Forbidden Temptation My Mafia Fiance's Alpha Father

Chapter 80

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.

and holding

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

the side, I shoot Lucas a happy look and he laughs, pleased to see me catching on. "Well done,

if I want to go

seeing my hesitation, laughs at

doesn't quite call me a coward

and screw my courage together, giving Heathcliff

up the pace into a

the balls of my feet and my heels, standing in the stirrups, and feeling a thrill as

Aden could see you now, a voice inside me thinks. And

can't help myself as

put your weight at the back of the saddle to slow

Heathcliff slows to a trot and then a

laughing with joy as Lucas walks over to us, gathering up the length of the long lead

says, smiling up at me.

hair out of my face,

down at him. "You

teach you anything you want," Lucas says, coming close to Heathcliff's shoulder

girl like

his eyebrow.

earn how

all the rodeo

do

BUMS

he sees me blush. I'm not used to being told I'm

to admit, though...I didn't

guy older than me only by a few years, with sandy brown hair and a light

strong-jawed and, like most of Aden's guys,

think I'm pretty? Or was he just saying it

smile deepens as he realizes that I'm not paying attention to a word

"Um, can you

to help me dismount. "Come on, let's let Heathcliff

nod and take Lucas's hand, swinging my right

I think, then the time Aden had