Free Shiver by CM Foss Page A

a little too early in my day for that. Let me call Ethan and get all this organized. How’s that? Plus I’ll make coffee.”
    I felt better now that I wasn’t completely out of the loop, but my fingers almost started smoking from the speed I was texting as I stomped into the tack room.
     
    10 horses sitting in a trailer. Get your ass down here.
     
    I got no response, but I made a pot of coffee and walked around the fields to survey the best place to put the youngsters. I decided on the two largest fields closest to the barn so we could separate the colts and the fillies and still keep an eye on them as they settled into their new home. Still in my flip-flops, my feet growing colder, I carefully moved the horses currently residing in those fields into stalls, then headed back out to Lawrence with a cup of coffee in hand.
    “All right,” I called out as I approached. “I think we’re all settled. I can help lead them to the field one by one, or we can drive in there and just off-load them.”
    He took the coffee gratefully and cautiously sipped, then sighed. “Good Lord, that’s welcome. Let me finish this, then I’ll pull around and drop them off in the field. It’ll take a fraction of the time, and then we can head to breakfast.” His eyes were still twinkling.
    “Well, um…” I said.
    Just then, I felt a presence behind me and heard, “Morning! While I hate to interrupt your plans, Lissa and I have an incredibly busy morning ahead of us, so breakfast is out. Nice to see you, Lawrence,” Ethan said, reaching out a hand to shake. “Let’s get these guys off the semi to let them stretch out, and we can work on the paperwork while Lissa gets on with her day and puts some shoes on.” He looked pointedly at my feet.
    Before anyone could say a word, he abruptly strode down the driveway, gesturing for Lawrence to follow with his rig. After a pause, Lawrence gave me a smirk and passed me back his coffee. “Well, Lissa. Seems you have a busy day ahead of you. Since breakfast is clearly off the table, how about dinner tonight?”
    “Yeah, I could do that.” I smiled back. Lawrence was cute and seemed funny. Two traits I enjoyed. I didn’t feel that rush of attraction I did when I was with Ethan, but that feeling hadn’t really worked out for me so far. I might as well try something new.
    “Great. Let me give you my number, and you text me when you finish up for the day. Maybe you can show me all the hot spots in town.”
    “Yeah, there aren’t any actual hot spots anywhere close to here. But I can probably get you to a decent burger unless you’re a vegetarian or something?”
    “Honey, do I look like a vegetarian to you?” He laughed.
    I cocked my head. “I don’t typically associate with non–meat eaters, so I don’t actually know what one looks like.”
    “My kinda girl.” He nodded in approval.
    We exchanged numbers and he hopped back into his truck to drive the horses to their fields while I headed back into the barn to start riding my sets. Since the arena was the opposite direction of the field where the babies were, I only saw Ethan and Lawrence from a distance while José helped me work through my long list of horses. Of course, I couldn’t help but watch from afar. One, it was a field full of beautiful young Thoroughbreds. That would be an incredible sight for anyone. But watching those two men walking around discussing them… well, it was worth watching. Alas, I could only creep so much if I was going to finish in time to go to dinner, so I made a concerted effort to avert my eyes and get my shit done.
    Before I knew it, Lawrence’s truck was unhooked from the trailer and I watched it drive out of the driveway. Well, at least I could concentrate a little better.
    I resumed my flatwork on the gelding I was riding, cantering quietly around the arena in the brisk air. The footfalls sounded in a rhythmical three-beat pattern while the horse’s breath huffed softly. I used my legs to move