Playing the Part
745 Words
Khan had never ridden a horse in her life.
She had barely finished breakfast before she was thrown into yet another "test"—this time, a polo match. Apparently, nothing screamed Carter-worthy like riding a horse while swinging a mallet at a tiny ball.
As she stood by the stables, watching the grooms prepare the horses, she felt completely out of place. She might have been dressed the part—thanks to an expensive riding outfit Liam’s staff had provided—but she felt like a fraud.
Beside her, Liam adjusted his gloves, looking as effortlessly composed as ever.
"You ever played polo before?" he asked casually.
Khan scoffed. "Do I look like I grew up riding horses for fun?"
A flicker of amusement crossed his face, but he hid it well. "Just follow my lead. Don’t embarrass yourself."
"Wow, what an inspiring pep talk," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
As if sensing her nerves, Liam suddenly stepped closer. Before she could react, he reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear with a gentleness she hadn't expected.
Khan blinked up at him, caught off guard. It was just a small gesture, but it sent a shiver down her spine. For a moment, the world around them faded, the distant chatter of the Carter family drowned out by the intensity of his gaze.
"You’ll be fine," he said, his voice lower, softer.
It was an act. She knew that. He knew that. But for some reason, her heart skipped a beat anyway.
---
The polo match was a disaster.
At least, for Khan.
While Liam rode with the confidence of someone who had grown up around horses, she was barely managing to stay on. Every time she tried to hit the ball, she missed, and the few times she did make contact, it went in the wrong direction.
Harold watched from the sidelines, his sharp eyes assessing her every move. Khloe, of course, was thriving, her practiced grace on full display as she scored point after point.
Khan was struggling—until Liam decided to intervene.
At one point, as her horse started moving too fast, she panicked slightly, gripping the reins tighter.
"Relax," Liam’s voice came from beside her as he rode up alongside her. "You're holding it too stiffly."
She shot him a glare. "Oh, sorry, let me just magically become a professional equestrian."
He smirked, then reached over, his fingers brushing against hers as he adjusted her grip.
Khan swallowed hard. His touch was warm, steadying. And for a brief moment, she wasn’t just an outsider trying to survive this weekend—she was a woman being gently guided by her fiancé.
Fake. It was all fake.
And yet, the way his hands lingered on hers, the way his voice dropped ever so slightly when he spoke to her—it felt dangerously real.
"Better?" he asked, his breath close to her ear.
Khan forced herself to nod. "Yeah."
She could hear Khloe scoffing in the distance.
Good. Let her watch.
---
By the time the match ended, Khan was exhausted, her legs sore from gripping the saddle. She had barely made any points, but she had managed not to fall off, which she considered a personal victory.
As they dismounted, Harold approached, his expression unreadable.
"You’re not a natural," he said bluntly.
Khan sighed. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
Harold studied her, then glanced at Liam. "But you don’t give up. I respect that."
Khan blinked. That almost sounded like… approval?
Before she could respond, Liam casually slid an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
"She’s full of surprises," he said, his tone casual, but his touch firm.
Khan stiffened for a fraction of a second before forcing herself to relax into him, letting her hand rest on his chest like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Harold's gaze lingered on them for a moment longer before he simply nodded and walked away.
As soon as he was gone, Khan stepped away from Liam, fixing him with a look. "Really?"
Liam smirked. "Seemed like the right move."
Khan narrowed her eyes. "You enjoyed that."
His smirk widened. "Not entirely."
She huffed and turned away—but not before catching the faintest trace of amusement in his eyes.
This weekend was turning out to be more dangerous than she had expected. And not just because of Harold’s tests.
- Writer
