Where the Light Leans Past Our Shadows (Chapter 3)
Sorry for the longer gap between chapters this time. At least it’s a fairly long one!
It was late morning, and the day, which had started crisp, was warming up. Kara stripped off the light flannel she’d thrown on earlier, leaving her arms bare in a tight-fitting tank top. Seville seemed to shimmer, his fiery chestnut coat glowing redder as Kara passed from the shade of the stable into the sunlight.
As Kara’s eyes adjusted to the change in brightness, she looked past the path to the arena and was surprised to see Lena walking down from the house. Her hair was down around her shoulders in slight waves, and she, too, seemed more brilliant in the sun, lovely and shining with some kind of inner warmth.
Kara grinned and waved, breaking into a jog to meet her halfway, Seville readily picking up his pace by her side. Lena half lifted her hand in return as they neared, a smile playing on her lips, before she lowered her hand just as quickly, tucking it into the pocket of her dark green sundress with a nervous jerk.
And that’s why, Kara reasoned when she played the moment over in her head later that night, her first words to Lena after three days of silence were both asinine and random, spilling from her mouth before she could stop herself.
“Neat. Your dress has pockets!”
Miraculously, Lena blushed rather than scoffing and slipped her other hand inside the folds of the dress so she could wiggle her fingers outward, as in demonstration of her pockety prowess.
“It does.” Her voice, tinged with pleasure, had a low, liquid quality to it, and Kara felt a shiver pass through her at its timbre.
At the gate to the arena, Kara and Lena’s paths converged and Kara drew to a halt, slinging her free arm over the fence. Lena’s eyes tracked Kara’s movement as she, too, came to a stop, and Kara had the sudden, distinct impression that Lena was sizing her up. Was she wondering how Kara would offend her this time, albeit unintentionally? Did Lena expect another apology? Should Kara even mention what had transpired a few days ago or consider the matter settled?
But Lena’s gaze was not, Kara realized, assessing or critical–the look felt soft, curious, almost a caress. Without conscious intent, Kara flexed her bicep, and Lena’s eyes whipped back to her face so fast she genuinely worried the other woman might strain her neck.
“So,” Kara grinned to cover her sudden nerves, not allowing herself to dwell on whatever that little display was supposed to mean. “Have you come to test Seville’s spook reflex today?”
Lena gave the blonde a distinctly unimpressed glare, but it had no real heat behind it, before good naturedly rolling her eyes.
“Actually,” the heiress began, taking her hands out of her pockets as she talked, “I came to see if you’d be interested in taking a walk to the cross-country course? It’s such a lovely day and I know you expressed an interest in taking Vermeer there…” Lena trailed off, biting her lip. “Of course, I’m sure you can manage to find it yourself if I point you in the right–”
“I’d love for you to show me,” Kara interrupted swiftly, sensing Lena was about to talk herself out of the invitation. “If you have time for me, that sounds great.”
“Oh.” Lena looked pleased. “Yes. Wonderful.” She peered at Kara fully then, eyes crinkling at the corners. “But I’ve disrupted your plans again. I can come back.”
“Or,” Kara said as she opened the gate and led Seville into the arena, feeling some measure of confidence return, “you could stay and watch, if you like? Seville was just telling me how eager he is to show off.”
“Are you talking to the horses now?”
“I haven’t had much company the past few days,” Kara rejoined, taking a chance to see if Lena would accept the teasing for what it was, a fresh start, and softening her tone to offset any perceived bite to her words.
“Touché,” Lena lowered her head but looked up at Kara through her lashes, a small smile playing on her lips.
Kara couldn’t help but smile back, not allowing herself to question the warmth that radiated through her at Lena’s gaze, fixed as it was on her and Seville as she mounted and began to walk around the arena.