Their Forbidden Horse Lover

The journey home was a blur of exhaustion and jet lag.

The flight into Heathrow had been delayed, naturally.

And of course, a cold drizzle was soaking the tarmac when they finally landed.

Liam had insisted she stay the night at Willow Creek Farm.

Amelia woke in Liam’s bed, with Chloe curled beside her.

Her body ached in a deeply satisfying way, muscles sore and skin still humming.

Morning began with slow, tangled sex, first with Liam, then with Chloe joining in.

It led to a very late breakfast.

Liam handed Amelia the keys to his battered Defender with a solemnity usually reserved for royal ceremonies.

She felt a flutter of nervous energy as she slid into the driver’s seat.

Guiding the old Land Rover down the winding lane toward her own property, the late morning sun gilded the hedgerows.

But a persistent, pleasant soreness between her legs was a constant reminder of the night.

Chloe bounced excitedly in the passenger seat.

“I can’t wait! Brujo must be going crazy without me.”

Amelia smiled.

“How can you be sure? Maybe Megan has been spoiling him rotten.”

Genuine panic flashed in Chloe’s eyes.

Amelia sometimes forgot Chloe was only sixteen.

The tires crunched on the gravel drive as they entered the stable yard.

Megan was leaning against the paddock fence, her face lighting up at the sight of them.

Eleanor, from the feed store in Willow Creek Valley, had given Megan a glowing recommendation.

“About time you showed up,” Megan called, wiping her hands on her work pants. “These two have been a proper nightmare.”

She jerked a thumb toward the stables.

“Like they’ve had rockets up their backsides. Especially Brujo. Pacing and calling for you, Chloe. Nearly took the door off its frame.”

Chloe didn’t need to hear more.

She was over the fence in one fluid motion, a cloud of dust marking her sprint to the stable block.

Amelia followed at a slower pace, her thighs protesting, but a wave of pure joy washed over the discomfort.

She pulled a slightly creased cheque from her pocket, smoothing it out.

“A full month, plus a bonus for dealing with the drama,” Amelia said, handing it over.

Megan’s eyes widened at the figure, then she gave a firm nod.

The heavy stable doors swung open under Chloe’s push.

The warm, familiar smell of hay, leather, and horse filled the air.

A deep, rumbling nicker came from the shadows before Amelia saw him—Diesel Dan.

The sound vibrated right through her core.

Brujo answered immediately, kicking his stall door with impatient force.

Chloe laughed, breathless, struggling with the latch.

“Oh, I missed you so much…”

Her words were cut off as Brujo buried his head against her, breathing her in.

Megan neatly folded the cheque and tucked it into her shirt pocket.

“Right,” she said, nodding toward the noisy reunion. “I’ll leave you to it. They won’t want anyone else now.”

She walked to her dirt-splattered car parked by the barn.

Amelia caught her shaking her head, a mix of amusement and affection.

The engine sputtered to life.

Megan rolled down the window just enough to yell, “Try to keep the walls standing!” before the car bumped away down the drive.

The rest of the day was spent cleaning, organizing, and reconnecting.