Page 21 of The Front Runner
Billie wraps her arms around me. She’s a hugger, and she has been since that first day I met her when DD had his bout with colic. I am not a hugger—public displays of affection are not my thing—but I let her do it. These are the sacrifices you make for your friends.
“Thank you. I’m so lucky to have you as my friend.” She squeezes me tight enough that it dislodges all my traitorous thoughts. They swirl in my head, increasing my internal shame over my growing tolerance for Stefan Dalca.
On one hand, I don’t owe anyone any explanations about my feelings or choices. On the other hand, even just knowing I agreed to three fake dates with him is making me feel guilty and traitorous.
“I need to get these done and out of the way as quickly as possible.” I pat Billie on the back woodenly, hoping that will signal to her the hug is over.
She pulls away, laughing. “Love you, my Ice Queen.”
I can’t help but roll my eyes at her nicknames. Pornstar Patty for Violet, Bossman for Vaughn, Big Bro for Cole… Dalca the Dick for Stefan.
“Love you too, B. Catch ya later, Hank!” I wave casually before turning back to the horses.
I’m relieved when they finally leave—that’s enough attention for one day. The compliments, the hugs, the intense levels of thankfulness… they’re all nice, but I find it overwhelming and never know quite how to react appropriately.
So, while I wait for the foal to give me the sample I need, I pull out my phone to browse social media. I find one of those dumb personality type quizzes and start typing in my answers. Essentially zoning out while I lean up against the frame of the stall door.
“What are you doing?”
A voice startles the hell out of me, and I jump, feeling my back press into a hard chest while two gentle hands slide beneath my elbows to keep me upright.Stefan.I’m too shocked to even move out of the embrace.
One of my hands flattens over my sternum, where I can feel my heart thumping. “You scared the shit out of me,” I pant. It’s after dinner and the barn had been quiet and empty. “What the hell kind of stalking skills are you practicing?” I spin, feeling the chill of the air against every spot that had been warm pressed up against him. It almost makes me want to spin back around and sink into his embrace.Almost.“I didn’t even hear you at all!”
His mossy eyes scan my face, the slight bump in his nose just adding to the intensity of his face. Most people would get a break in their nose fixed, but on Stefan it just adds to his look. His mystery. I hope he never fixes it.
He takes advantage of my shock and swipes my phone out of my hand. “Then you’re definitely not Black Widow. She would know someone was approaching.” He smirks, and it’s both annoying and adorable all at once. “Which Marvel Superhero character are you?” he reads the name of the quiz out loud, and I will my cheeks not to pink. I can take dumb quizzes if I want. “Sounds very scientific.”
I roll my shoulders back. “You do it. I bet you’ll get Thanos.”
His nose wrinkles, and he throws a hand over his chest dramatically like he’s offended. “The big purple bad guy?”
I offer him my sweetest smile and quirk my head to the side, as if to sayif the shoe fits.
He just grunts and goes through the quiz.
“You have to answer honestly,” I remind him.
He doesn’t look up at me, but I don’t miss the way his jaw pops at the comment. “I am always honest. I don’t abide lying.”
Well, that joke fell flat.
I step beside him to peer over at my phone right as he submits the survey. The wheel spins as “calculating” flashes across the screen. Like there’s some legitimate process to matching this up.
Tom Hiddleston wearing horns pops up on the screen and I burst out laughing. “Loki!”
He grins now, eyes twinkling with mirth, and hands me my phone back. “I’m going to have to get a hat like that.”
“Oh, yeah. That would be hot.” His head quirks almost instantly, and I try to cover the slip of my tongue. “The God of Mischief,” I say, nodding. “That’s pretty accurate. Maybe their science isn’t so bad after all.”
He peers down at me, looking altogether too confident. It does funny things to my insides. Laughing with this man in a dim barn when I’m not supposed to enjoy his company at all is bad.And did I just accidentally call him hot?I should know better. I shoulddobetter.
But I’ve always been one to want things I shouldn’t.
“Speaking of mischief,” he says, eyes scanning my face in a way that heats me to my core. “You owe me three dates.”
I smile back at him, meeting his stare confidently. “Yeah. I’ve been thinking about that. I think I’m due for areally fancymeal. I mean, I want to give that black Amex of yours a real workout.”
“Charming.” His mouth twists wryly.
