Chapter 23 An Unexpected Knight
Olivia: POV
I stood frozen in place, my face burning so hot I was surprised my makeup didn't melt off. Several riders nearby had stopped to stare, and an older couple exchanged knowing glances.
"Victoria!" I hissed, grabbing her arm and pulling her a few steps away. "What the actual fuck?"
Victoria's eyes widened with genuine confusion. "What? Isn't this the guy you were—"
"This is Blake Westwood," I interrupted loudly for everyone to hear. "The Westwood family's second son. We grew up together."
Blake stepped forward, extending his hand to Victoria with remarkable composure. "Nice to meet you properly. You must be Victoria Montgomery."
Victoria's jaw dropped as recognition dawned. Her eyes darted between us. "Wait—this is Blake? Your childhood friend Blake? Holy shit!" She lowered her voice to a whisper only I could hear. "You accidentally slept with your childhood friend and didn't tell me?"
"I am so sorry," she said to Blake, looking genuinely mortified. "I thought you were... someone else. Though in my defense, you look nothing like those old photos. You've definitely improved since your boarding school days."
Blake laughed, seemingly unruffled. "The wonders of proper nutrition and a good gym membership. Those old photos should be burned."
I gaped at him. How was he so calm about this? Victoria had basically announced to everyone within earshot that we'd slept together.
Rachel approached; it looked like she had just finished handling something. "Rachel, this is Blake Westwood," I said, grateful for a chance to change the subject. "We grew up together. Blake, this is Rachel Harper, one of my closest friends."
"Nice to meet you," Rachel said, extending her hand professionally. "Olivia's mentioned you a few times."
"The pleasure's mine," Blake replied. "I've heard Harper & Associates is doing impressive work with tech startups."
Rachel looked pleasantly surprised. "You've done your homework, Mr. Westwood."
I watched this exchange with mounting confusion. Blake seemed to know about Rachel's work despite never meeting her.
"So," Victoria said with a mischievous grin, "I guess it's true what they say about fighting being the first step to falling in love, huh?"
"Let's just go ride some horses," I muttered, desperate to change the subject.
The stable manager led us through the barn and assigned our horses. Victoria immediately claimed the spirited black stallion Midnight, while Rachel chose Storm. I decided on the palomino Sunflower, and Blake took the chestnut mare Copper.
"Blake," I said quietly, pulling him aside. "Are you sure this is a good idea? With your back and everything?"
He rolled his eyes. "For the thousandth time, I'm fine. The doctor said light exercise is good for me."
"Galloping on a horse isn't exactly 'light exercise,'" I countered.
"Worried about me, Parker?" His smile was infuriatingly smug. "I didn't know you cared so much."
"I don't," I shot back automatically. "I just don't want to be responsible if you end up in traction."
Blake leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I know my limits. Stop mothering me."
"Fine," I huffed, walking away. "Break your back. See if I care."
Once we were mounted and riding through the open field, Victoria maneuvered her horse alongside mine.
"So," she whispered, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively, "you dump your cheating ex and immediately hook up with your hot childhood friend? Damn, girl, you work fast. Are you worried about his back affecting your bedroom activities?"
My face flushed hot again. "It's not like that!"
"Please, look at them," Victoria gestured between Blake and me. "That's not 'just friends' tension."
"Can we please talk about something else?" I begged, then clicked my tongue to urge Sunflower into a trot, pulling ahead of them.
Blake caught up to me, handling Copper with surprising skill. "Running away?"
"Just enjoying the scenery," I replied coolly.
We rode in companionable silence for a while, then Blake suggested, "Want to race to that oak tree?"
Before I could answer, he was already urging Copper into a gallop. Not one to back down from a challenge, I spurred Sunflower forward, the wind whipping my hair as we thundered across the field.
What happened next caught me off guard.
Sunflower suddenly reared, her front hooves pawing the air as she let out a frightened whinny. I gripped the reins desperately, but I was already sliding backward. From the corner of my eye, I saw something long and sinuous slithering through the grass—a snake that had startled my horse.
I tumbled from the saddle with a scream, my stomach lurching with the sickening certainty of impact. But before I hit the ground, Blake had maneuvered Copper alongside my falling body and reached out, catching me by the arm.
With impressive strength, he managed to halt my fall, leaving me dangling precariously beside his horse.
"I've got you," he grunted, his face tight with concentration. "Try to get your foot in the stirrup."
I scrambled for purchase, my heart pounding in my chest. Blake pulled me upward, trying to help me onto Copper's back in front of him. As he twisted to secure me, I heard him let out a sharp gasp of pain.
"Blake?" I asked, now safely seated in front of him.
"It's fine," he said through gritted teeth, but I could feel the tension in his body behind me. "Let's just get back to the stables."
Victoria and Rachel galloped up to us, both looking alarmed.
"Oh my God! Are you okay?" Victoria asked, her eyes wide.
"I'm fine, thanks to Blake," I said, still trying to catch my breath. "My horse got spooked by a snake."
Rachel was already scanning the ground. "Where is it now?"
"Gone, I think," Blake said, his voice strained. "Let's head back."
The ride back to the stables was slow and careful. I could feel Blake's breathing behind me, shallow and controlled, as if he was trying not to move too much.
When we finally arrived, he dismounted first, then helped me down. As his feet hit the ground, I noticed him wince and slightly hunch forward.
"You hurt yourself, didn't you?" I asked, watching as he tried and failed to straighten up completely.
"Just tweaked my back a little when I pulled you up," he admitted, one hand pressed against his lower spine. "Nothing serious."
The stable manager approached, concerned. "Everything alright? We saw you coming back rather slowly."
"My horse got spooked by a snake," I explained. "Blake caught me when I was falling, but I think he may have injured his back in the process."
"I'm fine," Blake insisted, though his grimace said otherwise. He took a few steps and I could see him struggling not to limp.
"You don't look fine," Rachel observed, her practical nature taking over. "You should probably get that checked out."
Victoria nodded in agreement. "Better safe than sorry, especially with a pre-existing condition."
Blake sighed, finally giving in. "Maybe you're right." He looked at me, his expression a mixture of pain and that irritating half-smile. "I saved you, Olivia Parker. The least you can do is drive me to the hospital."