” Jessica said. She reached out to still Skyler’s fidgeting hands, but Skyler jerked away.
Jessica stared at her. Something just didn’t fit. This woman was arrogant and insufferable, and obviously thought she was God’s gift to women…and horses. But Kate had seen something in her, enough to entrust her with Jessica’s career. And Jessica kept glimpsing someone entirely different from the player she’d heard about. This seesaw of bad girl versus noble trainer was enough to give her whiplash.
“Let’s get to work,” Skyler said, ducking into the office.
Jessica followed her, still angry over what she’d seen but determined not to show it. The next hour was all business. They evaluated Rampage’s strengths and weaknesses. Then they charted his training schedule for the upcoming months, right up to the competition. The challenge of the competition ahead fed a need they shared, to test themselves and win. It was a comfortable common ground that allowed Skyler to relax and be herself.
While Jessica reviewed the chart they’d made for Rampage’s training, Skyler studied her softly sculpted profile. She’d never seen a more beautiful woman. But Jessica Black was out of her reach, just like Sarah. To women like them, Skyler would always be a stray from a screwed-up blue-collar family. The really sad thing was, she didn’t need Kate to tell her she wasn’t good enough for Jessica. She already knew that herself. She’d known it from the moment she laid eyes on her.
“I think we’re done here,” she said, rising from behind the desk. “See you at the indoor ring as soon as you get Rampage saddled.”
“Okay.” Jessica stood.
Skyler strode to the door, then paused. “My personal shortcomings have nothing to do with my abilities as a trainer,” she said, dropping all pretense that they were talking about anything but the incident with Alexandra. “I’ll make sure they won’t be a problem in our professional arrangement.”
The dressage session at the indoor ring started smoothly enough. Rampage was initially nervous and danced impatiently. Jessica expertly quieted him and worked the reins until he yielded to the bit and settled down to work. Skyler called out advice from the sidelines and occasionally stopped them to demonstrate a specific technique that would improve their performance. It didn’t take long to see that her advice was already making a difference. Jessica moved quickly to correct herself and the horse when they misread each other. The stallion slowly began to relax and his confidence in his handler grew. Skyler watched silently as they glided by. Jessica’s lips were pressed together in concentration. Focus wasn’t going to be a problem.
They worked on the dressage patterns for well over an hour before Skyler waved her in. “Let’s give him a rest, then try him over the jumps in the outdoor ring after lunch. Not a bad workout,” she allowed.
“Well, he’s too tight in that end turn and tensing during the crossover.”
“Stop right there,” Skyler said sternly. “At the end of each session, I want him to pick up nothing but positive feelings from you. This horse wants to please you. He doesn’t need to work hard for an hour, and be left with the feeling he just didn’t measure up.”
Jessica’s knee had been screaming with pain for the last half hour of the session and the abrupt lecture grated on her raw nerves. “Are we talking about the horse or your ego?”
Skyler ignored the question. “At the beginning of each session, we’ll talk about the things that need improving and immediately work on them. We’ll saddle back up at one. I’ve got a horse to ride myself right now.” Skyler started to leave, but looked back at Jessica. This power struggle between them wasn’t going to work. “If you don’t want my advice, then I can’t be your trainer. I promised Kate I’d do this, so you’ll have to be the one to ask for someone else. You know…a trainer who lets you tell them how to do their job.”
Jessica stared at the retreating back. Of all the egotistical, infuriating women. Right when she’d started thinking Skyler might just be okay. You’re not getting rid of me that easy. I’ll show you, you arrogant horse’s butt. No, horse’s butt was too good for her… Pig butt. Yes, that was it. She was a pig’s butt.
Rampage tossed his head as he sensed her irritation.
“Whoa, boy. That’s not directed at you. Okay, Ms. Reese, we’re only thinking positive thoughts. Happy thoughts, Rampage. Good boy.”
She stroked the strong neck and turned the steed toward the barn for a good rubdown. The afternoon would be their real test. She needed to ice her knee and grab a pain pill before tackling those jumps. Maybe that would take the edge off her anger.
Jessica hummed softly to herself as she entered the barn. What she saw made her stop dead. Skyler already had cross-tied Rampage in the aisle and was nearly finished saddling him. She checked her watch to see if she was late. No, ten minutes early.
“You didn’t have to saddle him for me.” She prepared herself for another lecture.
Instead, Skyler offered a tentative smile as she pulled the irons down the stirrup leathers. “Consider it a peace offering.”
Jessica couldn’t hide her surprise. “Does this mean you’ve changed your mind about trying to get rid of me?”
“Maybe we need to quit reacting to each other based on some preconceived ideas. I was wrong about Rampage. He’s very impressive. And…you’re an exceptional rider.” Skyler paused. “But you have a tough road ahead.”
Jessica chewed her lip, waiting for the whiplash again. But she was wrong this time, too. Skyler’s tone was matter-of-fact.
“I could tell your leg was hurting you this morning, but you never complained or let up. You don’t need to fight me and the pain at the same time.”
