Page 30 of Reputation (Toronto Royals #1)

Chapter Nineteen

Eavie

Clad in worn jeans that clung to her like a second skin, buttery-soft dark riding boots, and a purple fleece-lined jacket, Eavie drew in deep lungfuls of crisp, fresh country air as she galloped through the fields on her pure white Lipizzan horse, Snow.

Her unmarred coat shone like a beacon through the lightening countryside as she flew across the landscape.

When they crested a hill, she slowed the mare to a trot before pulling her to a gentle stop. They both breathed hard at the crest, their exhales fogging into misty clouds before them.

Closing her eyes, Eavie drew in the quiet, the peace of a dawn ride. The warm animal beneath her legs shifted as she worked to center herself. Opening her eyes again, she focused on the first rays of sunrise over the frosted landscape.

Despite the peacefulness of the country, the focus of riding, and the dopamine it brought, her mind circled around her life, Jax, and what she wanted .

Her mother’s question had pestered at the back of her mind since yesterday afternoon.

With the idea in her head, she honestly wondered what would make her happy.

Stroking a hand down Snow’s mane, she let her thoughts go.

She knew she wanted Jax, wanted more of what was between them.

Despite his confusing personality changes, she found him surprisingly…

fun to talk to. He matched her wit and seemed to enjoy working her up.

He certainly had a talent for eliciting her ire, as if it was his goal.

He was also passionate about his career and, from what she’d recently observed, was a kind, caring person who gave his free time to coaching toddlers and mentoring teens who were looking for anyone to provide them with hope.

He was a good captain, too. She’d observed him working one-on-one with players, having private conversations with a teammate after a tough game.

Running through everything she had seen and heard, she could no longer deny that the guy she met at the bar, who had lit the match inside her, was the real Jax. She wondered why he seemed to wear a mask for everyone else.

That comprehension should have been a relief, or at least reduced the sting in her sternum from believing she had been so wrong about him. Instead, a sad bitterness replaced the pangs, forming a solid ache where her heart sat beneath her breastbone.

Yes, she wanted him, but how was she supposed to figure out what to do about that when her job stood in their way? How the hell was she supposed to choose between everything she had been working for—that permanent contract—and these intense, seemingly unique feelings she had toward Jax?

If she dated him, she would risk everything—her position, her future, and her reputation. There would be no way to prevent the news from spreading through the Royals organization. Gossip traveled quickly in any sports organization, and she did not want the media to find out.

Worse, possibly detrimental, if her boss found out, she had no doubt she would be fired, let alone still get the offer in a year.

When Snow snorted, tossing her head, Eavie realized they’d been sitting atop the hill for a while. Long enough that the sun had fully emerged on the horizon.

“I know, I’m sorry,” she murmured to the mare. “I know you want to run. I just needed a minute. I’ve been a bit worked up recently and just…needed some air.”

Snow stamped her foot in response as if her answer to Eavie’s inner turmoil was to ride hard.

Laughing, Eavie stroked her again, soaking in a last look at the sunrise, painting the sky a warm purple with streaks of red and yellow. Sighing, she turned the horse and, with a nudge of her knees, sent her into a slow trot back down the hillside.

Loosening her hold once they reached flat ground, she gave Snow her head, and the spirited horse let loose another snort before she took off across the countryside.

The sun was blazing on her back, transforming the fields with a glittering mist, when Eavie caught a black blur in her peripheral.

Leaning down as Snow continued at a full gallop, she glanced over her shoulder.

She caught the bright sweep of blond hair about a hundred feet behind her as her brother raced after her on his night dark stallion, Shadowfax.

Eavie let out a whooping laugh she knew her brother could hear, even over the wind rushing past them, and turned her focus back around. Her heart picked up like it always did with the excitement of a race.

Making herself a part of the horse, she spoke softly to her. “Bring on the Snowstorm,” she whispered, a mischievous smile settling on her mouth.

With a matching competitive streak, Snow pushed herself forward, sensing the excitement spiking in Eavie. Her hair whipped around and behind her in the wind the horse created, and the smell of fresh earth and wet trees filled her lungs with each draw of air.

