by K. M. Hill
“Oh, right, I heard you say that to Bella.”
“Yes, I’ll ride every day this weekend, though, and take the red eye out Sunday night. I really want to stay in shape because I want to start competing again very soon.” explained Sabrina.
“Are you always on the run?” Zach asked.
“Yes. I like it that way.”
“Why?” Zach asked curiously.
“Why?”
“Yes, why do you like it that way Sabrina?” Zack asked again.
“Ha. I’m not sure. I don’t think I’ve ever given it much thought. I’ve always been someone who likes to do things and accomplish things. I always had big plans to be successful.” she mused.
“I think you said you grew up in Boston?”
“I did. I grew up just outside of Boston in Wesley.” Sabrina offered.
“Are you happy to be back?” Zach wanted her to say yes for some reason.
“You know, I am. I am glad I went away. I had a great childhood. But I was the youngest of three kids. My brother is a doctor; my sister is an engineer and then me. I just felt like I had to break out and establish myself.”
“What about your parents?” Zach asked.
“My mom is a professor and my dad owns a restaurant. They have been married for a long time. I’ve always admired their marriage. They put each other first all the time. Even over us kids! I don’t see that much these days. Kids are usually the whole focus of a marriage. We always felt loved and part of something bigger but that’s just it. We were part of something but not the whole thing. That made me independent and consequently, I wanted to go out and accomplish big things.” Sabrina reflected.
“Is there a Mr. Sabrina?” Zach asked, catching her off guard.
Chapter 19
Sabrina laughed.
“He wouldn’t appreciate you calling him that.” Sabrina replied.
Zach felt a sharp pain in his stomach. Damn. Not what he wanted to hear.
“…If there was a Mr. Sabrina…which there isn’t any more.” Sabrina continued.
Wait, what? Did she mean there WASN’T someone special?
Zach squinted his eyes a bit. Did she do that on purpose? Was she trying to see his reaction?
“No one coming with you on your move?” Zach further probed knowing he was way over the line.
“My, my Zach. It seems it is now your turn to ask inappropriate questions. I guess you are due based on my deplorable behavior earlier. “ Sabrina offered with a light laugh.
“I was in a very serious relationship for the last few years. He asked me to marry him. I wasn’t sure how I felt about him but I said yes because I couldn’t figure out a reason to say no. Then this job came up. The more I learned about it, the more I realized that I was more excited about transferring back to Boston than I was about the wedding.
I had refused to set a date. I kept pushing it off. I think I knew that I didn’t love him as much as he loved me. I should have. He was wonderful in so many ways. I finally had to tell him after admitting it to myself. He was devastated. I tried to talk to him several times after I gave the ring back but he wouldn’t see me.”
Zach listened quietly. He could see that she deeply regretted that situation and he could understand that. What he couldn’t understand was the immediate jealousy he felt in learning she had been engaged. He hadn’t even known her then.
Sabrina continued. “I understand but I wish I could make it better. He told me when I gave it back that I could only make it better if I married him. He told me I would learn to love him like he loved me and that what we had now was enough for him. I knew it wouldn’t be. For him or for me. So I’ve decided that I would never do that to someone again. It’s better to be alone than hurt someone in the end. “ Sabrina finished with her eyes shiny from unshed tears.
Zach thought about that statement. That said a lot. No wonder she had such a wall up around her. He hated to see her close herself off. She was stunning, brilliant, clearly caring, courageous, hard working…okay, and time to stop. He felt himself getting hard thinking about her so intently.
“Excuse me, Mr. Chase. Your bill is all set,” said the waitress.
“Wait, what does she mean it is all set?” Sabrina said sharply.
“Just that. It’s taken care of.” Zach said simply.
“You paid the bill?” her voice rising.
“Yes.” His voice was quiet and calm. He knew a storm was coming his way.
“Wasn’t that the whole point of dinner? Fulfilling my obligation?” she said in a near shrill.
“You fulfilled it.”
“No, I was supposed to pay for dinner, Zach. That was the obligation and I most certainly DID NOT fulfill it.” Sabrina spat out.
She was pissed. That was the whole pretense of being here. The barn rules.
“Zach, you need them to reverse whatever you did. Dinner was my responsibility and I need to pay.” Sabrina demanded.
“Sabrina, I know you had every intent to pay. You were a good sport and I had a lovely dinner with you. But let me tell you something… if I let you pay for dinner, my mother would haunt me from her grave for having such bad manners.” Zach said with an easy smile.
“It’s not bad manners if that was the agreement.” Sabrina returned.
