Road to Victory (Dogs of Fire Book 5) (8 page)

I glanced at the clock. 2:00 a.m. Shoving the comforter away from me, I climbed off the bed, stripped the mattress, and grabbed fresh sheets. I had a show in the morning and the last thing I needed was to drag my horse down if I was tired.

I took another shower in an effort to wash the dream away then climbed back into bed. Unfortunately, 6:00 a.m. came far too quickly and I dressed in a haze. It took everything I had just to get out of bed. Snatching up the bag I’d packed the day before with a change of clothes, I grabbed my keys and headed out to my car. My horse, Fozzie, was already at the show grounds, so at least I didn’t have to haul him there as well.

I made it from my place to the Wilsonville show grounds in record time, arriving two full hours before the first event. Dumping my purse in the trunk of my car, I walked down the aisle-way of temporary stalls from our barn and smiled as Fozzie poked his head out and whinnied. I didn’t expect Dani to poke hers out as well. “Hey, honey.”

She was pregnant with her first child, a boy, and due in a couple of months, and I was surprised Booker let her out of his sight, even for a few hours.

“Hey, Dani,” I said, dropping my car keys into my trunk. “What are you doing here?”

She smiled. “Um,
hello
, biggest show of the year and you didn’t think I’d be here?”

I giggled. “Let me rephrase... what are you doing here so freakin’ early?”

“The guys got an early morning call out and believe me, I’d rather be here than thinking about whatever the hell Austin’s running into.”

“Is it dangerous?” I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

“I don’t know, but my man’s covered.” Dani gave her a knowing smile. “As is yours.”

“Knight’s not my man.”

“I don’t recall saying Knight,” Dani mused. “How interesting.”

“Bite me.” I grabbed a brush and stepped into the stall, handing Fozzie a peppermint. My black Arabian gelding had a papered name of Farzuk, but to me, he was way more Fozzie Bear than Farzuk, so the nickname had stuck. “Does Booker know you’re seven months pregnant and standing in the “devil’s” stall?”

Booker was afraid of Fozzie, insomuch that he would admit he was afraid of anything, but when it came to his wife, he worried my horse may trample her or some other kind of nonsense.

“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” Dani retorted.

I laughed and we spent the next hour making Fozzie pretty while
not
talking about Knight.

* * *

“Kimberly Church riding Farzuk,” the announcer called.

“Okay, boy, you ready?” I trotted out into the arena and nodded to the judges and then it was our time to perform.

Fozzie threw his head up and then settled as I brought him back under me. I had to get a clean round
and
beat the time, so there was extra pressure, especially considering Marla had just jumped and was in first place. She’d jumped the only clean round, but she hadn’t beaten the clock, so I had to do both. She’d been my competition since we were ten, and she just wouldn’t die (figuratively... maybe).

I was signaled to begin and we were off. All thoughts of anything other than clearing the jumps and keeping Fozzie from flying to the moon left my mind. We were a team and we had always moved like one. The jumps were only one-point-two meters, easy for us, but I refused to get complacent. Anything could go wrong and I knew all too well the easiest courses could be the most hairy for Fozzie. He didn’t like easy and I had a harder time keeping him calm and centered when he wasn’t challenged.

My heart dropped when I heard the crack of his hoof hitting a rail, but focused and pulled him back under me for the next jump. “Okay, buddy,” I whispered. “It’s okay.” I had no idea if he’d dropped it, so I just had to keep going. I approached the last jump, cleared it, but heard the buzz of the timer, and tried not to show my disappointment. I heard Dani’s holler and rode Fozzie out of the arena.

Dani rushed up to us a stupid grin on her face. “You tied with Marla.”

“I did?” I asked, craning my neck to look back at the course. “I thought we dropped one.”

“Nope. It shook a little, but it stayed up.”

I let out a sigh of relief and patted Fozzie’s neck. “Oh, you brilliant boy.”

Dani nodded her agreement.

“Okay, I’m going to walk him around a bit.”

“Knight’s here.”

