Välkommen Till Hästen Hus, Shånnon Marie [to read list .TXT] 📗

tingle, but didn’t set her on fire the way Ryan’s kiss had.
Kyle pulled away and chuckled. “Any more of that, and I won’t be able to comfortably sit in this saddle!”
Anastasia laughed. “Glad I’m not a guy!”
Kyle rolled his eyes. “Sure, rub it in why don’t you?”
Anastasia leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “I think you’re cute.”
Kyle grinned, and waggled his eyebrows. “Does that mean you’d date me?”
Shaking away the image of Ryan’s face that crossed her mind, Anastasia gave an enthusiastic nod. “Si!”


Life became quite habitual over the next few weeks. Anastasia spent most of her time riding, grooming, or relaxing with Kyle. Ryan and Svea avoided them, and the returned the favour.
One day, on a day that followed the same routine as most others, Kyle approached her after an afternoon ride. “Do you have any plans for dinner this evening?” he asked.
“Nope,” Anastasia shook her head. “Why?”
“Care to go into town with me? There’s this quaint little restaurant that I lumvhpp…” his words turned into a soft moan as Anastasia silenced him with a kiss. “I’d love to,” she replied.
Kyle wrapped his arms around her waist. “Ah, mi amore. I will come to fetch you in half an hour. You will be ready in that time?”
She smiled. “Si! I’ll be ready!” After a shower and several minutes of trying to decide what to wear, she finally chose a teal-coloured dress with brown decorations on it. It was short and cute; neither too dressy nor too informal. She piled her hair up into a bun, letting a few curls hang down in front. She applied a light coat of make-up and slipped into her soft, leather sandals that resembled those worn in ancient Greece.
Kyle knocked on the door just as she was slinging her purse over her shoulder. She checked herself in the mirror one last time, and then answered the door.
Kyle stood there, leaning casually on the doorframe. He wore a soft blue sweater and khakis. The sweater hugged his masculine frame, and Anastasia smiled appreciatively.
“Hey, pretty lady,” Kyle said softly, and pulled her against him. She closed her eyes and inhaled the spicy smell of his cologne.
“You smell good,” she murmured.
“You look good,” Kyle chuckled, then held her at arms’ length to inspect her further.
She giggled, and spun around for him.
He grinned at her, and then wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Andiamos, mi amore. Shall we go?”


Kyle pulled into the parking lot, and Anastasia started to get out of the car, but Kyle put a hand on her arm to stop her.
“You are the lady, no? I will open the door for you,” he winked. He got out and walked around to her side. With a dramatic bow, he opened the door and held out his hand. She took it, and was about to give a witty reply when someone from behind Kyle gave a loud snort.
Kyle glanced over his shoulder, and Anastasia saw Ryan and Svea standing there.
“So, he actually knows how to be polite?” Ryan’s eyebrows raised in mock surprise. “This is a shock.”
“What do you want?” Kyle snapped. “Cannot you see that Annie and I are trying to have a nice date? Don’t ruin it!”
Svea examined her nails as though thoroughly bored. “You couldn’t be a gentleman if your life depended on it. Not that rat face - she waggled her fingers towards Anastasia - would know a gentleman if one came up and screamed in her face.”
“Svea, gentlemen don’t scream in women’s faces,” Ryan replied dryly.
She whirled around to face him. “Ryan, how many times…” she trailed off and glanced back towards Kyle and Anastasia.
Ryan leaned forward and spoke softly into Svea’s ears. She frowned, and began to say something back, but Ryan gave her a meaningful look.
She gave a dramatic sigh, and then walked into the restaurant, swinging her hips saucily as she went.
Ryan turned towards Kyle. “Jag behover att talar med hon,” he said.
”Nej!” Kyle said. ”Du har en - !”
Ryan stepped foward threateningly. Kyle glared back at him for what seemed like eternity, then finally he backed down. “For minuten,” he hissed, then followed after Svea into the restaurant.
Ryan stared after him for a few moments, then glimpsed over at Anastasia. “Why do you fall for it?”
“Excuse me?”
Ryan gave a heavy sigh, and rubbed his temples. “It’s all just an act, Anastasia. His nice guy routine? You don’t know the real Kyle. I do. And trust me, it’s not pretty.”
“Well, I’d be awfully hateful too if I’d had to live with you all these years,” Anastasia retorted.
Ryan’s eyes flashed with anger for a second, but he closed his eyes to calm himself. “Anastasia, please.”
“Please what? Listen to you? Forget it, you snake!” She tried to brush past him, but he gripped her shoulders angrily and spun her around to face him. “You little - !”
“What? Little what?” she snarled.
Ryan’s features softened. “I don’t want him to hurt you.” The emotion in his face was so unexpected that Anastasia couldn’t formulate an answer. But, it was gone as soon as it had come, leaving his face blank and expressionless. “Are you two together? Officially?” he asked bluntly.
Anastasia blinked, then brushed his hands away. “Yes. He treats me better than you did.”
One side of Ryan’s mouth pulled up and he gave a small, dry laugh. “I deserved that.”
Anastasia raised an eyebrow. “Ryan, what’s gotten into you?”
He stepped forward. “Anastasia, I think you should know that Svea and I aren’t -“
“Time’s up!” Kyle interrupted, coming between her and Ryan. He gave Ryan a nasty scowl, and then faced Anastasia. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Where are we going?” Anastasia asked as Kyle pulled her to his car. She glanced over her shoulder one last time at Ryan, who stood there with a lost look in his eyes. Then, he turned around and went inside.
“We’re going to my friend Toni’s place. His spaghetti is amazing. There is no way I’m eating in that restaurant if Ryan’s there. Or Svea, for that matter.”
Anastasia shrugged. “If you say so.”
The two were silent as the drove. What had Ryan been about to tell her before Kyle cut him off? And what was with Ryan’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde act? It really was quite frustrating.
Kyle put a hand on her knee, jolting her from her thoughts. “Don’t let him get to you,” he smiled gently. “That man has issues.”
Anastasia nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. Now where’s this Tony guy? I’m starved!”