“It is. No son of Libby Chase’s would ever let a woman pay for dinner, open her own door, stand in the rain…
“Even though she died several years ago, I am still very much a mama’s boy. She raised me right and I will fulfill her wishes in how I treat women. So, sorry, Sabrina, but you are out of luck. We can call this debt fulfilled if you want or we can find another way for you to repay me. Like, how about a nice glass of wine on that beautiful porch of yours.” Zach was clearly immovable on the issue of paying for the check.
Sabrina didn’t know how to respond. She had put this dinner in a nice place in her head and now it was working its way out of that little place. She was miffed about him paying for dinner. She always took care of her obligations. But, at the same time, she thought it adorable that he would care about his mom and what she would think even after her passing.
But wine? Extending their time together? She hadn’t even thought past dinner. Is she opening a can of worms? Does he think this is more than it is? I can’t imagine he would date clients. It doesn’t seem to be his style based on her time with him tonight but who knew?
But what if it was just wine? She really enjoyed his company. He was easy to talk to. Easy to be with…
You only live once is what they say. A glass of wine on her porch sounded terrific. And truth be told, she was lonely. She loved her job but it kept her isolated. She had a few friends from her childhood here but hadn’t had a chance to reconnect with them or make new friends at the barn. She hadn’t even had much time on the phone or in person with Lacey and Michelle, who she had her whole life.
“Zach, wine sounds great.”
Chapter 20
As they made their way up the stairs, Zach could hear the dogs making a ruckus in the kitchen.
“Hush boys, you are going to wake the neighborhood.” Sabrina scolded them without any real annoyance in her voice.
“Zach, why don’t you grab two glasses from the cabinet and the wine from the fridge and I’ll let the boys out back. We’ll sit on the back porch so they can run around.” Sabrina suggested.
“Sounds good.”
He hunted around looking for glasses and finally found two that would do the trick. He went through the slider off the kitchen to the back porch and the sight was breathtaking. The lawn rolled down to the marina. She had her own little slip. He hadn’t had a chance to make it around back today when she went to get ready earlier. He thought the front was magnificent but apparently that was only the start of how great this house was.
He heard her laughter before he saw her. She was throwing the Frisbee for the two small ponies she called dogs. They nearly flattened her each time they brought it back. Each one of them fought for her attention and s
he was careful to deliver equal time to each dog. They were quite the trio.
After a few minutes, she told them to go play and made her way up the back steps. He held a glass of wine out to her.
“Looks like you worked up a thirst.” Zach commented.
“They love to play. They keep me fit as I try to keep up with them.” Sabrina said out of breath.
“What made you get two Great Danes?” Zach inquired.
“I had one as a kid and he was my best friend. I just loved him. He was so kind and patient and loving. I know I shouldn’t have animals because I travel so much but I just need them in my life. I have Bella who comes and spends time with them each day. I also got two of them so that they would keep each other company. As you can see, they are best friends.” Sabrina said proudly.
The dogs were busying themselves wrestling on the grass and having a fantastic time.
As she watched the dogs, she got lost in herself. Zach was watching her. He wondered what went on in that head of hers.
“Sabrina?”
“Hmmm?”
“Sabrina?” Zach asked again.
Slowly she turned her head as if pulling herself out of some deep thought.
“Where were you just now?” Zach asked, almost intimately.
“What do you mean?”
“You were some place far away. I was just wondering where that place was.” Zach stated simply.
Sabrina laughed.
“I’m sorry. I guess I just got distracted. Can I get you more wine?” She asked him.
He was quiet as he looked at her beautiful face. She is so tightly wound that she doesn’t even know how to relax. Ok, so she wasn’t going to tell him. Yet.
“No, I’ll get it. You’ve had a full day. It was today that you landed from Asia, was negligent with you car and had a big issue with it so it had to get towed – soaking wet I might add, rode with your new trainer, fell off, went to dinner and now are here trying to fill my wine glass.” Zach said with mischief in his eyes.
She missed the mischief as she went straight after the things he said that pushed her buttons.
“First of all, the car wasn’t my fault. I had it in the shop and they promised me it was all set. Second of all, I was so focused on my lessons that I did not see it getting so dark and ready to rain. Third of all, I got “popped off”, I didn’t really fall off.” Sabrina snapped back.
Zach chuckled to himself.
“And the part about your new trainer?”
“Yes, I will admit to that being tiresome. Having to put up with a new trainer who sat there evaluating me, making me feel pressured was a bit stressful and tiring.” Sabrina retorted.
Zach just smiled.
“So you wanted to impress me, huh?” Zach said with ease and confidence.
He was insufferable and she kept walking into his traps.
“No. I just wanted to get my money’s worth and wasn’t sure I could leave it up to you to provide what I needed.” Sabrina said sharply.