Jessica sighed. She knew she needed Skyler if she was going to make this bid for the Olympic team her best effort. She also knew she could prove to Skyler that she had what it takes to be a winner. “You’re right. And it was good advice…this morning. I guess I get grumpy when the pain gets too bad. But Rampage shouldn’t suffer because of it. I know I snapped at you, but I do want you to call me on my mood again if you see it affecting our workout.” She extended her hand. “Let’s start over. Hi, I’m Jessica Black.”
Skyler grinned broadly and returned a firm handshake. Rampage nodded his head and pawed at the dirt as if to punctuate the truce. Laughing, Jessica waited as Skyler unclipped the crossties, then followed her and the stallion toward the jumping ring.
If she had any worries about jumping Rampage, they quickly vanished. He approached the course with eager confidence and “jumped big,” clearing the obstacles with inches to spare.
“He’s impressive, all right,” Skyler said as Jessica reined the prancing steed in and walked him over. “I find it hard to believe that he’s only been training as a dressage competitor. He’s got the power and timing of an exceptional jumper.”
Jessica grinned down at her from the saddle, flushed from the success of their jumps. “He loves to jump. You just tell us what to do, and he can do it.”
Christ, she was beautiful. The unbidden thought startled Skyler. She looked away and cursed herself for letting her attraction to this beauty seep into her conscious thoughts. A deep breath helped her refocus.
“We need to work toward three goals,” Skyler said. “Condition him for the stamina he’ll need for the three-day event competition. Condition your leg to hold up. And help the two of you get to know each other’s cues.”
Jessica listened carefully as Skyler described a couple of revisions to the training schedule they’d mapped out. The daily dressage would be shortened so he could get more jumping experience and conditioning. As a stallion, Rampage already had an advantage in the strength and stamina departments. But Skyler wanted them to work on his control over the jumps.
“The more he jumps, the more excited he gets and the less he listens to your cues,” she explained. “We have to teach him to focus his entire attention on you.”
Jessica patted the big horse’s neck. “We’re ready, aren’t we, boy?”
Her enthusiasm was contagious. Skyler squinted against the sun and returned her smile. Just for a few brief moments, they both let down their defenses and shared an unguarded admiration for the big horse.
“Why don’t you turn him out for the rest of the day and let him relax?” Skyler suggested. “But, don’t forget. You get to clean his stall.”
Jessica shrugged. “I don’t know why everybody makes such a big deal over your stall, Rampage. You’re just a big, misunderstood pussycat.” She smiled down at Skyler as she turned the stallion toward the barn.
Pussycat? Skyler let out a breath she found herself holding. She meant the horse, right?
Chapter Six
It wasn’t even noon and already it was hot, unseasonably hot and humid for the end of May. A drenching rain the day before had kept them inside, so Jessica had taken Rampage out for his conditioning trots first thing. Now they were enjoying Rampage’s cooling bath in the outdoor wash stall. She hummed softly to herself as she used a hard plastic wand to scrape the excess water from his gleaming coat.
“How’s the next gold medalist doing this morning?” Kate’s teasing voice sounded behind her.
“He’s doing just fine,” Jessica responded, knowing Kate was referring to her, not the horse. “We worked out early because of the heat.”
“Excellent!” Kate grinned back. “I heard a couple of riders who might be at the trials are showing today near Richmond. It’s only a little over an hour away, so I thought you and Skyler would want to go check out the competition.”
Jessica cocked her head, running through her mind which riders may be there. Over the past few weeks, she and Skyler had settled into a comfortable training pattern. Rampage was an incredible horse and the three of them were quickly bonding into a championship team. She and Skyler had decided not to enter any of the intermediate shows leading up to the trials. Rampage had enough experience showing, and she and Skyler relished the thought of being the mystery team at the trials, rather than risking injury to show what they had all across the countryside beforehand.
“Have you asked Sky yet?”
“No, and I’m not traipsing all over Cherokee Falls to find out who she bedded last night,” Kate said. “She never seems to sleep in her own bed anymore.”
“Don’t believe everything you hear,” Jessica said stiffly. “She’s always at the barn when I go looking for her.” She didn’t know why she felt she had to defend Skyler’s honor. Her reputation was earned, but Jessica still didn’t like the jokes and insinuations she heard about the woman she was quickly learning to respect and trust with the most important thing in her life, her quest for the gold.
“I’ve known her for a long time,” Kate said.
Jessica knew she was being warned off, and that Kate meant well, but she wasn’t willing to believe everything she heard. “I think half her reputation is just gossip. People expect her to be out somewhere and spread rumors no matter what the facts are.”
“Whatever.” Kate sounded resigned. “I’ll go see who is right today. You go get cleaned up and ready to go.”
The ride to the show went quickly. Kate drove and Jessica sat up front with her, while Skyler stretched her long legs out across the backseat of the truck. They started out talking over the competition, but the conversation between the three quickly turned light as Kate began to recall for Jessica some embarrassing moments from Skyler’s early introduction into the horse world.
“Yeah, young Sky was pretty sure someone was pulling a joke on her when I first showed her that her job would be to muck stalls,” Kate said. “She was such a city kid, she couldn’t believe I wanted her to pick up huge piles of horse poop.”
“Kate,” Skyler warned.
