Free Dirty Player: A Rough Riders Novel by Stacey Lynn Page A

She was thinking things about me that she shouldn’t.
    I broke the moment and walked to Ralph’s stall. He was old, probably wouldn’t live much longer, but I’d had him since I was in high school. He was the first horse that was all mine and the reason I’d bought the damn land to begin with. After living without horses and space for so long, I couldn’t stop missing him.
    There was something that was so freeing about getting on a horse at the end of a shitacular day, when every muscle ached to the bone and I’d royally fucked up at a game. Ralph had always understood what I needed.
    Now, he was too old to ride too often, but I still made sure he got the exercise he needed. He’d lost the energy and pep he used to have and when I walked up to him, knowing Shannon was following me, he brushed his head against mine.
    “Settle down, boy,” I said and handed him an apple. He took it slowly, knowing I’d give him an extra one. He always got two—because he was old and my first and I babied the shit out of him.
    God, I had never realized how big of a pussy I became around my horses until I was taking care of them under Shannon’s soft and watchful gaze.
    I rubbed him down, whispering words to him that I wouldn’t let her hear before I turned back and saw her walking to the stallion’s stall.
    “Don’t get too close. He’s still nervous around new people.”
    Hulk was a monster. Eighteen hands tall, all shiny black stallion. Beautiful and graceful and powerful as hell. He gave me the thrill these days that Ralph no longer could.
    But he was also an asshole. To prove it, as Shannon stopped three feet back from his stall, he reared onto his hind legs and kicked at the door.
    She jumped back, and I wrapped my hand around her back so she didn’t fall. 
    “Told you. He can be an asshole.”
    “Is that why you like him?” She looked up at me, smiling. “Remind you of someone?”
    “Yes.” I didn’t grin, but it was true.
    Hulk was the untamable. He’d never fully submit, and because of that I had to be careful with him. Only Lee—the caretaker who helped me with the horses during the season when I was busier and traveling—and I rode him.
    My own father wasn’t allowed to ride him anymore.
    I clicked my tongue with my teeth and walked toward Hulk. “Come here, boy.”
    He shuffled back to the far end of the stall, not taking his eyes off Shannon. 
    “It’s okay.”
    He shook his head back and forth, disagreeing with me, and I couldn’t help but smile.
    “He’s a stubborn prick, too.”
    “Again,” Shannon mumbled. “Sounds familiar.”
    When I flashed her a mock glare, she arched her brows, raised her shoulders. “I didn’t imply it was you, but if that’s how you took it…”
    Her voice trailed off as I held out the apple to Hulk. “I’ve only had this guy a year. He’s still a bit wild.”
    “And the one you were hugging?” She pointed her thumb back to Ralph without taking her eyes off me.
    With that look, the question, and the fact that I was fucking introducing a woman to my horses, she ripped me wide open.
    Bare and naked and vulnerable in the worst way. Something twisted in my gut.
    “Ralph’s old. Mine from home and the reason I bought this place.”
    “You love him.”
    My lip curled at a corner. She was pushing, pressing too hard, without realizing it.
    For a moment, my chest heaved from her knowing gaze. Like she’d finally figured out who I really was, deep down, where I hadn’t let anyone in since Serena.
    Anger bubbled inside me at my own stupidity.
    Raw, dirty fucking. Fulfilling fantasies. Burning out this insanely ridiculous attraction that had invaded me since the moment I saw her.
    She was just pussy…hot and sexy pussy, but pussy I’d grow tired of nonetheless.
    “I didn’t bring you here to meet my horses,” I finally said. 
    I took a step toward her, licked my lips, and peered at her with wicked intent.
    I had actually wanted her to meet them. What a