Chapter 0057


    Last night, in the car, seeing Fay shake like that – the shock, the trauma in every muscle – it was one


    of the worst feelings of his life. He frowns, thinking of it now, of his extreme reaction to Fay’s physical


    danger.


    He’s a mafia boss, for heaven’s sake, Kent tells himself. It’s not like he hasn’t lost people to this


    business before, hasn’t put his loved ones on the line on an almost-daily basis. So what was it about


    this girl that made him absolutely horrified at the thought of her in danger?


    Kent grits his teeth, ufortable with the potential answers to this question. He knows that he wants


    her on a physical level – god, every day he’s confronted with that horrible fact. But this other feeling,


    this…protectiveness. He shakes his head, unwilling to delve into it just yet.


    Instead, Kent stands up straight from his spot at the stall door and walks towards the riding rink.


    The lesson ising to a close, the instructor talking eagerly to Fay, who smiles down at him from her


    ce on the gelding’s back. When Kentes to lean against the rink’s fence, the trainer gives him a


    warm smile.


    “She’s a natural!” the trainer says, resting afortable hand on Fay’s knee. Kent res at the touch


    and the trainer, grimacing a little, quickly removes his hand. Fay doesn’t notice.


    “See!” she says to Kent,ughing. “I told you I had a natural seat!”


    “I didn’t doubt you for a minute,” he says simply, giving the trainer a stern look. Knowing his boss, the


    trainer says a gracious goodbye to Fay, promising to see her again next time, and then heads back to


    the barn.


    “He’s really nice,” Fay says, nudging her horse so that he walks over to Kent.


    “You just like anyone who gives youpliments,” Kent jokes, reaching out a hand to stroke


    Heathcliff’s neck.


    Fay’s eyebrows raise, almost disappearing beneath her helmet. “A joke!” sheughs. “Kent Lippert


    made a joke!”


    Heughs with her, perhaps a little surprised himself. “Don’t get used to it,” he says quietly. “It’s not a


    “No kidding,” she says in response, smiling indulgently at him.


    “You enjoyed it?” Kent asks, nodding towards the ring and indicating the lesson as a whole.


    “Yes,” she says, definite and happy. “Can Ie back tomorrow?”


    Kent nods, pleased at the big smile she gives him. “Come down now,” he says, gesturing towards her.


    “Heathcliff has earned his rest.”


    “Um,” she says, biting her lip, suddenly concerned. “He didn’t…teach me…how to get down.”


    Kentughs and ducks under the rail of the fence,ing close to Fay’s left side. “Feet out of the


    stirrups,” he says, and she obeys. He puts up his hands towards her. “Now just swing your right leg


    over the back of the horse and slip down to the ground.”


    “What!” she says, appalled. “You just want me to jump down!?”


    Kentughs at her, entertained. “Well, you can always stay up there forever if you want.”


    Fay gives him a dirty look.


    “I’ll catch you,” Kent says, enjoying himself. “Come on, let’s go.”


    Fay narrows her eyes at him a little and then takes a deep breath, swinging her leg back over the


    horse.


    Kent is as good as his word, catching Fay by the waist, letting her fall back against him instead of


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    sliding her body down against the saddle. As he lowers her slowly to the ground, Fay puts her hands


    on top of his for bnce, her back running down the length of his chest and stomach before her booted


    feet hit the ground.


    A little thrill echoes in his stomach at the feel of her against him. Kent clenches his jaw, trying to keep


    himself under control.