Kate laughed. She’d known Skyler since a teacher-friend of the Parker family brought her and her twin brother to Cherokee Falls. The two ten-year-olds were being abused at home and stayed with the Parkers off and on for many years, arriving whenever their father came home from his construction job building large bridges. Except for near-identical features, the twins were night and day. The self-confident Skyler was aggressive, risk-taking, and volatile. The shy, awkward Douglas had a genius I.Q. and tutored his sister patiently through the more complicated subjects at school. She was his champion, protecting him from the teasing of other children and interceding with their father, taking beatings meant for Douglas.
Kate was in her early thirties then, and Skyler became her constant shadow at the farm. Horses were truly her calling. She was a natural rider and intuitive trainer. She seemed to find animals easier to relate to than people and the horses she schooled responded to her in the same way.
“You’ve got to know by now that Skyler always thinks there must be a better way to do almost everything,” Kate continued with her story. “So, one day, I keep seeing her take the horses out of the barn and walk them around like they are dogs. Then I notice that when they finally poop, she puts them back in their stalls.” Between howls of laughter, she explained, “After a while I realize she’s trying to housebreak…or I guess barn-break them, to go to the bathroom outside.”
Skyler folded her arms over her chest. “Very funny.”
Kate wasn’t done. “So I snuck in the barn and heard her telling this big chestnut mare what a good horse she was for going to the bathroom in the pasture, not her stall. But that mare would pee a bucketful the minute you put her in a stall with fresh, clean bedding. So there’s Sky with a smug look on her face leading her into a clean stall…I can still see it.” Tears began to roll down Kate’s face, she was laughing so hard. “God, I wish I’d had a camera when it sounded like someone had turned on a fire hose behind her.”
Jessica was wiping away her own tears of laughter and holding her sides. Skyler’s embarrassed look, the brown eyes peeking from under the thick blond bangs the wind had whipped around her face, was just too precious. Jessica had never seen this playful side of the all-business trainer. She definitely wanted to see it more often. She could tell that, even being the brunt of the laughter, Skyler was enjoying the easy camaraderie.
“Hey, Kate. I just bet you know a story or two about Jessica, too,” Skyler prompted.
Kate raised her eyebrows. “Hmm. Did I ever tell you what a hard time her mother and I had keeping clothes on her when she was little?”
“Do tell.” Skyler grinned.
“Don’t you dare.” Jessica knew exactly where this was headed. Kate loved telling people about her exploits and Jessica had a feeling she would embellish them for Skyler. To spare herself, she decided to strike first. “Apparently I was an exhibitionist. I removed my clothing in restaurants and anywhere else likely to make Mom and Kate cringe. Enough said.”
“Oh, no. You have to do better than that,” Skyler teased. “I want an example.”
Jessica was tempted to remind her about that morning several weeks ago, when they stood by the hot tub. But she didn’t plan to relive that moment in front of Kate. She preferred to pretend it had never happened and had carefully maintained professional boundaries with Skyler ever since.
“I have a story,” Kate said. “We were on a plane—”
Jessica covered her face with her hands. “No, please. Not the plane story.”
“Turnabout is fair play,” Skyler said.
Kate nodded agreement. “Sorry, Jess.”
“Okay.” Jessica raised her hands in mock-surrender. “But I get to choose the story. Tell Skyler about the dinner party Mom threw for Gram and her little group from the Daughters of the Confederacy.”
Kate groaned. “I’m afraid that moment has been wiped from my memory banks.”
“I’ll bet.” Jessica slapped her shoulder playfully before turning to Skyler. “Well, I was about four years old and I wanted to see what was going on that was so special.”
Kate interrupted. “Laura and I were on pins and needles. It was the first time our mothers had met, and we were hoping they would like each other.”
“I came downstairs,” Jessica said. “But it was a warm evening—”
“So, she shows up in the dining room when we’re in the middle of dessert,” Kate interjected. “She’s butt naked and telling these stuffy bluebloods that she wants ice cream.”
Skyler smiled. “Kids run around naked sometimes. I don’t know why anyone worries about it.”
“Oh, the crime wasn’t being naked. It was what I said when Gram asked me, ‘Jessie, honey, where are your pajamas?’” Jessica lifted her chin in imitation of her four-year-old self. “I simply told the ladies that if Mom and Kate didn’t have to wear pajamas, then I didn’t either.”
“No.” Skyler guffawed. “You didn’t!”
“Oh, she certainly did,” Kate growled. “I could see my life flashing before my eyes. You could have heard a pin drop as Little Miss Jessica strutted her naked self over to me, climbed in my lap and took a big drink from my water glass, then waved good night over her shoulder as she skipped back down the hallway to her bedroom.”
“Oh, my God. What did you do?”
“Well, we were stunned. We just sat there until we heard her bedroom door shut, then Laura said, ‘That child has the most vivid imagination.’”
“Gram was horrified,” Jessica said.
“My mom thought it was funny seeing me stuttering and trying to smooth things over,” Kate added. “She was used to me not giving a damn what other people thought.” She paused, and a soft note entered her voice. “I wanted to laugh, but Laura would have killed me later. She was trying to make everything so perfect.”
