Free Pole Position by Sofia Grey Page A

chestnut, who now stood shivering on the track, one foreleg raised in the classic picture of an unhappy horse. I felt his leg as gently as I could, apologizing to him as he flinched and snorted. Thank God, it wasn’t broken. The fetlock felt hot and swollen though, and my plans for leaving on time became more unlikely by the minute.
    It took me almost an hour to coax the miserable horse the remaining hundred-meters back to the yard, limping and grumbling with every slow step. At this rate, I’d be lucky to get to Oulton Park at all, never mind see Jon race, but I had to swallow down my disappointment. I couldn’t walk away from this mess.
    Clare and Mark arrived in a flurry, just before the owner, and in the midst of all this, we had the regular clients coming and going, people turning up for lessons and hacks, and the usual levels of chaos. I checked my watch and saw it was almost two o’clock.
    I was horribly late, and I’d no way of contacting Jon to tell him. I hadn’t taken his mobile number, and I cringed at the thought of calling the racetrack and finding someone to take a message. I’d just have to hope I got there before it was all over.

7.2 Colette
    Danny finally staggered home on Sunday morning. He was unshaven, still wearing the same clothes from yesterday, and badly hung-over. Dropping into a chair at the kitchen table, he looked at me with bleary eyes.
    “Don’t ask,” he rasped. “My bloody sister is a pain in the arse sometimes.”
    I made him a coffee. Then, while he sat staring into space, I made him some toast to go with it. I’d no idea where he slept last night and more to the point, with whom.
    “You know”—he was thoughtful as he downed his coffee and devoured the toast—”Clare thinks it will be good for Anita to go out with that fuckwit. Can you believe it?”
    I hesitated. “She spent last night with him.” I forced a bright laugh. “I was here on my own.”
    “She what?” Wide, shocked eyes met my own. “You’re joking.”
    I shook my head.
    “I didn’t think she would.” He spoke as though to himself.
    “Where were you, Danny? I was worried about you, babe.” I tried to keep my voice light and curious, rather than nagging.
    He stared at the table as though he was looking miles away. I sat down and took his hand, leaning into him and searching for his lips. He turned to me, and kissed me back. “You’re still here,” he murmured, sliding his hand inside my bathrobe. I moaned as he caressed my breast and fingered my nipple, then gasped in surprise as he picked me up and carried me into my bedroom.
    Apart from his breath stinking of whisky, it was amazing again. There it was, that impressive cock, straining and ready for me. We fucked fast and hard, and then collapsed in a heap to catch our breath.
    “I need a piss.” He pulled on his boxers and set off for the bathroom.
    “Brush your teeth while you’re there,” I called out, and giggled to myself. He had all the social graces of a polar bear. How very decadent to spend Sunday afternoon shagging. I stretched happily under the duvet, then I heard Anita’s car pull up. Grabbing my bathrobe, I dashed out to meet her.

7.3 Anita
    My clothes stunk after being at the stables all morning, and I needed to shower and change before I went to the racetrack. I drove home and ran up the path, practically tripping over Colette in the hallway. She looked equally startled by me bursting into the house, and she pulled the front of her bathrobe together to cover herself.
    “Got to dash. I’m off to Oulton Park to watch Jon race, and I’m ridiculously late already. Is the bathroom free?”
    “Ah, no. Danny’s just gone in there.”
    “Bugger.” I riffled through the clean laundry pile for a fresh T-shirt, and grabbed the first one that came to hand.
    “Do you want some coffee?”
    “I want a shower,” I wailed in despair. I glared at the clock as Colette brewed some coffee, singing to herself.
    “You’re in a good