EMILY
Like I said... I hated all of this.
The sun. The dust. The weird smell of hay and horse sweat. The way Nicholas was watching me like I was part of some grand experiment.
But mostly, I hated the smug look on his face when I finally got the rhythm, the horse moving at a steady walk beneath me.
“Not bad, mia cara,” he said, lounging against the fence like he had all the time in the world.
It was the first compliment he’d given me, and I hated… hated how my heart reacted like it was some stupid, lovesick thing.
“I’m not going to thank you.”
“I wouldn’t want you to.”
He said it like it meant nothing. Then, without another word, he turned and walked away. No lingering glance. No cocky grin. Just left me there stewing in my own confused thoughts.
“Is he always like that?” I asked