She could hear her brother closing in. Shadowfax was slightly bigger than Snow and fast, but Snow was swifter, and Eavie was lighter than her brother. They’d won more races than they’d lost over the years.

On the far edge of a field, Eavie and Snow entered a small copse of trees. To the other side, their farm would come into view, and just before it was a gate marking their property line. That was the race marker they used as a finish point.

They were almost there, emerging from the small stretch of trees heartbeats later. Glancing over her shoulder, her brother was only ten feet away. Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she turned back around. They were so close—only about ten yards separated her from winning.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Shadowfax’s head pull astride of her. Leaning lower, she lifted in her stirrups, trying to be as light as possible.

The horses, used to this competition, eyed each other as they tore up the last few feet of ground. Her thighs burned from holding herself up, and she used her core to keep her body steady as Snow’s hooves pounded the dirt beneath them.

Flashing past the gate, Eavie let out a triumphant whoop when Snow crossed through a nose length before Shadowfax.

Slowing their horses to a canter, they were all breathing hard. Beneath her jacket, she could feel sweat soaking her skin, dampening her long-sleeved top. Eavie looked over her shoulder and took in her brother’s windblown face, adorned with a giant smile.

“Sorry, dear brother,” she panted. “Looks like I’m still the reigning champ.”

He laughed with her. “I’ll get you one of these days,” he said as he pulled Shadowfax up beside her. “You’re just too hard to sneak up on. But one day, I will get you.”

She smiled and looked up at the clear blue sky. “I see everything—it’s why I’m good at my job,” she laughed.

This, she thought, was what she needed. The rush of a race had burned through some of her pent-up energy and adrenaline that Jax had built up in her. Finally, she felt a little more settled.

They continued toward the stables in companionable silence before Eavie asked, “How did you know where to find me?”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “Instinct, mostly. And I let Shadowfax follow his own trail. He must have wanted a hard race since he led me to where you were charging through the fields.” She chuckled. “Feeling better?” he asked after a beat of silence.

She laughed again, shaking her head. Twins , she thought, were so annoying .

“Yes,” she answered on an exhale.

They rode through the open stable doors, where they both dismounted and began unsaddling and brushing down their horses. When they were done, each twin led their horse into a stall to rest.

Walking back to the farmhouse, Eric swung his arm around her shoulders, drawing her into his side. She wrapped her arms around his waist, soaking in the feeling only being close to him could bring. Her twin—her soul mate. She’d needed him more than she’d realized.

As they walked together back to the farmhouse, Eric dropped a kiss on the top of her head. At this moment, she felt calm and happy. Family was what she needed.

Tuesday Morning, Eavie arrived at work feeling refreshed and ready to return to business despite still being confused about Jax.

Thankfully, the team was leaving for a west coast road trip tomorrow, so she was guaranteed twelve days away from him.

It was time she desperately needed to figure out what she was going to do.

That plan was shattered like a dropped glass a few hours into her day when Sam called her name. Standing, she grabbed her notebook and pen and entered his office, stopping just shy of his desk.

“You called?” she asked.

“Yes, I was going over the trip schedule and decided I’d like you to come with us. Can you make that work?” he inquired, looking at her expectantly.

Staring like Bambi in headlights at her boss, she knew she couldn’t say no, no matter how much she wanted to. She would go if he wanted her to. It was her job, she reminded herself, even as a sensation she didn’t analyze too closely swirled in her stomach.

There went her time away from the one man she couldn’t escape. Internally, like the cartoon angel and devil perching on her shoulders, her hormones leapt ecstatically while her brain steamed in frustration.

“Of course,” she said, plastering what she hoped was an easy smile. “I would be happy to.”

“Great, speak with the logistics department about getting your ticket ready and have them add a hotel room for you. They should also give you a corporate card for any other costs,” he said before returning to his computer, signaling the decision was made.

“Got it, will do,” she replied, jotting down those few notes in her notebook. “You have a call in five minutes with ownership and a meeting with the operations team directly after.”

“Ah yes, thank you,” he said, nodding to her before she turned and left his office, closing the door behind her.