Playing the Polo Player

She looks up at me with alarmed, confused eyes.

“I managed to buy him back,” I clarify. “I figured he deserved a trainer who isn’t an asshole.”

“Oh my God. Thank you,” she breathes and throws her arms around me in a hug before pulling away quickly to look back at the horse. She approaches and pets his snout. “I’ve been so worried about him.”

I step to Luce’s side and drape my arm around her waist. “He’s yours,” I tell her. Her head whips to look up at me. “I figured maybe we could raise these guys together. Show you how to raise a polo horse, while I teach you polo too. Spend more time together.”

“I’d love that,” she grins. “That’s so sweet... Buying me a horse is a bit much, though.”

I shrug and smirk, bringing her in closer. “I think it’s within reason for a gift for my girlfriend.”

“Oh?” Luce utters, blinking up at me. “Is this… you asking me?”

“Yes,” I admit, blushing.

“Oh, you never blush! Look at you!” she squeals, grabbing my face and squishing my cheeks.

I laugh and gently take her hands away from my face and hold them in my own. “So, what do you say? Do you want to be my girlfriend?”

“Of course,” Luce grins, leaning up to kiss me. I savor the kiss, my heart pattering away. It’s our first kiss as a couple, and I want to remember it forever. This isn’t a fling, as I’ve always felt. It’s real, and it’s solidifying.

We get the horses settled in before leaving to take a walk. There’s an excited energy buzzing about us as we soak in the moment. I haven’t had a relationship in years, and from what she’s told me, she’s only had brief relationships and none of them were serious.

Still, as much as I want to just embrace this energy and our blooming love… I need to be fully transparent with her. “So, I might have done this all out of order. But there’s something I have to tell you. And telling you before asking you to be my girlfriend, could have put pressure on you that I didn’t want there.”

“What’s going on?” Luce asks, anxiety immediately seeping into her voice.

I bite my lip, trying to figure out a gentle way of putting it; but I don’t think there is. “You guys don’t have to worry about Marcus anymore.”

“Did you put a hit out on him, or something?” Luce snorts. I don’t have to look her way to know she’s staring up at me with a crease between her brows.

“Or something,” I chuckle and take a deep breath. “I may have bought him out of his share this morning.”

“What?”

I stop in my tracks and turn to her. I clasp her hands in mine, and meet her gaze. “I know this is a big step, but I have the means to help so I want to. Don’t worry about my involvement, as I’ll take the role of silent owner. After all, I have enough on my plate already and I trust you both to do what is right for the horses and yourselves. Any paperwork you guys want written up, I’ll have drafted by my lawyers. I don’t want this to interfere with us, but I also can’t just stand by and watch the two of you struggle because of a man who helped for the wrong reasons.”

Luce studies me and I can watch her digesting the information. While I would understand if she rescinded her acceptance of being my girlfriend, I hope she doesn’t. I’m richer than I have any right to be, and I want to use it to make lives better. Especially of those I care about.

I add on, “If things go wrong between us, I’ll just sign over ownership back to you two. Or I’ll do it now if you want. I just figured, this works out for everyone. I’ll help you guys get more horses, a couple of employees, and pay off all those debts. That way you guys can have a fresh start no matter what happens with us.”

“And to think I thought buying one of my own horses for me was too much,” she mutters. “I… I… I don’t think I have the words to express how thankful I am. I’m just shocked.”

I know it’s a poor moment to be smirking like a fool, but I am. “You mean I’ve stunned you into silence? We might want to check Hell for frost.”

At last, Luce is laughing. She’s laughing so hard that she’s snorting. I hold her and laugh along, grateful that the tension has burst and we can go back to being happy about today. “Thank you,” she says as her laughter dies out. “Somehow I’ll make it up to you.”

“How about some pasta?” I smile. She giggles and nods, before stepping back and taking my hand. We walk around the field and I breathe in the fresh air. I don’t think there’s ever been a better place in the world to set down some roots than here. Nor has there been a woman so perfectly made for me.