Free Natural Attraction by C L Green, Maria Itina

about to show what I could do with him when I was on his back.  I suppose there’s always been a mixture of fear of failure and general caution in my actions.  Most of all, I normally worry the extra pressure of having someone watch us together will shatter the link we have going and we’ll both look silly.  Even worse is the fear that it will all go to pot and I’ll fall off in front of someone.  The worst case scenario is that Trouble is hurt ‘cause I am stupidly showing off.  Today I didn’t feel that and it had something to do with you.”
    Wow.
    That was left field and a bit deep for this time of day.  Especially with all the strong emotions I am feeling towards him after only spending a few hours with him.
    This is a conversation better had after an hour of two of steady drinking. 
    Time to move on.
    I step back to break his finger contact with my chin and ask him the first thing that comes to my mind .
    “Is it lunchtime yet?”
    Jax fixes his sunglasses on my face for a few more seconds looking confused and sighs.
    “Sure, it’s probably good tim ing and then after lunch we can go and start working with Maverick.”
    “Sounds good to me,” I say spinning back around and continuing my way to the barn.  It is time to shake Jax out of my head and focus on the job at hand. 
    Lunch, then ride Maverick, then go home.
    It ’s always good to have a clear plan.
    A sick feeling hits my stomach and I fe el it churn.
    Crap .
    The part of the day I have been dreading is here.  It has been six full weeks and I still can’t shake the uneasy butterflies that keep overtaking me.  Although I feel like Maverick and I know each other a whole lot better, the butterflies hit every time I think of climbing up on his back. 
    The memories of the pain and injuries I have received launch to the front of my mind and I feel my breath hitch. 
    I so wish I could get out of this. 
    I start racking my brain for excuses to use that might get me out of the riding demonstration that Jax wants. 
    Perhaps I can plead sickness?
    It would need to be a sudden illness considering I was healthy all morning.  A dodgy salad-roll for lunch perhaps? Maybe a faked phone call that draws me back home? 
    Yes that would be perfect .
    I speed up a little planning to grab my lunch from the fridge and head straight to my car to call Jen and set up my fake call.  My plans are interrupted when I hear the loud, deep grumble of a v8 engine approaching along the driveway.
    I slow my pace again and turn to see Jax looking up the driveway shaking his head.  He looks annoyed. 
    I follow his gaze and see what looks like a fiery metallic red version of Clint Eastwood’s car out of the movie Gran Torino inching it’s way along the driveway. 
    My eyes bulge and my jaw drops as I quickly scan the car of my dreams.  Shiny mag wheels, black racing stripes across the bonnet, gorgeous sleek lines running smoothly along the fastback body.  This car is amazing. 
    For the second time today I am seeing something in the flesh that I have only ever seen on movies or in magazines. 
    I refocus my attention on the occupants of the vehicle and receive yet another shock for the day.  Not only are there three ladies in the car (no men!), but the driver of this gorgeous machine is an elderly gray haired lady with a perm.
    A perm.
    Who gets a perm in nowadays? 
    I almost feel like laughing out loud but think better of it.  I think better of it because when I take a second glance, I see a gorgeous set of crystal blue eyes shining above another cheeky set of dimples.  
    Dimples ... Is this his mother? 
    Sitting by the elderly ladies’ side in the front passenger seat is a very attractive young woman who looks to be about my age.  She has shiny black hair pulled back into a tight ponytail and big gorgeous dark brown eyes that give her an almost Native American look.   
    Her complete lack of make-up, yet capacity to look like a super model without it