Skyler chuckled, but Kate’s wistful tone made her wonder again what had happened between her and Jessica’s mother. They were lovers and she’d said something recently about Laura pushing her away. It sounded like Kate still cared, and she and Jessica had remained close. So, what went wrong?
The sun had broken through a thick cloud cover only a bare hour before, so although the day was warm and the sun’s glare strong, the parking area, little more than a commandeered pasture, was still slick with mud.
“Good thing this truck has four-wheel drive,” Kate grumbled as she parked.
Skyler eyed the mud. “Jess, maybe you should grab your cane. This mud looks pretty slick.”
Jessica frowned. She hated that cane. She saw it as a sign of weakness. Secretly, in the back of her mind, she’d been looking forward to showing up at this event with Kate and Skyler in tow. Cherokee Falls was well known for producing winners. She relished the thought of showing off a bit and making the competition uneasy.
“I’m fine, Sky. Don’t worry about it. I don’t even think I brought the damned thing.”
Skyler fished around in the back of the vehicle and produced the cane. “There’s no point in taking chances. You could rip that knee out again with one slip in this crud.”
Jessica stood with her hands on her hips, refusing to accept the cane. She had a better idea. “That cane could get stuck in the mud and make things worse. Why don’t you just carry it for me, and I’ll hold on to you. I’m sure I’ll be safe hanging on to your arm.”
Kate snorted. Did she see Jessica just bat her eyes? When Skyler obediently offered her arm Kate’s mouth dropped open. Jessica looked like the proverbial cat about to eat the canary and Skyler was blushing. Shit. Kate wanted them to be friends, but the chemistry between them felt like dangerously more than that.
Skyler helped Jessica navigate the bleachers to reach a good vantage point about midway up. There were a lot of Olympic wannabes on the roster but probably only one serious contender for the trials. That was Rachel Sorensen and her German bred Trakehner. Skyler didn’t miss the fact that Rachel’s husband and trainer, Joe, was sitting with several of Virginia’s horse community bluebloods just a few rows from them. He watched with interest when she and her companions took their seats. That’s right, Skyler thought, check out the women who are going to steal that Olympic team slot right out from under you, buddy.
Kate nudged her. “See that chestnut stallion over by the barn?”
Skyler followed the direction of Kate’s nod. Her eyes traveled over the lean neck, tapered shoulder, and long legs. “Nice. Isn’t that the stud over at Rolling Meadows?”
“That’s him. I was thinking of breeding Summer to him next season.”
“I thought you were going to retire her.”
“I’d like to try her one more time. She’s still young enough and never had any problems.”
Skyler shrugged. “For my money, I’d wait and think about breeding her to Rampage if you are looking for just one more shot.”
“What? And end up with a bad-tempered baby? Why, I’m shocked that you would suggest that.”
Skyler knew she was being teased. “Yeah, well, he does have some redeemable qualities. He’s a great jumper, very solid, and a good pedigree. You could do worse.”
Kate shot Jessica a “you-go-girl” look.
“Besides,” Skyler continued. “I figure Summer is so good natured, maybe she could prevail and produce an offspring with at least a decent temperament, even with that demon horse.”
Jessica swatted Skyler on the arm. “That’s my boy you are bad-mouthing, and he’s a sweetheart. A little misunderstood by most people, but a real sweetheart.”
“Yeah, so is Skyler,” Kate joked. “Misunderstood…by too many women.”
It was routine for Kate to tease Skyler about her womanizing reputation, and Skyler’s usual response was cocky and boastful. But she didn’t play that game today. The teasing made her uncomfortable, perhaps because she sensed Jessica’s disapproval. She covertly studied the smaller woman. She wanted this partnership to work. The tug-of-war between them had ended and training was progressing better than Skyler had anticipated. Training an Olympian could sort of fill out her resume, she told herself, but there was more at stake for her than improving her credentials. She had come to admire Jessica and wanted her to succeed. She liked the way she communicated with her horse. She liked the fact that she never mentioned her injury, even when it was obviously causing her a lot of pain. And she never quit until a training session was done, no matter how much she hurt. Skyler didn’t want Kate’s flippant banter to affect the way Jessica saw her; she’d already made more apologies to this one woman than she had to all the others in her life.
The thought of spending the afternoon with Kate and Jessica looking over the competition had sounded like a good idea to her. She thought it would motivate Jessica to see what she was up against. Also, Skyler hadn’t been off the farm in a while. She shrugged off the question nagging at the back of her mind: Why had she stuck so close to the farm lately?
“Damn,” Jessica complained. “I forgot to find the restroom before climbing all the way up here.”
Skyler pulled the cane from where it rested between her feet. “Take this. You should use it to get back up these bleachers and save the wear and tear on your knee.” As Jessica began to protest, Skyler softly patted the muscled thigh next to hers, gentling her the way she would a skittish colt. Her eyes radiated her understanding. She knew the proud rider hated to show her weakness, temporary as it was. “There’s a method to my madness,” she said softly. “You see the guy sitting two rows back?”
Jessica’s eyes flicked discreetly over Skyler’s shoulder. “In the blue shirt?”