“What?” I squeaked, pulling Fozzie to a stop again. “When did he get here?”

“About twenty minutes ago, I think.” She smiled up at me. “Mack and Darien are here as well. Austin’s coming later.”

I dismounted and slid Fozzie’s reins over his head. “Why is Knight here?”

Dani shrugged. “He didn’t say.”

“Danielle Harris Carver, what aren’t you telling me?” I demanded.

Before she could tell me, Knight’s sexy voice said, “Hey.”

My head went up and Dani turned to face him.

“Hey, Knight,” Dani said, and then smiled at me. “I’ll just go over—”

“Don’t you dare move,” I snapped under my breath.

Dani raised an eyebrow and sidestepped away from me. I gave her a look that I hoped accurately relayed how badly she was going to suffer when I killed her later. She bit back a giggle and gave me an annoying little wave.

I was distracted from my murderous thoughts by Knight who appeared to be turning my horse against me. Fozzie was craning his neck to nuzzle him (the traitor) and Knight chuckled and handed him a peppermint.

I watched him... Knight, that is... and forced my body to relax. He wore dark jeans, cowboy boots (God, still just as sexy as his motorcycle boots, damn it!), and, under his leather jacket, a long-sleeved, black ribbed T-shirt. His longish dark hair was swept away from his face and I found myself biting my lip.

Knight smiled and my stomach did this weird flip-flop thing. “You looked really great out there.”

“You saw me?” I asked, attempting nonchalance.

“Yeah, babe. Been here about an hour.”

“I thought it was twenty minutes,” I said, and realized I probably looked like I cared. “Or something,” I added in a grumble.

“Saw Dani about twenty minutes ago,” he provided.

“Whatever.” I shrugged. “You do you.”

He grinned and ran his hand over Fozzie’s neck. “When you approach those two oxers, change your lead.”

“Excuse me?”

“The reason he tapped that rail is because he was approaching on his left lead,” Knight said. “He doesn’t like it.”

“What would a cowboy like you know about that anyway?” I narrowed my eyes. “What are you even doing here?”

“Babe, I’m not your enemy.”

I took a deep breath and shook my head. “I know you’re not my enemy.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes.” I squared my shoulders. I’d take the high road, even if it killed me. “I apologize if I’ve made you feel that way.”

“So fuckin’ beautiful... and so fuckin’ oblivious.”

“What am I oblivious to?” I challenged.

Without answering, he gave me another sexy smile, patted Fozzie again, and then walked away. I dropped my head on Fozzie’s shoulder. “I’m such an idiot.”

“So?” Dani returned looking a bit like the evil shit stirrer she was.

“I was a bitch, I tried to fix it, he called me oblivious and then he left. End of story.”

“Well, he nailed you,” she said.

“Excuse me? What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Kimmie, put your sword away,” Dani breathed out. “Knight’s not stupid. He knows how you feel about him. I don’t understand why you have this wall up with him. What’s the hang up?”

Before I could say anything, strong arms lifted me off my feet from behind. “You looked fuckin’ amazing out there,” Mack growled.

I laughed and turned to face him, hugging him, then Darien. “Hi, you two. I can’t believe you’re here.”

“Mack got done earlier than expected, I’m not writing today, and Flick offered to babysit Harper, so I begged,” Darien said. She was a New York Times Bestselling author and the movie adaptation of her first book had been a sales hit, which meant the second one was currently in production.

Darien was also newly pregnant with their second child and dealing with morning sickness, but she looked healthy and gorgeous now. She’d pulled her dark red hair back in a ponytail which suited her.

“You didn’t have to beg,” Mack countered.

Darien giggled. “But you like it when I do.”

“Ohmigod,
way
too much information,” I complained.

“Kimberly Church and Marla Williams please make your way to the arena for a jump off,” the announcer said over the loudspeaker.

“Ooops, gotta go,” I said.

“Go jump your ass off,” Dani said, and hugged me. “But we’re going to talk about this later... be ready.”

“You don’t scare me,” I quipped as she gave me a leg up.