“And what is it you need, Sabrina?” Zach asked.
Sabrina looked over into Zach’s eyes. It seemed like he was asking something bigger than what she wanted out of her lessons. There seemed to be a lot more behind Zach with each statement or question.
No thanks. She wasn’t getting in any deeper.
Chapter 21
“I want good instruction. I want to be evaluated for my capability. I want ideas on how to make the horse better. I want prompt help. I wanted to be challenged but feel safe. I want someone who feels like I am competent but wants to work with me to find out how good I can be.” Sabrina disclosed.
“You are already very good. Why not work with someone who will tell you that and keep you at the level where you are?” Zach inquired.
“I want to win. I want to do what you are doing. I know I can’t afford the same amount of time and probably won’t ever have close to the talent you have but I want to try.” Sabrina confessed.
“You know what Zach?”
“What?”
“I probably shouldn’t say this because it will go straight to your head. But, I’m glad Lewis got hurt.” Sabrina stated.
“Really? Lewis isn’t going to be happy to hear that,” he chuckled knowing she was getting tongue-tied trying to say something nice to him.
“No, that came out wrong. Of course I feel terrible he got hurt. What I meant was I am glad that circumstances pushed us together and you agreed to work with me. I admit I was pissed at first that I couldn’t train with Lewis and then was annoyed that you seemed put off by working with me, like you were doing me a favor.” Sabrina disclosed.
“Actually”, she laughed, “I got in my car from the airport with guns blazing planning on letting you know just how lucky you were to work with me.”
“Oh really? What stopped you?” Zach asked with a smile.
“My car. My car stopped and in turn, stopped me. By the time I actually met you and rode the first few horses, I realized I was the lucky one. I’m really pleased you have taken me on.”
“Sabrina, you ride really well and I think you actually will give me a run for my money in the ring soon. But I have to admit; I wasn’t looking forward to working with you. I told you I don’t like teaching others to begin with. I would rather work with the horses. When Lewis told me about you, I figured you were a diva and I wanted no part of it. Actually Lewis has to do all of the client smoozing at the next several events when he is back in exchange for me agreeing to help you. When I got you on the phone about the horses being delayed, you confirmed all of my fears about being a diva.” Zach offered.
Zach sat back and watched her try to contain her reaction. She was losing the battle.
“Now you see here…” Sabrina started.
“I said I wasn’t looking forward to working with you. That was before. I am now.” Zach offered as a peace offering.
“What? Oh.”
She laughed.
“I don’t know whether to be pissed off or feel complimented,” she laughed.
“What changed your mind about working with me?” she asked.
“Your apology.”
“What apology?” Sabrina asked curiously.
“We were on the phone and you went off on me about the horses being delayed. When you understood what the real situation was, you apologized. You took the horses welfare and put it first and then realized what an ass you were and took responsibility.”
“An ass? Really?” Sabrina said sharply.
“Yes, you were an ass. You know it.” Zach said with a smile.
“Do you speak to all of your clients like this?” Sabrina said with a raised eyebrow.
“No. I won’t work with any other clients, remember?” Zach said off-handily.
“It’s no wonder.” Sabrina mumbled.
“Seriously, you apologizing changed everything. And then when I saw you ride today, I was glad for it. You’ve got a great set of horses. You are hungry to learn, listen very well and do exactly what I tell you. And you have a natural feel. That’s all enjoyable to work with so I’m looking forward to it.” Zach said looking directly into her eyes.”
He broke the moment by saying, “What I’m not enjoying are the mosquitos.”
“Oh, they aren’t biting me! Let me go get some citronella candles from the garage.”
Chapter 22
In a flash she was in the house scurrying to the garage door. She came out a minute later with her back pushing the door open and handed him two candles.
“I’ll be back in a minute. I need to get a lighter.” Sabrina said on her way back into the house.
Zach set up the candles and went back inside the kitchen to refill their wine glasses. He put the glasses on the shelf and went to grab a paper towel to wipe the small drops that leaked from the bottle onto the floor. At that moment, Sabrina came around the corner with lighter in hand and lost her footing on the now slippery floor.
As she went to lose her balance, Zach grabbed he
r around the waist, catching her before she fell. He pulled her in close to him as he tried to help her get her balance. She, out of reflex, grabbed the front of his shirt.
“Oh!” Sabrina exclaimed.
She was now mere inches from him. He was staring at her lips. She could just lean over and rub her lips across his, they were that close.
And then she did.
She did it without thinking about what she was really doing and as soon as she realized what she did, her eyes flew to his. She saw they had turned smoky and were full of heat. As soon as her eyes reached his, she watched him become undone.