“Yes. That’s Joe Sorensen, Rachel’s husband. We are going to see him again at the trials. He’s already checked us out. Obviously he knows who you are. I’d rather they saw you limping. Let them think you’re not a threat.”
Jessica looked doubtful, but the gentle stroking against the top of her thigh was distracting. She found herself mesmerized by the slow smile that creased Skyler’s handsome face.
“We can surprise them in a few months when they find out you and Rampage are really their worst nightmare.” Skyler held Jessica’s gaze a moment longer. God, those blue eyes are gorgeous, she thought. She held out the cane again, and this time Jessica accepted it without protest.
Kate didn’t like what she was seeing. The affection on Skyler’s face was obvious as her eyes followed Jessica’s descent down the bleachers. Kate loved Skyler like a younger sister, but she also knew her shortcomings. She loved Jessica in a different way, as a parent with a fierce protective urge that surpassed her regard for her close friend.
“Don’t even think it,” she growled in Skyler’s ear.
Skyler flinched, then leaned back, resting her elbows on the vacant bench behind her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I can see what’s developing between the two of you.” Kate watched Skyler’s gaze flick once again to Jessica’s trim frame before settling down at her own feet. “The chemistry needs to be good between you two to be a successful threat in the show ring, but Jessica is young. She may not know how to draw the line to keep it professional, not personal. You need to draw that line.”
Things never changed. Kate Parker had always treated her as an equal, but she was still a blueblood from the right side of the tracks. Apparently she didn’t want a mutt like Skyler coming after someone in her family. “Good enough to be her trainer, but nothing else, huh, Kate?”
“Sky, it’s got nothing to do with how worthy you are. You know I love you. You’re a great trainer and a really good friend.” Kate sighed. “But we both know you can’t stick to one woman. If you need to scratch an itch, I’m asking you to do it with someone other than my Jess.”
What she felt for Jessica wasn’t an itch to be scratched. It was more, and that scared her. Truth was, Skyler herself was afraid she wouldn’t be able to handle those feelings, and she would end up hurting Jessica. That mattered to her a whole lot more than Kate’s concerns. Yet it hurt worse that her mentor didn’t trust her, that she seemed to think Skyler would use Jessica. Skyler stared darkly into the crowded bleachers. She hated herself for not being worthy. And, at that moment, she hated Kate for pointing it out. And she resented Jessica for being so beautiful and talented and wonderful…and, hell, sexy, too.
“There’s nothing going on between us but work,” she told Kate. “But now that you mention it, maybe I do need to scratch an itch.”
She’d spotted an old conquest she knew would be more than eager for a scratching session. She rubbed her sweaty palms on her jeans. The idea of chasing after a bed partner didn’t seem all that appealing, but she started down the bleachers anyway. “Don’t worry about me after the show. I see my ride home,” she threw over her shoulder at Kate. Then she paused and turned, the old Skyler leer firmly in place. “Do me a favor and ask Clint to feed for me in the morning. I probably won’t make it back to the farm until tomorrow afternoon.”
“Sky, wait!”
But Skyler ignored Kate’s call and stomped down the bleachers.
“Shit.” Kate knew Skyler’s choice to have only casual sexual experiences was a form of self-punishment, a way of reminding herself that she wasn’t worthy of anything deeper and permanent. It was typical behavior, resulting from physical abuse as a child, but after years of careful nurturing from Kate’s mom, she had seemed to overcome her low self-esteem. She’d fallen deeply in love with Sarah Berrington Tate, and her career as a rider took off. She was at last something other than the abused, belligerent waif the Parkers had rescued.
But Sarah’s betrayal had crushed her, and Kate had doubts that Skyler could ever recover. It was a hard choice: protect Jessica or trust Skyler’s fragile emotions. Jessica was the only daughter Kate would ever have. The only part of Laura, the woman who would always own Kate’s heart, Kate still possessed. She would not allow Skyler to damage her.
On her way back from the restrooms, Jessica took some time to watch the contestants in the warm-up ring. Rampage had it all over these horses, she gloated. Their workouts had been going really well, and the knee was still holding up. Skyler really had been able to sharpen their performance.
Skyler. Jessica smiled at the thought of her.
They were proving to be a good team. Kate was right. Skyler had been in that winner’s circle and understood what it took to get there. She was steady and sure in her instructions. It made Jessica feel a confidence in herself that she hadn’t felt before, and Rampage responded to the change.
A couple of times during the past weeks, Skyler had ridden him herself to see what kind of cues he was giving Jessica and recommend responses that could improve his performance. When Skyler took the saddle, she and her mount became one beast. Even the temperamental Rampage bowed to her commanding confidence and moved smoothly through his paces. The roguishly charming trainer atop twelve hundred pounds of equine muscle was the sexiest thing Jessica had ever seen.
Her pulse jumped at the thought and she stumbled slightly. She was eager to get back to the bleachers and take her place next to Skyler again. Maybe they could go to a nice restaurant before they headed home. Why she wanted to spend more time with Skyler outside their training arrangement wasn’t something she wanted to analyze just yet. She was looking forward to the afternoon and didn’t plan to spend it trying to second-guess herself.
