Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
She shrugs off my question. “I’m not necessarily hesitating about a horse in particular. I’m just wondering if I should shop around first. I don’t want to make a rash decision just because it’s an easy choice and I can afford it.”
I laugh because this is very unlike my sister. She’s all about easy decisions and tossing money at the things she wants. “How can you even question it? You’ve been a customer at Blackburn Farms almost your entire life.”
Michelle is the quintessential Blackburn customer, having ridden horses there as a young girl and throughout her teenage years. She gave up competition and riding in general when she went off to college but has always supported the saddlebred competition world and passed on her love of it to Carmen.
I know from watching her ride back in the day and the way she’s cheering on Carmen that Michelle implicitly trusts the horse being offered to them. “You trust Ethan Blackburn on any matter regarding any horse, so why are you hesitating now?”
Michelle shrugs and doesn’t answer, instead picking up her margarita on the rocks and taking a delicate sip.
I narrow my eyes at her evasiveness. I wasn’t into horses growing up the way Michelle was. I’m all about music and art. But over the years I’ve become casually acquainted with the instructors and trainers at Blackburn since I attended my sister’s shows and would sometimes watch her train. I’ve also never missed one of Carmen’s shows and never will, because being divorced and childless at thirty-four, I’m pretty certain my chance at kids is over.
I don’t know Ethan Blackburn personally, having only seen him around at various shows, but I know who he is. I know the entire Blackburn family, not just from Michelle and Carmen’s dealings with them, but because they are one of the most prominent families in Kentucky. But I only know Ethan by sight and what Michelle has said about him.
I’ve seen him in the barn a few times while we were there checking out Lady Beatrice, but I don’t know him well enough to level a smile his way when he glances at me and Michelle. I’ve never so much as said hello to him in the handful of times our paths have crossed over the years.
Not that I would know what to say if he dared talk to me. That man is so gorgeous, he’d likely put me into a perpetual tongue-tie. He’s also too serious looking, always bearing an expression as if he doesn’t have time for even a hello and doing so would be an imposition. He’s far more intimidating than gorgeous, which means it’s a waste of space for him to occupy my thoughts.
I push that aside and niggle again at my sister. “Seriously… buy the damn horse.”
Michelle’s eyes twinkle with mischief. “Yeah, I should buy the damn horse. Carmen loves it and it’s going to level up her riding. I’ve got plans later today but I can cut the check right now. You think you could run it by Blackburn Farms on your way home since you go right by there? Hand it over to Ethan?”
I know every intonation in my sister’s voice and this one narrows my eyes. “Why do you need me to run the check over today? I’m sure if you just called him and told him you’re going to buy the horse, he can wait for you to bring the check.”
“I don’t want them to sell the horse out from under me.”
I roll my eyes at her obvious lie. “They are not going to sell the horse out from under you if you tell them you want it. It’s a quarter-of-a-million-dollar horse and it’s not the first expensive one you’ve bought from them. I’m quite confident they’ll keep it for you.”
“Oh, come on,” Michelle exclaims with a quirk of her lips. “Wouldn’t you like a tiny opportunity to have some one-on-one time with Ethan Blackburn?”
My mouth falls open, so low and wide that I’m surprised my jaw doesn’t dislocate. My sister has never once vocalized such a preposterous thought and she’s only doing so now because she suspects something.
But what in the hell could she think is going on in my head? I’ve never mentioned Ethan’s name or shown any interest in the man.
Ever.
Sure, I think he’s the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen but that is my secret and while Michelle and I are thick as thieves, I’ve never once admitted such an attraction. It’s silly, flighty, without substance and not worth mentioning. It would never amount to anything other than appreciation of a fine male specimen.
Hell, I think that about Chris Hemsworth too.
Michelle grins at me and it makes me hot under the collar. To prove how well she knows me, she nods from across the table. “You’re really kind of obvious when you’re around him.”