Page 15 of The Past

He didn’t rise to the bait over my slight dig at his breed.I only did it to see if he was the type to anger or to laugh it off.

He did neither, angling to face me.“You ride?”

“Of course,” I said, as if that was a ludicrous question.“I’m good, if not better than ye.Been in a saddle since I could walk.”

“Want to wager on that?”The clear mischief in his response did not put me off.

I tipped my head.“Like what?”

“A race around the track.”

“And if ye win?”

“A kiss,” he replied, brash as could be and not a lick of shame on his pretty face.

I wrinkled my nose in a grand display of disgust.“I think I’d rather kiss a pig.”

He was completely forward and it was quite unseemly, but I didn’t take him further to task because he tipped his head back and laughed with pure delight.When his blue eyes landed back on mine, he winked.“I kiss way better than a pig, trust me on that.”

I ignored the tiny shiver that went up my spine as I spent only two seconds imagining such a kiss.Such thoughts were not banished by my own fortitude but rather a change in subject.“Do you do any equine sports?”he asked.

“Steeplechase,” I replied without thought, although I had not technically run an actual race.“I mean… I’m training for that with Rory.”

His eyebrows lifted slightly, holding my gaze.“Now that’s something I’d like to see.”

I ignored the heat that flared in my chest because I wasn’t sure if he meant he’d like to see steeplechase in general, or me on a horse racing and jumping obstacles.

The fact I even wondered about it had me continuing our walk and I took the moment to point out Conlan Manor in the distance.“That’s my home over there.Rory has a cottage near the training center and all those barns to the east are the breeding portion of Glenhaven.”

“It’s beautiful,” Tommy murmured.While the sky was still overcast, the morning mist had evaporated, and I always thought that the green of the pastures and hills seemed more vibrant under dark skies than full sunlight.“Reminds me of Kentucky.”

“How so?”I asked.

“Green rolling hills.Nothing prettier, except maybe your eyes.”

I scoffed and ignored his flirting.

When we reached the breeding barns, I pointed to the different buildings, explaining the operation.“This is where the stallions are kept.The broodmares are housed farther down, closer to the foaling barns.”

Tommy nodded, clearly impressed.“It’s a hell of a setup.Similar to how we have things at Blackburn, but I’m sure I’m going to learn a thing or two.”

I let pride get the better of me.“Glenhaven is one of the top thoroughbred farms in Ireland.I sure hope ye can learn a thing or two.”

He studied my face thoughtfully.“The lady is displeased that I’m not more awed by the operation here.But how can you expect me to be when I’m so dazzled by your beauty, I can’t really see anything else?”

“Jaysus.”I snorted.“Did ye rehearse that in the mirror?If that’s yer best attempt at charm, ye might want to give it another go.”

The arrogant bastard smiled bigger, unperturbed.I opened my mouth to really lay into him because his audacity at flirting with me was so… so… well, it wasn’t working.That’s for sure.

“Fiona.”

I cringed, my shoulder hunching inward as I heard my father’s voice, and I was dismayed to see that Tommy noted my reaction.His frown quickly smoothed as we turned to face Seamus Conlan bearing down on us across a gravel parking lot outside the broodmare barn where we’d been talking.

My father approached, glancing to Tommy with a flicker of curiosity before settling on me.

“Fiona,” he said, his tone clipped.“What are ye doing?”

I straightened my spine, clasped my hands in front of me and called upon every reserve of etiquette I had left.“Uncle Rory asked me to give Mr.Blackburn a tour.He’s going to be staying at Glenhaven for the summer.Father… let me introduce ye to Tommy Blackburn of Blackburn Farms in Shelbyville, Kentucky.”I turned to look at Tommy.“My father, Seamus Conlan.”

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