And I still dislike him.

Right?

Seventeen

Dressed in jodhpurs, a white Matis Estate polo shirt, and riding boots, I walk toward the stables.

Outside the stables, I see Kas with Butterscotch. He’s putting her saddle on.

He’s wearing a white polo shirt, similar to mine but without the logo, and these dark brown fitted trousers, not quite jodhpurs. They’re tucked into black riding boots.

The guy even looks hot in riding gear. It’s seriously annoying.

“Hey,” I say as I approach. “Where’s everyone?”

I was worried about bumping into Cooper and him seeing me getting a lesson from Kas after he already offered.

“They’re on lunch,” he says as he fastens the straps on Butterscotch’s saddle.

I’m a little relieved to hear that.

“Am I riding Butterscotch?” I ask him.

“Yeah. She’s an easy ride. Good for a first-timer.”

“Hey, girl.” I stroke her face. “No apples today, I’m afraid. But I’ll bring you some tomorrow. The good ones since you’re letting me ride you.”

Kas finishes up with the saddle and looks at me. “I need to fit you up with a riding helmet.”

“Okay.” I follow him into the empty stable at the end where they keep all of their tack.

Look at me, getting down with the horsey lingo.

Kas pulls a helmet down from the shelf. I expect him to pass it to me to put on, but instead, he steps directly in front of me and places the helmet on my head. He’s so close that I can smell the mint on his breath and the aftershave on his skin. It’s distinctly spicy with a hint of cedarwood in it.

Not gonna lie. His close proximity is making my heart beat a little faster and my insides tighten up.

“It’s a little big,” he murmurs. He lifts the helmet from my head and reaches forward to put it back on the shelf, putting him even closer to me.

I shut my eyes as I breathe in. All I manage to do is take in a lungful of his scent.

My heart starts to beat faster.

It’s been so long since I’ve been this close to a man. Of course my body is going into overdrive. He’s hot.

But it’s nothing to do with him.

Right?

I open my eyes, and my breath catches.

He’s still close, and he’s staring down at me. His eyes are fixed on mine, and they’re darker than normal. And there’s a flicker of something.

Interest?

Yes, definitely interest.

I know he thinks I’m hot. I heard him tell Jude.

But he has no interest in doing anything about it.

And neither do I.

In an unconscious move, I lick my dry lips.

Yeah, right, Daisy. Sure, it was unconscious.

His eyes flare, going to my mouth.

I’m not sure what to do.

Do I want him to kiss me?

Well, my body sure does.

My mind? Not so much.

I need this job too much.

Sense has me clearing my throat and taking a small step back.

Kas blinks, as if awakening.

He grabs a helmet off the shelf and thrusts it into my hands. “This one will fit you.” He pivots on his heel and walks out of the stable.

Okay then…

I put the helmet on and fasten the strap under my chin.

When I make my way back outside, I see Kas bringing Danger out of another one of the stables. Danger’s already tacked up.

“You ready?” he asks me, his tone even.

“As I’ll ever be.” I smile.

“Do you know how to get on a horse?”

I shake my head.

Leaving Danger, he comes over to Butterscotch and beckons me over. “Okay, so put your left foot in the stirrup.”

I do that.

“Now, grab ahold of the saddle with both hands.”

I do as told and grip ahold of either side of the saddle.

“Now, push yourself up, and swing your other leg over as you go. Try not to kick the horse.”

Okay, sounds easy.

I try to push myself up, but I get nowhere.

I try again. I only make it halfway up.

Okay, so, clearly, it’s not as easy as it sounds.

I consider myself to be a pretty fit person, but bloody hell, getting on a horse is hard.

I let out a sound of frustration. I hear a low chuckle from behind me.

I glance back over my shoulder at Kas and shoot him daggers.

The bastard just smiles at me.

I narrow my eyes.

He laughs again. “I’ll help you up.”

He comes up behind me, and the next thing I feel are Kas’s hands on my arse.

What the hell?

My eyes whip back to his. “What are you doing?”

“I’m giving you a boost up,” he says.

I can hear a change in his voice; it sounds thicker.

“And you need your hands on my bum to do that?”

I’m feigning mild anger because I don’t like the fact that I like the feel of his hands on my arse.

His head tips slightly to the side. “And where would you prefer me to put my hands?”

Is that a trick question?

“Um…not on my arse.”

“So, how would you propose I get you on the horse?”

All the time we’re talking, I’m still very aware of the fact that his hands are still on my bum. And that I’m also getting decidedly hotter and hotter and very flustered.

“I don’t know.” I frown. “But did you really need to grab my arse to do it?”

His eyes darken to coal. “Trust me, Daisy, if I wanted to grab your arse, I wouldn’t use this as an excuse to do so. I’d just fucking do it.”