Forbidden Temptation My Mafia Fiance's Alpha Father (Brooklyn and Aden)

Chapter 80

Brooklyn

"Good, Brooklyn! Good!" Lucas says, his voice eager and encouraging.

Aden's trainer couldn't come on short notice, so after watching me from the fence, Lucas is putting me through some exercises.

"You hold onto the reins," Lucas says, smirking at me, "like the handlebars on a bike. Like they're going to keep you from falling off."

I tilt my head at him. "Well..." I hesitate. "Aren't they?"

Lucas laughs, looking up at me from his place on the ground next to Heathcliff.

"No," he says gently. "The best riders barely even use the reins. You've got to learn how to communicate from here.

He shocks me, embarrassing me even, when he smacks his thigh.

Lucas doesn't notice my discomfort, instead moving to Heathcliff's head and unbuckling his bridle,

replacing it with a halter-a head harness that has no reins at all.

Then, he attaches a long, long lead rope.

"Well, some of us aren't as invincible as you are," I say. "Nor do we have your experience."

"You don't, but you will," Lucas says with a smile.

I bounce up and down as Heathcliff trots in circles around Lucas, who stands at the center, the end of the long lead in his hand.

I'm scared at first, not having anything to hold onto.

Lucas even makes me put my arms out to the side like a bird, to make me avoid clinging to Heathcliff's mane for safety.

But then, as I get the hang of it, I start to understand what he meant.

I really had been holding on to the reins for dear life.

But really, it's all about balance and holding on with my thighs and knees.

Lena takes to it, listening to how the horse is responding, and reacting accordingly.

My arms still out to the side, I shoot Lucas a happy look and he laughs, pleased to see me catching on. "Well done, Brooklyn!" he shouts to me. "Can you kick him into a canter?"

I hesitate, not sure if I want to go faster.

Lucas, seeing my hesitation, laughs at me derisively.

He doesn't quite call me a coward but...well, it's implied.

I clench my teeth and screw my courage together, giving Heathcliff a little nudge with my heels.

He responds immediately, picking up the pace into a rolling little canter.

I laugh, putting my weight into the balls of my feet and my heels, standing in the stirrups, and feeling a thrill as the wind whips against my face.

If only Aden could see you now, a voice inside me thinks. And I try and squash it down.

Lucas whoops with joy and I can't help myself as I laugh a little along with him.

"Okay!" he shouts. "Go ahead and sit back down, put your weight at the back of the saddle to slow him."

I work to do as he says, as Heathcliff slows to a trot and then a walk.

I'm still laughing with joy as Lucas walks over to us, gathering up the length of the long lead as he goes.

"Atta girl," he says, smiling up at me. "You're riding like a real cowgirl now."

I brush the hair out of my face, tucking it back beneath my little velvet helmet.

"Oh yeah?" I ask, grinning down at him. "You going to teach me how to rope steers next?"

"I'll teach you anything you want," Lucas says, coming close to Heathcliff's shoulder and smiling up at me.

“Pretty girl like you, though?” he

says, raising his eyebrow. "You

should earn how to barrel race

That's what all the rodeo beauties

do

BUMS

His smile deepens as he sees me blush. I'm not used to being told I'm pretty.

I have to admit, though...I didn't hate it.

Lucas's a good looking guy older than me only by a few years, with sandy brown hair and a light smattering of freckles over his nose.

He's strong-jawed and, like most of Aden's guys, quite fit.

Does he really think I'm pretty? Or was he just saying it as a joke?

Suddenly, Lucas's smile deepens as he realizes that I'm not paying attention to a word he's saying.

I blink. "Um, can you repeat that?"

"Don't worry about it," he says, holding up a hand to help me dismount. "Come on, let's let Heathcliff get his rest."

I nod and take Lucas's hand, swinging my right leg over Heathcliff's withers and hopping down.

Much more elegant a dismount, I think, then the time Aden had helped me down.

Still, I remember, just for a moment, the feeling of Aden's hands on my waist. Leaning against his body... As I walk back to the barn with Lucas, I have to admit, there is something comforting about being with him.

Unlike Aden, I'm never worried about what mood he's in today or how I'm going to pay the consequences of that mood.

And unlike Hudson, there's... Well, there's a bit of a spark, really.

I'm still buzzing with joy as Lucas pulls back onto Aden's property.

"Can you come next time?" I ask Lucas as we climb out of the car, my eyes shining.

He smiles at me as we walk towards the door to the house. "I'll come with you as often as Aden lets me," he says.

Just before we walk through the door into the house, though, Lucas grabs my arm, hesitating.

"I, uh..." he says, glancing at the door. "I had a really nice time with you today, Brooklyn."

"I did, too," I say, my stomach doing a little somersault.

The door opens, and Lucas is

moving before I even realize what is happening, heading towards the house, giving Aden-who is standing there-a nod.

Aden watches Lucas as he walks past, not saying a word.

Then, Aden slowly turns his gaze to me.

I stare at him, my eyes wide and my face blank.

"Well, Brooklyn?" Aden asks, crossing his arms across his chest. "Did you have a nice time?"

"Yes," I say, smoothing my hands over my tight riding pants. "Thank you. For letting Lucas take me."

Aden pulls something from his back pocket. "You have mail," he says, holding out a little square envelope.

I take the envelope. There's no address on the front-just my name.

"Delivered by hand," he explains. "It's

an invitation for this evening. The messenger is still here," Aden says, looking towards the front door. "Waiting for your reply."