When the time came to drive Kate home, I had begun to wonder if I had simply imagined the whole thing. Had the encounter in the bathroom been a simple misunderstanding with me seeing sexual overtones in innocent actions? Maybe I was having a mid-life crisis.
And yet as I drove, I couldn't shake the feeling that Kate was watching me, surreptitiously checking me out when she thought I wasn't looking. I felt her hand on my shoulder as we pulled up in front of her house.
“Do you want to come inside for a minute?” she asked.
“I can get you a beer. Mom won't mind.”
“Thank you,” I said, a little uncertainly, “but I really should get home. I have to get up early for work tomorrow.”
“Fine” she answered with a defiant puff, “Then I'll just have to give you something myself.”
She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek, but I could feel her fingers slowly slipping over my crotch. I felt a stirring in my pants. With a mischievous smile, Kate stepped out of the car, closing the door after her. She stopped halfway up her driveway and turning back, blew me a kiss. Just then, Kate's mother appeared on the terrace smiling and waving to me. I waved back and drove home. Very quickly.
A week later, images of Kate blowing me kisses were still circling in the back of my mind, when Lori asked if I could take her and Kate to their horse race. The local riding schools held racing competitions every other month and Lori and Kate never missed them.
“Can you do it for me, Dad?” Lori asked in a half-pleading voice she knew I couldn't say no to. “Kate's dad says he doesn't have the time tomorrow to take Prancer to the race, and her mom's car is too small to pull the trailer.”
Prancer was Kate's horse. Kate rode him in every race, and since she and my daughter never competed against each other, Lori was allowed to ride Prancer when it was her turn to race.
“Kate said she would be really grateful if you could,” Lori added helpfully.
I agreed with an eagerness that surprised me.
And so, the next morning I found myself in Kate's driveway, struggling to attach the horse trailer to my Range Rover. Having finally succeeded, more by luck than skill, I got to my feet, breathing heavily.
“You're strong,” a voice behind me said. “It takes Dad twice as long to hook it up.”
I turned quickly and came face to face with Kate. She was wearing tight riding breeches and long boots with a white blouse that shimmered in the sun. She threw her arms around my neck and kissed me on the cheek.
“You're a real life saver,” she purred. “I don't know what I would do without you.”
I opened my mouth to answer, but was interrupted by the sound of approaching horse hooves. Kate heard them too, and quickly stepped away from me as Lori rounded the corner with Prancer in tow. Kate ran over to her and talking and laughing, they led Prancer into the trailer, while I watched, my heart pounding in my ears.
It was barely noon when I pulled into the gravel parking lot of the riding school where the races were being held. I pulled into an open spot between two other horse trailers and the girls jumped out.
“You go to the office and fill out the entry forms,” Kate said to Lori. “I'll take Prancer to the stables.”
“Won't you need help with the supplies?” Lori asked doubtfully. “Some of that stuff is pretty heavy.”
“Oh, your dad can help me with that,” Kate said with a smile, giving me a sidelong glance. “He's very strong.”
I managed a halfhearted chuckle.
Lori ran toward the office and soon disappeared in the crowd of parents and riders gathering around the track. I followed Kate as she led Prancer to the stables.
Walking behind her, I realized for the first time how tight Kate's riding breeches really were. They looked like they were painted on! Her hips swung like a pendulum and I couldn't take my eyes off of her perfectly sculpted butt cheeks jiggling hypnotically with every step she took. Kate glanced over her shoulder at me and smiled. I quickly looked away, but it was too late. I knew she had seen me staring at her.
Kate led Prancer into an empty stall and began brushing his mane.
“Could you bring me my saddle?” she called. “I left it in the back of the van.”
“Sure!” I said, glad to escape the awkwardness I was feeling.
I walked out of the barn that housed the stables and took a deep breath of fresh air. Feeling a little more relaxed, I crossed the field to the gravel parking lot. I scanned the crowd for Lori as I passed, but I didn't see her. There was probably a long line at the office.
The stables were empty when I returned with the saddle. Prancer was in his stall, but Kate was nowhere to be seen. Was this some sort of trick? I looked around uncertainly.
“Help me!” Kate's voice cried, seemingly from nowhere.
I rushed in the direction of her voice and found myself in a large storeroom at the end of the stables. A large bag of hay had slipped from one of the upper shelves, and Kate was holding it above her head, trying to keep it from falling on her.
“I've got it!” I cried, rushing up behind her and holding the bag up.
Kate giggled and slipped away. I had been tricked.
I stood with my arms outstretched, balancing the heavy hay bale above my head.
Kate turned around, still laughing. Our eyes met and her face took on a lustful, almost malicious look. She innocently stuck her forefinger in her mouth and bit it softly. Her other hand slowly slid over her breasts.
“They make you so horny don't they?”