“I’ll invite Knight to the conversation,” she retorted.

“I hate you,” I sang, my back to her as I guided Fozzie to the arena. I heard her giggle and couldn’t help but smile. Mack and Dani knew entirely too much about my feelings for Knight, which wasn’t good.

Kim

“
O
KAY, BOY, IT’S now or never,” I crooned. “You got this.”

I nodded to the judges, the buzzer sounded, and we took off. We jumped clean, but now it was time for the oxers. Fozzie was on his left lead, so I slid my right foot forward and left foot back and squeezed, doing a flying lead change and focusing dead-ahead on the double. Up and over he flew, then again, didn’t even touch the rails and I realized Knight had been right. We finished the round with two seconds to spare and I let out a giggle that surprised even me as I slapped Fozzie on the neck. “Good boy. You are amazing.”

I bowed again to the judges and we headed out of the arena.

“Well, that was about as perfect as any round could go,” Knight said from his place at the rail.

Thank God I didn’t see him or I probably would have fallen off. “Thanks.”

He closed the distance between us and held Fozzie while I dismounted. “How’d you feel about that lead change?”

“You were right. He sailed over the oxers.”

Knight nodded. “You’re a gifted rider, Kim. Even if you hadn’t listened to me, he would have performed for you.”

I met his eyes and bit my lip. “What are you doing?”

“Whattya mean?”

“You’re being nice. Why are you being nice?”

Knight dropped his head back and laughed. “Babe, I’m always nice.”

“To
me
. You’re being nice to
me
.”

“Fuck me, Kim. I’m always nice to you, too. You just won’t pull your head outta your ass long enough to figure that out.”

I yanked Fozzie’s rein from Knight’s hand and scowled at him. “Well, perhaps you should stop trying.”

“One day, sugar, you and I are going to have a conversation longer than a minute where you won’t be able to run away from me.”

“I don’t run away from anyone.”

“Your fear’s blinding you, Kim, and I’m fuckin’ done with it.”

“Ohmigod, Knight, who the hell do you think you are?”

He slid his hand to my neck and tugged me forward. “I’m the man who’s gonna help you pull your head outta your ass.”

With that, he turned on his heel and sauntered away. I let out a frustrated growl. “I thought this show was for horses only. I didn’t realize jackasses were permitted,” I said with a sigh...not that my horse cared. He was watching Knight walk away. I shook my head and started to lead Fozzie toward the stalls.

“Kim! Wait up,” Ellie Waters said as she rushed toward me. “How do you know Aidan Scott?”

Aidan Scott was
the
trainer if you wanted any shot of making the U.S. Olympic Equestrian team. He cost a mint, but he took riders to the top, so he was worth it. I’d never met him, and I couldn’t imagine a time when I would considering I had no plans to go to the Olympics.

“I don’t know Aidan Scott,” I said.

“Um,
hello
, you were just talking to him.”

Lights began to blink behind my eyes as realization dawned. “I’m sorry?”

“Aidan Scott is the hottie you were just talking to.” Ellie frowned. “Are you okay?”

“Yep, I’m fabulous.”

“So, how do you know him?”

“Um, he’s a friend—emy... frenemy. Why?”

“He’s like the best trainer in the world, duh! Ohmigod, Daddy tried to get him to train me, but he’s booked out like
years
. If you’re friends, or whatever, can you put in a word?”

“With Knight?”

If Knight is in fact Aidan Scott, it’s quite possible I might kill him.
But the truth was, Aidan might be a somewhat common name in the world, but in our circles... not so much. If I didn’t put two-and-two together that they were one in the same, that was on me. My stomach roiled.

“Who’s Knight?” she asked.

“The “hottie” I was just talking to,” I said, feeling a little like I was in the “Who’s on First” sketch.

“You call him Knight?” Ellie let out a loud sigh. “Oh my
god
, that’s hot.”

“Ellie”—I snapped my fingers—“Focus.”

“Right.” Ellie giggled. “So, will you talk to him?”

“Wait, you’re serious?”