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, uncomfortable 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 is coming to a close, the instructor talking eagerly to Fay, who smiles down at him from her

place on the gelding’s back. When Kent comes to lean against the rink’s fence, the trainer gives him a

warm smile.

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

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

“See!” she says to Kent, laughing. “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 you compliments,” Kent jokes, reaching out a hand to stroke

Heathcliff’s neck.

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

made a joke!”

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

common occurrence.”

“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 I come 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.”

Kent laughs and ducks under the rail of the fence, coming 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!?”

Kent laughs 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

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

on top of his for balance, 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.