Page 27 of Unsuitable

“You, too. Hey, before you go,” he calls me back. “Do you ride?” He tips his head back at the horse grazing behind him.

“No.” I shake my head.

“Well, if you want to learn, let me know. I’ll give you some lessons on the house. Perks of working here.” He smiles, and it’s a friendly smile.

I decide on the spot that I like Cooper. He might think jailbirds are bad news, and in most cases, he’s not wrong, so I can’t blame him for thinking that.

“That’d be great. Thanks. But maybe not in this dress.” I wrinkle up my nose, nodding down at my uniform.

“No.” He chuckles. “Unless you want to ride sidesaddle, that is.”

“How very old-fashioned of you.”

“I’m an old-fashioned kinda guy.” He winks.

Usually, I hate winks, but he can totally pull it off. And I’m a little rusty here…but is he flirting with me?

“I’m serious. If you want a lesson, let me know, and we’ll arrange something.”

I smile. “I will do that. See you later.”

“Sooner, I hope.”

Okay, I totally smile like a girl at that one.

He’s charming. And it’s nice to be charmed after Kas-hole’s mean ways this morning.

Not that I’d take Cooper up on any offer, aside from the free riding lesson.

Men are a no-go area for me. Jason burned me for life.

Smiling, I swivel on my toes and walk back to the house, feeling a little lighter than when I first left it.

Out of nowhere, a feeling creeps up my spine. That sense again of being watched.

I lift my head, seeing no one.

I glance back over my shoulder, but Cooper is back to work on the fence.

I look back ahead, staring up at Kas’s bedroom window, but no one’s there.

Weird.

I swear, I’m going mad.

Shaking off the feeling, I pick up my pace and head back through the archway before getting back to work.

Eight

It’s my second day at work, and I’m walking quickly down the lane, heading for the Matis Estate, because it’s raining like a bitch. I don’t have an umbrella with me, but I’m wearing my raincoat with the hood up, keeping my hair dry.

I’m not far from the gates when I hear a car coming up fast behind me.

Glancing back, I see a petrol-guzzling four-by-four approaching. A gust of wind blows my hood back off my head. I scramble to pull it back up, but before I can—

Splash!

Mothereffing effer!