Page 4 of My Turkish Fling
She wasn’t the easiest horse, which no one had warned me about. I’d been duped more than once when buying the farm and its animals. In my experience, the country folk absolutely loved tofleece naïve city people who took up farming in their 40s. Being a well-known TV presenter, swindling me probably earned them a special mention. Maybe there was a hall of fame at the local pub. I’d been too scared to visit.
“How did you do that?” I whispered, trying to breathe soundlessly so I wouldn’t disturb the magical scene.
Emir kept his gaze on Molly. There was a strange connection there, a mutual understanding. “She’s in pain.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m trying to give her the medicine, but she freaks out every time I go anywhere near her eye.”
“Do you want me to try?”
My hand shaking, I handed him the eye drop bottle, my muscles tensing as I retreated towards the door. Molly would hate this. She would bolt.
Maintaining eye contact while stroking the horse’s mane, Emir slowly raised his other hand above her head and squeezed the bottle empty, moving his hand so that the medicine fell over her swollen eye like raindrops. Molly shook her head and her hooves clanked against the concrete floor, but she didn’t even rear.
I stared at Emir, stunned silent. He was a foot taller than me, which gave him an advantage, but I could have sworn Molly responded to something about him. A presence. I’d struggled with the temperamental mare for months but in that moment, I understood her. There was something about Emir. Quiet, reserved, dark… even angry, but also earnest. Direct. Something that forced you to pay attention and submit.
I released a pent-up sigh. I wanted to possess that power. Iwanted to find out what his secret was and steal it.
“Do you have another one? She’ll need more later if that doesn’t clear up.” Emir handled back the nearly empty bottle.
“I’ll get more. It’s a lot cheaper than calling the vet.”
“Should we let her out for a walk?” Emir glanced at the door.
“Yeah, sure. She’s usually happy out there, even overnight. I only brought her in so I could try the eye drops again. I already failed once this morning.”
Emir patted Molly and led her through the double doors. I followed at their heels, watching the way he stroked the horse’s mane, my belly wobbling from jealousy. There was so much care and tenderness, and I hadn’t been touched for quite a while. As much as I told myself I was fine, as much as I focused on the positive, I couldn’t help the pang of longing. The sensation zapped through me like a hit from an electric fence, only a little lower. Dang.
He was a treat for the eyes, this dark Turk. Especially from behind, when I couldn’t see that unnerving frown, only the blue dress shirt hugging his broad shoulders, tapering down to a narrow waist. He’d tucked the shirt into a pair of grey dress pants, far too formal for any farm, and way too warm for the weather. But I couldn’t deny how well they accentuated his rear end.
I hurried ahead of them, to stop myself from leering over his form. I’d gone soft in the head, living here all by myself. Had I known I’d one day find myself single out here, I would have never taken the leap. But there was no point in second guessing. I’d made every decision leading up to this moment, and I’d own each oneof them. Janie Andrews wasn’t a quitter.
Emir turned to me. “Do you need to close any gates?”
“No, it’s all fenced. Although the fence is falling apart in a couple of places but Molly’s good. She won’t escape.”
He let go of the horse, but Molly didn’t leave. Not until Emir patted her again, as if giving permission.
As the horse finally launched into a lazy gallop towards the green hill, I edged closer to Emir. “How did you gain her trust like that? I think she’s still wary of me, after eight months.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Maybe you smile too much.”
I nearly protested, until I detected the slightest hint of amusement behind his eyes.
“I’ll try to frown more. Molly seems to love that.” I folded my arms to stop myself from playfully slapping his arm.
I touched people all the time without even noticing. I walked up to my sons and hugged them from behind. I rubbed Aria’s shoulders as I passed her in the office and hugged fans who came to talk to me. But with Emir, I obviously needed to reel in my usual impulses. When I’d rested my hand on his olive skin, brushing the rolled-up shirt sleeve he’d shot me a stomach-turning glare. A warning.
“Do you really live here by yourself?” he asked.
“Yeah. That was not the plan, but it worked out that way. My ex organized the boys into a top school in Auckland. They are in their teens, and I understand their choice.”
His shoulders dropped as he let out a deep exhale, looking out to the hills. “It’s perfect.”
“What’s perfect?”
“No people, only animals. A beautiful place.” His expression softened. “You’re very lucky.”
My chest welled. “It’s beautiful and I love it. But it gets lonely. I wasn’t supposed to live here by myself. The change of scenery was supposed to fix my marriage and bring the family closer together. It… didn’t.” I swallowed. Why was I pouring out the sad details of my life to this man?
