Page 262 of A King's Oath

“Two more minutes,” she answered, her face darting to him. It darted back to the road but not before slowing in its arc. She had read on his face what he had meant.

Quietly, slowly, her mouth curled in a tiny semblance of a smile. As if she was still tentative. He would work his way through that tentativeness, making those smiles come as easy as Brahmi’s giggles. Samarth glanced back at the two kids in the backseat — trading barbs in their kiddie language. Sharan just knew how to belong to anybody — young or old. Younger always worked better though.

And just like that, as the car turned into the open gates of Valmont Polo Équestre, birdsong spilling from the crack in Ava’s window, he was sure. They were almost there.

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“Papa, helmet,” Brahmi raised her face and he pushed the visor up before it slid down again on her forehead.

“This new helmet is loose for you, beta,” he reached under her chin to work on the strap. “Wear your old one. I’ll have this tightened…”

“No, I want this!” She nudged her chin higher. He bent on one knee and looked at the strap adjustments.

“I told you we are not buying a new helmet, only seeing,” Ava reminded him. Samarth didn’t want to open his mouth now. He had convinced them to buy the helmet on their trip to Paris, citing it as an investment for Brahmi’s next year’s course. She had looked at it with such longing eyes that he had to have it. If Ava wouldn’t have given in, he would have bought it on the side and brought it to his daughter sometime later.

“Tighten here, Coach,” Ava helped him, holding the strap down.

“No need to rub it in,” he held back a smile.

“I am just helping.”

He glanced up and she had a look. The night-Ava look. Definitely not helping.

“Papa!” Brahmi vibrated, her hands coming to his shoulders to hold him as well as bring his attention back.

“I’m doing it, I’m doing it.”

The whistle of her trainer echoed across the pen and she began to simmer. “Papa!”

“Done,” he clicked the strap closed and tested the helmet. It wasn’t a permanent fix but it would hold for today. He would fix it before her next lesson. Brahmi didn’t even wait for him to straighten the strap, just grabbed her mallet and ran, swinging it in her right hand. He had promised her he would take her on a horse with him to show her the neck swing after her lesson.

“You would make a very hot coach, Sam,” Ava sidled up to him.

“What are you doing, madam? I have a girlfriend.”

“Your virtue is safe with me, monsieur.”

“Please. I have a daughter,” he stepped up to the fence and braced his arms on the wooden rail. She came up behind him, her body rubbing up against his side.

“She looks cute. Her mother must be cuter.”

Samarth laughed, glancing at Ava pulling away with a naughty, hopeful grin.

“Ava-worship always wins, isn’t it?”

She shrugged — “Admit it, her mother is cuter.”

“No way. My daughter is cuter. In fact, I would go as far as to say that she is the cutest…”

“Hé, Ava!” Delacour walked up to them, his eyes not even checking out the kids climbing up their ponies. What kind of overseeing was he doing when his gaze was on Ava?

“Bonjour, Vince,” Ava leaned across the rail just as he pressed a kiss to her cheek, then another one closer to her mouth. Samarth stiffened.

“Ca a été lent ici sans toi,” [94]he flirted, leaning back but still holding onto her elbow on the rail.

“Brahmi n'a pas eu ses leçons.” [95]

“Vous savez que vous êtes toujours les bienvenus. Je sais combien elle adore ça.”[96]

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