Bethany grinned. “I’m around horses all day. I’m not easily offended by that sort of thing.”
Carol and Wynn arrived and more introductions were made. Bethany saw that everyone brought something to the lunch while Pallas provided a chicken and pasta main course.
Once they were all seated, dishes were passed around.
“So,” Natalie said, leaning toward Bethany. “Tell us what it’s like in El Bahar. Where do you live? Do you really work in the royal stables? What’s that like? Have you ever seen the king in person? Oooh, what about the princes? Are they cute like William and Harry?”
“That’s a lot of questions,” Bethany said, wondering how many she could answer without actually lying. She liked these women and didn’t want to deceive them.
“You don’t have to answer any of them,” Carol told her. “We’re all just so curious about you. You’re so exotic, while our lives are ordinary.”
Silver rolled her eyes. “Don’t listen to her. She’s madly in love and that’s never ordinary. Oh, and that one, too.” She pointed at Pallas.
Pallas waved her left hand, showing off her engagement ring.
Bethany wondered if her envy showed. Finding the right guy and falling in love was what most women wanted at some point in their lives, including her. Being who she was added a whole layer of complications she had yet to navigate successfully.
Natalie turned to Bethany. “So... El Bahar. Tell us.”
“It’s very beautiful, right on the Arabian Sea. The people are warm and friendly and the country is progressive.” She added salad to her plate. “I do work in the royal stables and I have a nice apartment nearby.”
Which wasn’t technically a lie. The palace was close to the stables.
“My mom and I moved there when I was nine. She was hired to be a math teacher at the American School. She met a man and fell in love, so we stayed.”
“What about the princes?” Wynn asked. “I’m not sure I’m up for a real relationship but a fling with a prince sounds nice.”
Bethany shook her head. “I’m sorry to have to say that the king’s oldest son is only a teenager and the king’s brothers are married.”
“Foiled again,” Wynn said. “Please tell me someone brought dessert.”
Everyone laughed.
Conversation moved on to more neutral topics. Pallas talked about an upcoming wedding and how she and Nick were heading to Italy in a couple of months. Carol mentioned her sister, Violet, who had just moved to England with her fiancé. Natalie’s car was hanging on by a thread and she was hoping it held out until she could afford a new-to-her replacement.
Bethany listened more than she talked. She liked the easy friendship between the women and the way they included her. Sure, it was only one lunch but she had a feeling she was going to miss a lot more than just Rida when she returned to El Bahar.
*
CADE SAT ON the fence watching Beth canter Rida around the ring. His attention was neatly torn in two. The male part of him appreciated how she moved with the horse and how good she looked doing it. That side of his brain was remembering their kiss and wanting more.
The rest of him coveted her relationship with the stallion. He wanted that easy communication and trust. He’d always had an affinity for horses—why would it be different with Rida?
She eased him into a walk, then directed him to the fence.
“I know what you’re thinking,” she said as she brought the horse to a stop. “I guess it’s going to have to happen eventually.”
Cade’s gut tightened. “What are we talking about?” he asked, keeping his voice light. He doubted his luck was good enough for her to be thinking sex.
“You want to ride him. I can tell.” Her expression was doubtful. “We’ve had trouble with him before, just so you know. But he’s your horse and I guess this is as good a time as any.”
So not sex, he thought as he jumped to the ground and approached the horse. But a close second.
He stroked Rida’s neck, then shoulder. Beth slid to the ground and moved to Rida’s head.
“I need you to be a good boy,” she murmured. “Cade’s your new owner. You’re going to have to get along with him eventually.”
Cade adjusted the stirrups to the right length, put his left foot in one and swung onto the saddle. He found his seat immediately and kept a light but firm hold on the reins.
Even standing still, Rida was powerful. He could feel the controlled energy, the potential. Running flat out with him would be—
One second he was comfortably seated, the next he was flying through the air. The ground rushed up to meet him and he landed flat on his back with a thud. Rida casually trotted to the far side of the ring while Beth hurried to Cade’s side.
“Don’t move,” she said as she dropped to her knees. Concern darkened her blue eyes. “You’ve had the wind knocked out of you. It’s going to seem like you can’t breathe, but you’re fine. Just take it slow. Let your body relax for a second, then inhale. Shallow at first but deeper with each breath.”
While the words were designed to be comforting, this was not his first rodeo. He waited until he’d caught his breath to say, “I’ve been thrown a time or two.”
He shifted on the ground to make sure all the moving parts were still working, then sat up and looked at the horse.
“I didn’t see that coming.”
She sighed. “I had a feeling.”
“You didn’t want to warn me?”
“I told you we’d had trouble with him before. What do you think that meant? That he’d been pouty?”
Cade felt himself start to smile. “You have some attitude on you.”
“Well, yeah. I’m not the one who was just thrown by a horse. How are you feeling?”
“Nothing’s broken and you only have one head, so I’d say I’m fine.”
She scrambled to her feet and held out her hand, as if to help him to his feet. Seriously? Of course it was an excuse to touch her, even for a second, so he took it and stood.
She released him, but stayed close. “Still okay?”
“Never better.” He glanced at Rida. “Although he and I are going to be having a conversation, man-to-man.”
“Good luck with that.”
She whistled. Rida’s ears perked up, then he turned and walked directly toward her.
“Show-off,” Cade grumbled.
“I know. I can’t help it.” She reached for the reins. “He’s really sorry.”
“No, he’s not. Does he let anyone ride him but you?”
“My father’s been on him and he wasn’t thrown.”
“Good. I just need to know I stand a chance.”
Rida would have to get used to multiple riders. It might take a while, but Cade knew the horse could be trained. He was intelligent and had a good temperament, and both would work in Cade’s favor.
He returned his attention to Beth. “You know what you’re doing. Let me know if you’re ever looking for work.”
Her eyebrows rose as a dozen different expressions chased across her face. “You’re offering me a job?”
“Would you take it if I did?”
“I would be tempted, but it’s...complicated.”