Jessica took a shortcut through the barn next to the warm-up ring, and was surprised to spot Skyler leaning against the entrance talking to a very attractive, slender blonde. Not just talking. There was something else going on. The blonde was standing a little too close for casual conversation, and Skyler was gazing down at her.
Jessica forced a pleasant expression on her face as she approached the pair. “There you are, Sky. Rachel and her horse are warming up, so they must be on the program soon. We should get back to our seats.”
But Skyler avoided looking at her. Waving a dismissive hand, she said, “You go ahead.”
Jessica felt her hackles rise. “I thought we came here to evaluate horses and riders. To see who our competition is.”
“I’m going to watch from down here,” Skyler said.
“You’ll miss Rachel’s run through the jumps.”
The blonde finally dragged her eyes away from Skyler to look Jessica up and down. “Do I know you?”
“Amy, this is Jessica Black,” Skyler said with obvious reluctance. “I’m training her and her stallion. Jess, this is Amy Satterfield. She’s…”
“An old playmate,” Amy supplied. She trailed a slender finger along the outline of Skyler’s deep-cut V-neck shirt.
“Are you coming or not?” Jessica asked Skyler.
The hesitation said it all. “I told Kate I’d meet you guys back at the farm.”
“Fine.” As Jessica turned on her heel, she heard a stifled giggle.
The blonde’s smug words followed her. “Pity about the accident. She must have been quite attractive before it happened.”
“Let’s get out of here,” Jessica snapped, hovering over Kate.
“Now? Isn’t Rachel coming up in the program soon?”
“Not much point in evaluating the competition without our trainer, is there?”
“Well, I’m here. What am I? Chopped liver?”
Jessica’s shoulders slumped. She was tired. The sunny day was suddenly too warm, the glare too bright, and she wasn’t in the mood for company anymore. “Do I have the only trainer who is terminally in heat? She draws every bitch in season like a magnet.”
Kate didn’t reply, but her eyes were apologetic. The gentle older woman was a steady, bright spot in Jessica’s life, and had always been her confidante for issues she didn’t want to discuss with her mother. But, Kate wasn’t the person to talk to about her confusing feelings for Skyler.
“I must be PMSing or something,” Jessica said. “I just want to go home, okay?”
“Sure, baby, whatever you want. I’ll just go make sure Sky has a way home if she isn’t coming with us.”
“If the blond hussy I saw her with earlier has anything to say about it, Skyler may not be home for days,” Jessica muttered.
“Yeah, well, that’s our Skyler.”
Jessica glared at her. “That’s your Skyler.”
Kate wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Honey, you need to accept who Sky is. She’s one of the best trainers I’ve ever worked with. And, she’s not a bad person. In fact, she’s the best friend you could ever have. She’s just lousy in the love department. There are reasons for that, reasons that are too deep and too personal for me to share with you. That’s up to her to share if you become good enough friends. But to get the good part of Sky, you have to allow for her flaw. When you accept that, you’ll have a friend you can always rely on.”
A friend. Jessica sighed. Trouble was, she seemed to want more from Skyler. Her mind ran wild, replaying images of Skyler. She couldn’t stop thinking about the sexy trainer, seeing Skyler on Rampage or rubbing oil into a saddle. She constantly fought not to notice her body or wonder how her touch would feel. Common sense told her she needed to keep Skyler at a distance, but she wasn’t sure if she could suppress her impulses indefinitely. She had to keep her mind on the prize, and most of the time she could, but seeing Skyler with that blonde made her want to cry.
“Jess, I’d have to be blind not to see the chemistry between you guys,” Kate said. “But you shouldn’t pressure Skyler for more. She has a lot of respect for you, and her leaving us today is her rather stumbling way of discouraging you. She knows her limits.”
“And I know mine,” Jessica said. God, if she started dreaming about her, too, what was she going to do?
Chapter Seven
Rampage made steady progress over the hot summer months that followed, but the pain in Jessica’s leg never let up.
“I don’t like the looks of this.” Richard, her physical therapist, flexed the leg again. “That graft should have healed long ago.”
“I’m too close to getting what I want,” Jessica said. “I’m not going to let a little pain stop me.”
“Pain is a message from your body that something isn’t right. If you push this injury, you could rip that whole knee up again. Then you may not be able to ride at all, much less jump.”
Jessica refused to meet his stern stare. “I’ll take my chances.”
“I’m telling you now that you are probably slowly shredding that ACL graft. You should get it scoped again to see what’s going on.”
“I can take a few months off to let it heal better after I make the Olympic team.”
With an impatient snort, Richard lowered her leg. “Your knee probably won’t last that long. I don’t know how you are jumping horses with the kind of pain you are in now.”
“It’s got to last that long. What about another steroid injection to take down the inflammation?”
“You just had one four weeks ago. Those shots are supposed to last at least eight weeks.”
Jessica stared out the window at the deepening shadows of late afternoon. “Can’t we make an exception this time?”
Richard mumbled something beneath his breath, then said, “If you won’t listen, I’ll go talk to your trainer.”
“You absolutely will not!”
