Free Teach Me To Ride by Rachel Leigh Page B

his throat. Sexy and suggestive.
    Her body tingled. “The event. I am on the back burner for now. Today is all about you and showing your father what you’re capable of.”
    His smile dissolved. “Don’t remind me.”
    He stepped away to walk to the other side of Marshall May and Caroline winced. Damn it. She already missed the feel of his arms, the scent of him around her. She met his gaze over the saddle, his eyes burned with irritation. What she wouldn’t give to take away Lewis’ emotional hold on him.
    “He should be here by now.” Michael glared toward the gates behind her. “He’s playing the press. He’s playing with the fans and with me.”
    “Then don’t let him.”
    His gaze bored into hers. “Once he knows I’ve slept with—”
    “He won’t.” She swallowed against the nausea that rose bitter in her throat. She didn’t doubt for one minute that Lewis knew. Based on the bastard’s cocky self-confidence on the phone, he had spies around Michael twenty-four seven. The trouble was, she hadn’t given that a second thought while they’d made love in the forest.
    “He will. The man’s a snake. He’ll do his utmost to ruin whatever we have going on between us, especially once he knows I won’t compete for him.”
    She drew in a shaky breath. “Yeah, well, we’ll see about that. You’re doing this for you, not him. I’m writing this story to inspire others, not to escalate that man’s ego or the tension between the two of you. You’ll get closure and I’ll get my byline.”
    His eyes flashed with irritation. “And then what?”
    Caroline frowned, her heartbeat picking up at the anger in his voice. “What do you mean?”
    “This isn’t just about my father anymore, Caroline. What happens when I win today’s trials? You disappear to London?”
    She looked away, smoothing a trembling hand over Marshall May’s neck. “I don’t know. How can either of us know what will happen next? I haven’t thought past today. Nor should you.” Liar. Who was tossing and turning into the early hours? Who was longing for this man? You’re scared. Scared to give up your career and have nothing to call your own.
    She turned back and he glared at her before gripping the saddle and swinging onto his beloved horse. Caroline stepped back lest she get kicked in the face. He stared straight ahead, a muscle leaping in his jaw. Caroline swallowed hard. She was doing this for her own protection.
    Sadness enveloped her. She didn’t want them separating on bad terms. If she could trust that things might last between them…but she couldn’t. She needed more than this to change her plans and stay in Fayre Mead. “Michael, look at me.”
    He turned. “I don’t want to force you into anything, Caroline. My emotions are running wild here.”
    “What do you want?”
    He closed his eyes. “If I knew that, I wouldn’t be in this position with my father…or you.”
    Frustration hummed inside her. “You can’t keep doing this.”
    He snapped his eyes open. “Doing what?”
    “Burning up with anger and frustration and then lashing out. Make a decision and stick to it.” God damn it, make the decision for me.
    “What if I have?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t just mean with your father. I mean with everything. I love my job, my career, and I want more and more from it. We have to change our lives for ourselves, Michael. No one is going to do it for us.”
    He glared. “You think I don’t know that?”
    Caroline faltered at the flash of hurt across his eyes before he blinked and anger blazed once more. She fisted her hands onto her hips.
    “Fine, Then do something about it.” She had to get him focused. If angering him did that, so be it. Regardless of the effect it would have on whatever was building between them. “Stop thinking about what you could have had, what wrong decisions you’ve made. Get out there and ride.”
    He pulled the reins tighter in his hands. “The one thing I don’t need from