Page 32 of A False Start
He snorts quietly and I smile, feeling soothed by the contact. It’s almost like he’s hugging me right back. And some days, I could really use a hug.
When the back light of the log home flicks on, I drop my forehead against my horse’s with a small smile. “Uh oh. I think I’m about to get spanked by grumpy Griffin.”
The back door slams shut, and I force myself not to jump. The man frays my nerves without even trying.
“Nadia.” He sounds exasperated. I’m oddly pleased with myself for being the source of his frustration. Irritating someone should not be this much fun. “What are you doing here?”
I try so hard not to laugh. I don’t want him to know what a kick I get out of this. “Visiting Horse.”
“Horse?”
“Yeah.” I finally turn around to see him standing at the top of the three steps that lead up to the sprawling deck off the back of the cabin, hands pressed into his hip bones. Wearing those goddamn jeans like they were made for him.
He looks pissed, heavy brows pressed low. Frowning just adds to the rugged edge of his beauty. He looks like he wants to do very bad things to me.
And I want to let him.
A small giggle bubbles up in my throat. I’m dead sober, but I feel almost giddy under Griffin Sinclaire’s gaze.
“Yeah. This guy right here.” I hike a thumb behind me at the leggy racehorse, who is still nuzzling against my back.
“You named him Horse?”
I run a hand over my mouth, trying to hide my smile. “Hardly seems like something a man who named his spotted horseSpotshould criticize me for.”
He glares at me. The seconds stretch out, and I seriously question if he might be having a stroke. I sigh and turn back to the gentle giant. “I just haven’t decided on a name yet. All I know is that he needs a fresh name to go with his fresh start.”
Griffin sighs and tips his chin up to stare at the sky like I exhaust him.
I ignore how clearly frustrated he is. “Do you have any brushes I can borrow?”
“You’re exhausting,” he huffs out before stomping down the deck to retrieve a bucket of brushes from where he’s stashed them underneath the stairs. He drops them near me and then instantly retreats to sit on the stairs, back where he started.
“Thanks,” I say brightly before putting a halter on Horse, tying him to the fence, and getting to grooming him.
I lose myself in the circular motion of brushing, watching his neck stretch and head twist when I hit the good spots. I smile up at his sweet face as he basks in the attention under the calm starry skies out in Ruby Creek.
I’m so engrossed with grooming him I almost don’t hear Griffin when he says, “You’re not paying me back. For the record.”
“I know.” I don’t chance a look at the older man. I just keep my eyes on the soft coat in front of me.
“Then why’d you say that?”
Great question.
I sigh so deeply my shoulders come up to my ears before dropping back down again. “I don’t know. I didn’t want Stefan to suspect anything.”
“Like what?”
Now I peer back at him, shooting a knowing look his way, before going back to my task at hand.
“You have a boyfriend.” The word sounds wrong on his lips. “Why would he suspect anything?”
“Good God. What is with everyone calling him my boyfriend? He’s not.”
Griffin casually props his elbows on his knees. “Well, you have history. He was there that night.”
That night.He says it like something terrible happened. Best kiss of my life, but that was before I knew what a growly dick Griffin Sinclaire is. It wouldn’t be that hot again, not now that we know each other.