Skyler had sat in on Jessica’s first appointment with Richard, but Jessica had conveniently forgotten to sign and return the form for access to her medical records. There was nothing Richard could do but back down, and they both knew it.
“I’ll keep quiet for now, but I can’t believe Skyler can’t see how much pain you are feeling,” Richard grumbled. “She should know better. I guess she’s only concerned about the horse’s legs.”
“That’s all I pay her to concern herself with,” Jessica shot back.
Richard fell silent, massaging and stretching her leg.
Jessica felt guilty about pressuring him to compromise his professional ethics. “I’m sorry,” she said after a few minutes. “I shouldn’t have asked for the extra shot, Richard. I know you are just looking out for me. Don’t blame Skyler, though. I’ve done a pretty good job of hiding it, and she’s been working Rampage herself on the cross-country course to give me a break.”
“I’m just asking you to slow down,” he said.
“Okay, I will.” Jessica hopped down from the table, careful to land with most of her weight on her good leg. “See you next Thursday?”
Richard frowned. “Hey, use that cane when you can.”
Jessica hobbled down to the barn a few hours later. Rampage was going to get only a short chapter tonight. After Richard’s manipulation, her knee was painful and she needed to pop some more pills for relief. The sky had begun to dim as twilight approached. The kids and other equestrians in training had all gone for the day. The only sound was Clint Black’s voice drifting softly from a barn radio and contented munching as the barn’s equine residents dined on a supper of sweet feed and orchard grass hay.
Grabbing the paperback she’d been reading to Rampage, Jessica was headed for his stall when Charlie appeared at the other end of the barn. He motioned silently for her to join him, then pulled her toward the barn’s rear opening, whispering, “Want to see Skyler dance with Con Air?”
In a green meadow sprinkled with yellow chickweed flowers, Skyler sat bareback astride her large dappled gray gelding, the brother to Con Man. She still wore her riding breeches, but soft moccasins had replaced her knee-length boots. The horse wore only a bridle and the reins lay across his withers rather than in Skyler’s hands, which rested casually on her thighs.
Ghostlike in the dying light, horse and rider melded magically into one being as they executed a flawless crossover and passage. When they approached the center of the meadow, the gelding halted. A smile slid across Skyler’s face as she closed her eyes and raised her arms in imitation of a ballerina. Taking an undetected cue, the big horse pivoted slowly on his hindquarters in a complete circle. He then pranced forward in a goose step, holding alternating forelegs an extra beat, each touching the ground as the other lifted to repeat the similar step. Skyler’s eyes were still closed as she extended her arms out to her sides like a high-wire walker.
Jessica was mesmerized.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it,” Charlie said in a reverent whisper.
“Yes, it is,” Jessica breathed. “How does she get him to do that?”
“She says to really be one, there has to be nothing between you. That’s why she isn’t using a saddle. She feels what he’s thinking, and he feels what she’s thinking,” Charlie recited. “She showed it to us in class one day when she was trying to teach us how to use your legs to tell the horse what you want him to do.”
Con Air wheeled and moved diagonally across the field in another crossover move.
“It is like a dance,” Jessica said. “I can’t imagine what it must take to teach a horse that.”
“Sky’s the best.”
Jessica could understand his hero-worship. She would never have guessed Skyler would be a soft touch with the kids, but over the past few months she’d seen her amazing patience with them. She even helped with their homework, always insisting on seeing their finished assignments before she would let them take their saddles out of the tack room.
Jessica gave the boy a quick hug. “Thanks, Charlie. Thanks for showing me this. You better scoot now. I heard Kate say you were supposed to help her grill burgers tonight.”
As he scampered away, she turned once again to watch Skyler for a few moments.
Your mystery deepens, Skyler Reese. And I love a good mystery.
Jessica waited in the dusty parking lot of the honky-tonk with the Explorer’s window wound down. She wasn’t going in that place until Bruce arrived. She’d have every redneck around hitting on her. She must have been nuts to agree to meet him here on a payday weekend.
She was relieved when her friend’s black Firebird pulled in next to her and his tinted window slid down. “Hey, beautiful.” The driver grinned. “I sure was surprised to hear you needed old Bruce’s services. Let’s go inside and have a beer.”
Jessica eyed the stocky, former pro football player. “Just show me how to use the stuff, Bruce. I don’t want to go inside.”
“Uh-uh. We’ll fix you up, but then we need to go inside and test it. You do want to know it’s going to work before you pay for it, don’t you.”
“Yeah, I guess I do.” Jessica limped over to Bruce’s car and got inside.
He patted his thigh. “Just lay that knee over here and relax. Think good thoughts.” He pulled a small vial from his console and filled a slim syringe from the contents.
“What were you able to get?” she asked.
“Just lidocaine, the stuff the doc would use to deaden your skin to sew up a cut. We’re injecting it right under the kneecap to deaden the inflamed tissue that’s causing you so much pain. I’ll try to get you some bupivacaine, but my contact for that wasn’t around on such short notice. It lasts longer and is better for orthopedic stuff.”
Jessica had worn loose jogging pants so her knee would be easily accessible. He prodded the swollen joint. “Damn, Jess. This doesn’t look so good. You sure you want to do this?”
