Teach Me To Ride by Rachel Leigh

my father, you know.”
    Her smile vanished, time for business. “Oh?”
    Michael put down his fork and picked up his glass, studying her over its rim. “Why did you think it was?”
    “You said he wants you to ride. You want to train.” She frowned. “But with the amount of barely controlled anger you’ve got going on, I figured you wanted to reveal something about your father that would knock him firmly from his sporting pedestal. Am I wrong?”
    “Not entirely. I don’t like the man. Moreover, I don’t owe him anything, but that doesn’t mean I want to waste my energy ripping him down to size either.”
    “Then what?” Frustration furled in her stomach. What the hell did he want?
    “I really wish you hadn’t spoken to him without my say so. You’ve no idea what he’s capable of.”
    “Why would I need your permission? I can look after myself.”
    He put down his glass with such force, the wine within it quivered. Caroline tensed when he curled his fingers into a fist on the table. “You can’t. Not as far as he’s concerned.”
    Nerves and annoyance wound into a tight ball in her stomach. “I’m here, aren’t I? I’ve spoken to him and I survived. What do you think the guy is going to do to me over the telephone? I was in control the entire time. Nobody makes me do something I don’t want to.”
    “This is serious, Caroline. He’ll want you on his side…” He blew out a breath as though trying to get a grip on his temper. “And when he realizes we’ve slept together, he’ll want you in his bed.”
    Inexplicable trepidation skittered down her spine and she resisted the urge to shiver. Who was she to question what he was trying to tell her? Lewis Canton’s malice had filtered all too clearly through the phone last night. She nodded and slumped her shoulders in defeat. “He’s already insinuated as much, Michael, but it’s not worth losing any sleep over what might happen to me. I’m made of stronger stuff than either you or your father realize.”
    “And that means I’m not? I don’t want him near you. The man is insane with ambition. He doesn’t care who or what he destroys to get what he wants. The sooner you get that, the safer you’ll be.” His voice shook with anger, or frustration—maybe even pain.
    She put down her fork, moved to take his hand, and then pulled back. “You’re emotionally involved. I’m not. He can’t touch me. You have something to lose by his being there tomorrow. I don’t. But I can help you. I want to help.”
    He shook his head. “You want a story, Caroline. Nothing more, nothing less.”
    Unexpected shame slashed across her heart. A sensation she didn’t relish but had to deal with. She’d slept with him. Fucked him. Let him see her at her most vulnerable. “Please tell me you don’t think I had sex with you for a story?”
    Color rushed to his face, but his dark gaze never left hers. “Didn’t you?”
    “I could say the same about you,” she whispered. “That you fucked me to get good press.”
    The seconds ticked by in silence. Caroline’s heart picked up speed and she cursed the rare burn of tears. She’d never slept with anyone as quickly as she had Michael and now maybe she was getting the derision she deserved. But damn, he was there, too.
    His exhalation sounded loud in the room. “Fuck. See what he does to me?” He closed his eyes. “Maybe you’re right. I’m equally as guilty here.”
    Maybe you’re right? The hurt bumped up her shame and cut all the deeper.He shook his head and opened his eyes. “This is who he makes me.” His eyes darkened with anger. “I can’t stand the man. I’m sorry if I sounded disrespectful. God, if he wasn’t my father…”
    Caroline stared. She hadn’t expected an apology, and now she felt more afraid than ever of her sudden and unwanted emotional pull to this man. This hurting, complicated man was slipping under her skin and making her feel. It scared the life out of her. She cleared