Page 55 of Enemies with an Earl
Felix sniggered.
“And Felix… You know Thorne is safe now. Devonford Castle isn’t all that different from home.”
“True.” And wasn’t that an amazing discovery? Places like this were a very rare find in their world.
“Well, might as well have as much fun as you can while you’re here, then.” Felicity’s amber eyes flashed with devilry. “Don’t let that trifle go to waste.”
Felix’s lips pulled up in a smile, and he rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. His sister was right. He and Thorne seemed to be getting past their differences, and even ignoring their rough start, Felix couldn’t deny they were explosive behind closed doors. The man was everything Felix had ever longed for, and never thought he’d ever have the chance to experience.
Besides, weddings were a cause for celebration, weren’t they? Felix ought to celebrate as often as he was able before he had to travel back home.
28
Sam
Samhoppedontothethree-rail fence surrounding the training ring. “How’s Russet’s progress?” he called to Ash, who was currently riding a dark bay gelding around the paddock.
Ash slowed his mount and guided him over to where Sam stood. Russet instantly nudged his black muzzle into Sam’s chest. Sam shot out a hand to the top rail to keep himself from being shoved backward by the over-affectionate beast. He gave the happy horse a generous scratch under his jaw.
“Ready for his new home,” Ash said. “He’s a healthy weight now, and his skittishness is completely gone.”
“Poor lad,” Sam crooned to Russet. “You just want to be loved, don’t you, boy?” He could relate to the sweet lad.
The horse let out a rumbling whicker and then proceeded to try to nibble off Sam’s ear. He chuckled and leaned away from the ticklish sensation skittering over his skin.
He found Ash’s gaze. “You almost done here? I want to hear how last night went.”
Ash’s cheeks reddened lightly, and Sam’s eyebrows lifted. “I already told you when you were assisting me into my riding attire that she said yes.”
“That tells me nothing,” Sam said with a roll of his eyes. “Did she make you work for it? Get down on your knees and beg?” He bounced his eyebrows. “Get down on your knees and…other things?”
Ash pulled Russet away from the rail and gently kicked him into a trot. “I’m taking Russet for a ride. We’ll have to talk later,” he called over his shoulder.
“I’ve been feeling a ride,” Sam called back. “I’ll join you.”
Ash didn’t respond, but Sam didn’t miss his friend shaking his head. Pshh. Ash knew better. It wasn’t that easy to deter Sam.
Twenty minutes later, they were riding side by side on the path that led to Willow Grove. “All right. Stop redirecting. I didn’t go through all that trouble dragging that mattress up there to not get details. I wedged myself in the stairwell for a good thirty minutes before I was able to pry the bleeding thing free.”
Ash’s lips twitched. “Thank you for that, by the way.” Ash caught Sam’s eye quickly before looking ahead again. “Came in quite handy,” he said quietly. “And the candles were an amazing touch. Had no idea you were such a secret romantic.”
Sam shrugged indifferently, even as his gut squirmed. Ash said it as a jest, but the truth of it was, Sam wasn’t just a secret romantic, he was a complete sap. Courtship? Spoiling the person he was with? Affectionate gestures? Sam loved it all. He just…would never have someone to do those things for. It wasn’t as though he was going to do those things for the casual liaisons he had in the local village.
And a true relationship—love—wasn’t for him. His heart tightened. He’d blindly trusted others to love him in the past. He wasn’t ever making that mistake again. And he definitely wasn’t giving someone else that kind of devotion only for them to turn around and abuse it. Betray him. But Ash…Ash deserved to finally find his happiness, and Sam was more than willing to offer up his romantic gestures for his friend.
“Of course,” Sam said. “I knew you had quite a bit of groveling to do. It was the least I could do to help my best mate out.” Sam winked to cover up the ache in his chest.
Ash studied him for a moment, and Sam knew his friend was seeing more than he let on. But blessedly, he let it slide. Ash seemed to have a knack for knowing when to prod and when to pull back. All his years working with horses had him more perceptive than most.
“She let me off much too easy. I had this grand speech planned, noting all the ways I botched things and my apologies, a sunset picnic… But it all fell apart when I saw her.”
“I’m not surprised. You’re a milksop for that woman.”
Ash smiled sheepishly. “Can you blame me?”
Sam’s thoughts drifted to a different Jennings sibling. No, he couldn’t blame Ash. There was something about that family. They were extremely hard to resist, had this magnetic pull.
It was blasted annoying.