The two enjoyed a pleasant dinner full of friendly conversation, and they made sure to steer clear of any discussion about Ryan or Svea.
“When is our next competition?” Anastasia asked.
“Not for a few months yet,” Kyle replied. “We had a competition up in Wisconsin just three months ago.”
“How did you guys do?”
“Ryan came in first in the dressage competition. Svea rode in two different jumping competitions, and won a second place in one of them.”
“What about you?” Anastasia frowned. “Didn’t you ride at all?”
“Nah,” Kyle shook is head. “Melody wasn’t feeling very well. We usually do show-jumping. Is that what you and Deluxe do?”
Anastasia nodded.
Kyle took a small bite of bread. “Then be careful. Svea doesn’t like competition.”
“Don’t you count as competition?” she asked. “Why aren’t you concerned?”
Kyle laughed. “Because Svea wouldn’t dare try to attack me! I’m taller, heavier, and stronger than she is.”
“Hey, are you calling me weak?” Anastasia pouted.
“Not at all,” Kyle smiled. “I’m just saying that Svea wouldn’t hesitate before harming you. But you could probably take her,” he winked. “Plus, I’ll teach you a couple of moves. She won’t be that hard to beat. She’s terrified she might break a nail or get a hair out of place.”
Anastasia laughed, and Kyle beamed. “Ah, that is such a beautiful sound.” Then he gestured towards her plate. “Are you done?”
She nodded. “It was delicious!”
“You’ll find that is common of most Italian things,” he grinned impishly.
Anastasia groaned, and rolled her eyes. “You are incorrigible!”
“I knew there was a word for it,” he wiggled his eyebrows. Then he held out his arm. “Care to go for a walk?”
“I’d love to,” she wrapped her arm through his. “Where to?”
"Oh, there's a park just down the street," he said as he led her towards the door. "There's a lovely fountain there. We'll drop a penny in and make a wish, si?"
Anastasia giggled and kissed his cheek. "Sure!"
He touched her nose with his finger and pulled her to his side as they walked.
"Hey, I'll race ya!" Anastasia challenged.
"Okay!" Kyle grinned. "On three! One, twothreeGO!" he raced off.
"Hey! Cheater!" Anastasia laughed and took off after him. He pulled way ahead of her, and by the time she arrived huffing and puffing to the park, she couldn't see head nor hair of him. "Kyle?" she panted.
Suddenly, Kyle jumped out from behind a tree and gave a playful roar as he scooped her up into his arms.
Anastasia shrieked and tried to escape, but he was much too strong for her. He carried her over to a bench and sat down, holding her in his lap.
She rested her head against his chest and poked his stomach gently.
"Hey, now," he murmured softly into her hair.
"Hey, what?" she replied playfully.
"Hey, this," he said, and brought his lips to hers. She relaxed, and leaned into him. His arms held her tightly, and she placed her hands on his chest.
When Kyle pulled back, he touched his forehead to hers and closed his eyes. "I like you, Annie."
Anastasia closed her eyes too, and sighed happily. "I like you too."
They sat quietly like that for a few minutes more, and then Kyle finally stood up, still holding her. "We should probably head back now. It's getting late, and your training starts tomorrow."
"My training?" she frowned.
"Yeah. You get to take lessons from Ryan in order to prepare for the upcoming competition," Kyle placed Anastasia on her feet. "Doesn't that sound like fun?"
"Oh, a real blast," Anastasia replied dryly. "Why aren't you teaching me?"
"Because Annike is sending Melody and I away to an