“Just do it, okay? Let me worry about my health,” Jessica snapped.
“Hey, whatever you want, babe.” Bruce showed her where the injection should go on each side before sliding the small needle into her skin. “You know, since you’re around horses, vets normally use Carbocaine or mepivacaine. It lasts longer than lidocaine, too. You should check around the barn to see if there is any stuck in a cabinet somewhere. All this stuff is pretty cheap, so nobody keeps a close eye on inventories of it.”
He shot half the syringe into one side of her kneecap and the rest on the opposite side. He rubbed his hand along her silky leg. “You always did have great legs, and now you have a very sexy scar on this one.”
Grimacing from the sting of the shot, Jessica said, “That’s where they put the pins in. And you run that hand any farther up my leg and I’ll have to call up that bad-tempered redhead you live with and tell her you were hitting on me.”
Bruce jerked his hands up and held them aloft in surrender. “Hey, just giving you a compliment. No need to threaten my manhood. Let’s go see if this works.”
They headed into the smoky bar and took a table away from the dance floor. They ordered two sandwiches and a couple of beers. Before they’d even gotten their food, Jessica’s knee felt very numb.
“Okay, time for a little two-step to test it out.” Bruce stood and offered a hand. Unlike a lot of former athletes, he kept himself in good shape. Jessica was surprised that she was able to move comfortably for the first time in months. The knee was nearly painless. She grinned up at Bruce and he twirled her around a few times in celebration.
Back out in the parking lot, he pulled two more vials from his car. “That’s two hundred dollars, little lady.”
“I thought you said this stuff was cheap.”
“Risk mark-up. My contact takes a risk swiping it, and I take a risk selling it to you.” He held the vials just out of her reach, and his eyes grew serious. “Be careful, Jess. Use it too much and you’ll do permanent damage to your knee and never feel it. How do you think I screwed up my football career? Total knee replacement is no fun and a real career ender.”
“I’ll be careful,” she said, handing over the money. She couldn’t wait to ride Rampage free of pain.
Lantern-shaped lamps lined the main drive as cars pulled up to the house and deposited their guests. The cars were then parked near the gymnasium by valets. The yard was illuminated by string after string of lights, and the large brick patio served as a dance floor. A live country-western band cranked out Garth Brooks and Shania Twain tunes for the dancers while caterers pulled sizzling burgers and tangy barbecue ribs off a hot grill.
The dance was the biggest local fund-raiser put on by the Parker Foundation each year. This year’s western theme promised to be a fun evening for both the upper crust who paid five hundred dollars a plate to attend and students of the youth equestrian program who, along with their families, were honored guests.
Skyler paused at the edge of the lights to wipe the pointed toes of her dusty western boots on the back of her jean-covered legs. Attendance was mandatory for center staff, but Skyler didn’t mind. At least the party’s theme allowed her to dress in something comfortable. Her tall frame fit well into the faded Levi’s and dark blue V-neck knitted top that accentuated her broad shoulders.
“Hey, Sky. I’ve been waiting for you to get here. I need a dance partner.” Clint Hansen’s eyes glowed and he held out his hand as an invitation. “Come on, let’s show these shufflers a step or two.”
“I do declare, I just can’t resist such a handsome devil,” Skyler replied in her best Scarlett O’Hara voice.
“You have to let me lead,” Clint warned.
“I guess you’ll never get better if I don’t let you practice. Lead on,” she replied with a mock sigh.
She was teasing, of course. Clint was an excellent dancer. He was several inches taller than Skyler’s six feet and was ruggedly good looking. He knew and accepted Skyler’s sexual orientation, but her height and graceful athleticism made her the perfect dance partner. They appeared to be the perfect couple as they glided a fancy two-step across the dance floor, Clint twirling Skyler and her following with ease.
He had been one of the few people not influenced by Skyler’s blacklisting from the circuit. As a trainer, he’d tried to throw a few rides her way, but the owners he worked for had sided with the other gentry and threatened to hire a new trainer if he continued to employ her. That was before they both came under Kate’s protective arm. Only Kate had enough money and influence to stand firm against blacklisting. Her compromise was to employ Skyler as a trainer, not a rider. That had satisfied the angry gentry, since it meant she would be less visible.
The dance floor thinned as couples paused and stepped aside to watch Clint and Skyler. When the band wound up the tune, they were the only couple left on the floor, and the crowd clapped their appreciation. Clint bowed to the crowd, then to Skyler, and they both laughed when she grabbed him and gave him a smacking kiss on the mouth.
Thirsty, she headed to the bar and ordered a Crown Reserve and Coke.
“Don’t forget the cherry, honey,” a familiar throaty voice instructed the bartender, and Skyler turned to find herself nose-to-nose with Alexandra. “Been hiding from me, huh?”
“No, I’ve been right there at Creek Barn, doing what I do every day, working horses and training riders.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Alexandra batted her eyes. “I could use another private lesson.”
“Alex, you know me. I have a short attention span. But you sure were fun, sweetie.” Skyler winked.
“Now, Sky.” The socialite imitated Skyler’s drawl. “I wouldn’t want to have to tell my husband that you seduced me. He would be very upset.”