Free Hard Day's Knight by Katie MacAlister

fingers twitch. “I fell because you dropped me when that big black monster bucked. He was not standing still.”
    “Marley bucked because your cat attacked him,” Walker said, his gorgeous eyes narrowing. He took a step closer to me, probably thinking he could intimidate me with the sheer power of his size. Ha! Little did he know that sturdy old built-like-a-brick-oven Pepper didn’t intimidate easily. I took two steps forward until we were standing toe-to-toe, madly squelching the part of my mind that was telling me to lean into him and just taste those thinned lips of his.
    “Moth isn’t my cat, and if your horse is so high-strung that he doesn’t allow cats near him—”
    “He’s not high-strung in the least. He’s a very well-mannered horse. It’s my experience that horses—all horses—don’t appreciate strange cats using them as a perch.”
    “Oh, so now you’re an expert on everything to do with horses as well as jousting?”
    He leaned forward, his breath fanning across my cheeks, Moth’s slitted yellow eyes glaring at me as his body was slung up against the back of Walker’s head. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I am an expert on horses as well as jousting. I’m a farrier. I have a great deal of experience with horses of all types, and unlike some people I could name, am not afraid to be around them.”
    “Really?” I crossed my arms under my bosom shelf and put on my best knowing smile. “For a man who couldn’t control his mount, you’re awfully cocksure. Tell me this—if you’re such an expert, why wasn’t that you out there jousting today?”
    Everyone, and I mean everyone in the Three Dog Knights camp, went absolutely silent at my words. The jokers stopped in midjest, the chatters stopped with words caught on their tongues, Vandal stopped flirting in the middle of telling a pretty passing girl about the fire in his loins. Every single person there turned to statues. It was as if someone had flipped a switch and turned off all animation. The only sound was that of fat hissing as it dripped down onto the coals.
    Walker’s eyes glittered a silvery fury at me as everyone stared at the two of us standing close enough to be in an embrace. His body was rigid and tight with anger, and I regretted my hasty words. For some reason I didn’t understand, they obviously cut him deeply.
    “Yes, Walker, please do tell us all why it is you weren’t out jousting with the rest of your so-called team,” an amused voice drawled from behind me. Heads swiveled as Farrell strolled out from the shadow of a nearby tent. He was all in black: black doublet, black hose, black thigh-high pirate boots, and a black shirt with ruffly neckline and matching ruffles at the sleeves, a dearth of color that highlighted the brightness of his eyes and his sun-bleached long blond hair. He strolled forward, the setting sun turning his hair to molten gold. “The lady is curious, and I for one I would love to hear you admit the truth behind your cowardice.”
    “Don’t you have something else to do, Farrell?” Walker asked in a tired voice. “Like waxing your body hair? Practicing your smile in front of a mirror? Giving yourself yet another meaningless championship title in an attempt to cover yourself in glory?”
    The smug smile on Farrell’s face held until Walker got to the last bit; then it cracked and anger flooded his eyes. “As a matter of fact, I do have something better to do than waste my time on a bunch of hasbeens.” He turned to me and flashed me the full wattage of his smile. “I have a damsel to rescue from tedium and mediocrity. My lady, if you will do me the honor of joining me for dinner, I would be happy to escort you from these drab surroundings to more convivial company and cuisine.”
    “Oh,” I said, more than a little flattered by the offer. It wasn’t often I had a handsome, dashing blond knight asking me to dinner. “Um . . . that’s nice of you, but we were going to have dinner