As my muse and I began working on the fifth installment of
the series, she suggested including horseback riding. Why? I’ve been riding for
more than two decades, yet I've never written about it in my books. She told me
that my experience would serve me well. We developed a plotline in which the
Secretary of State’s wife is a passionate rider who wants to spend time with
her husband while on vacation. The story naturally deals with horses, riding,
bodyguards, and nasty people who appear to disturb the peaceful wintertime.
Since riding isn't something you can learn over the weekend,
the bodyguards—especially the new guy, Cameron—have their problems with the big
animals. Of course, there's also the pain that comes with sitting on horseback
for a few hours… LOL.
Enjoy!
Description
The trouble with a vacation is that you never get what you wish for.
Riding and hiking in the New York State national forest—what could be more
recuperative? When Secretary Nolan’s wife decides to have a pleasant week of
riding in the national forest she can’t anticipate the trouble waiting for all
of them, and the snowstorm is just the beginning.
Excerpt
Close to
the stable’s wide gates Jazmin jerked back seeing a movement in the shadow.
“Who goes there?”
Cameron
peeked around the corner. The setting sun reflected in his blue eyes, and she
thought that behind the lines of tiredness he was a good-looking man.
“A sentry’s
question? You’ve been together with this Ethan-guy too long.”
“What’re
you doing in the dark on the ground?” She knelt beside him, checking him up and
down quickly. “Anything wrong?”
He lowered
his chin. His voice was strained. “Aside from being totally exhausted…no.”
“You need
something to drink and certainly a good meal after the long ride. The others
will be in the kitchen. Should I help you up?”
“Guess why
I’m down here? My legs feel like Jell-O. I was glad I made it this far. The
others just walked off, but I—” He shook his head and closed his eyes. “Just
let me sit here for a while, then I’ll come in.”
“My, you’re
a bad liar!” She grinned when he didn’t bring up the energy to deny it. “I’ll
go and get Ryan.”
“No! Not
Ryan! If you do that, the jokes will go through the roof. Don’t want to be
ridiculed by all the tough guys, especially that Nathanial-something. He’s just
super cool and so—”
“Aloof?”
“Yeah.”
“So I
heard.”
Cameron
grimaced as he changed position. His thighs trembled. “Now, look at this. I
guess I better plan to stay the night.”
“No, you
won’t. It’s already damn cold. Ryan won’t mock you, or I’ll have him assigned
to the next ride for sure.” She threw Cameron a sweet glance. “He’ll be quiet
as a mouse.”
With Ryan
in her wake, she returned to the stables. Cameron hadn’t moved and looked more
miserable than before.
Ryan
reached out to him. “Tell me, tough guy, how long haven’t you ridden…camel or
wooden horse or whatever?”
“A year?
Maybe more.” Cameron took off his woolen hat to scratch his thick blond hair.
“I can’t remember.”
“I
understand. Look, pal, your legs are cramped. So, if it’s not ruining your
ultimate male appearance, I’d just throw you over my shoulder and—”
“No! I
won’t let you—”
“There’s a
back door,” Jazmin interrupted. “We already spoke about it.”
“About
carrying me like a flour sack? Are you nuts?”
Ryan made a
face. “I told you he wouldn’t go for it.” He turned back to his colleague.
“Shall I knock you out and pretend we had a brawl? I can do that. Everyone
believes I’m crazy as a shithouse rat as Stephen King would say. So, what’s
there to worry about?” When Cameron hesitated, Ryan bent down to quickly pull
him over his shoulder, a move that caused Cameron to cry out and Jazmin to step
aside and stifle laughter. She caught the hat he dropped. “Hold still and bear
it like a man.”
“God, this
is worse than the careening of a ship!” Cameron groaned but accepted his lot.
“Hope this is a short walk. My head’s exploding.”
When they
passed by, Teresa opened her mouth, too flabbergasted to say a word. Jazmin put
a finger to her lips and whispered, “Don’t mention this to anyone, okay?” As
she glanced over her shoulder she saw Teresa smile. She opened the back door
and directed Ryan through the corridor and into Cameron’s room where he put him
down unceremoniously on the bed. Cameron bit the sleeve of his jacket and
squeezed his eyes shut.
“See?” Ryan
panted. “Nobody saw us, and you’ll pretend this didn’t happen. My, have you
gained weight? I remember you being slender when we met with you on the yacht.”
“I hate
you, Ryan Griffith.” Cameron made the effort—groaning and clenching his
teeth—to get out of his thick jacket.
Ryan lifted
two fingers. “That was the second time that I carried you, buddy.”
“Shall I
give you a hand?” Jazmin asked Cameron, already pulling off his boots.
Ryan
doubled over with laughter. “Does Ethan know you’re here to undress a man? I
mean—”
“For
goodness sakes, Jazmin, leave me alone,” Cameron pleaded. “I promised Ethan to
never make advances on you and now—”
“Let me do
it,” Ryan interrupted, smiling like a shark. “I’ll look much better undressing
him than you.”
“Are you
sure?” Jazmin divided her attention between them. “I’m not convinced you aren’t
up to mischief, Ryan.”
“Hey, you
blackmailed me, Jaz, and I did what you asked. Now hop out of here.”
“Thanks for
your help.” Cameron looked at Jazmin, then rolled his eyes when Ryan pulled
down his pants. He tried in vain to stop him. “Don’t think of getting the hang
of this!”
While Ryan
made a show of undressing Cameron in spite of his protests Jazmin slipped out
of the room and closed the door. She laughed so hard her belly hurt. She laughed
even more when Ethan turned around the corner, a questioning look on his face.
“Weather
forecast tells of more snow and…are you okay?”
She wouldn’t
tell, even if it meant not breathing for a minute.
***
You can find my books at www.extasybooks.com and at online
bookstores.
Take a look at my work at www.annraina.com, and follow me on
Instagram @ann_raina_author.
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