Pole Position by Sofia Grey Read Free Book Online

plenty of activity, a group lesson in progress and children of all ages hanging around, but no Anita. I found an office full of assorted tack, hats, and jackets, but no people. There were three stable blocks. I’d start looking for Sam, although it was entirely possible she’d gone out riding. It was certainly a lovely day for it.
    As I left the office, a young girl bumped into me on her way in. She carried a pile of blankets—they completely blocked her vision—and as they tumbled to the floor she cursed, and tried to grab them.
    “Here, let me help.” We picked them up, and as she thanked me profusely, we stacked them on a shelf, and then she stared at me.
    “You’re Jonathan Craigowan!”
    There was no point trying to deny it. I nodded and smiled back. Perhaps she might know where I could find Anita. As I opened my mouth to ask, she spoke again, excited.
    “Are you looking for Anita? You were here last week. I remember you asking about Sam.”
    “Yes. Is she here today?”
    “Well yes, but not at the moment. She had lessons, but then she went to the feed merchant. She’ll be back later; do you want to leave a message?”
    Okay, so she wasn’t with the maybe boyfriend, and that was a good start. “What time do you think she’ll be back?”
    In reply, the girl turned to the desk and looked at a huge diary. She ran a grubby finger along a list of names before looking up with a smile. “She has lessons again this afternoon, but should be finished at five. Then she’s taking Sam out, so I’d say if you wanted to catch her, your best bet would be between six and seven.”
    I thought rapidly. I’d be at the racetrack all afternoon, but I could get back here by seven. I smiled at the girl and held out my hand to her. “Thanks, I’ll come back at seven. Will you tell her I was looking for her?”
    She shook my hand, blushing under a coating of fine dust. “Definitely. She’ll be so excited.”
    At last. I might finally get to speak to Anita today. She was certainly elusive. I thanked the girl and set off for Oulton Park whistling softly, a new spring in my step.

5.2 Anita
    It had been another busy day at the stables. After running a series of errands for Clare, it was a rush to get all the afternoon’s lessons started on schedule, then getting each class finished in time to ready myself for the next group. It was exhausting, but it left me no time to think about Jon. I’d lain awake most of the night, thinking about him—about us—and worrying what he thought of me, especially after Colette and Danny’s behavior last night.
    I waved off my last class of the day, and then sank into a seat in the little office, and pushed the booking diary closed. I could have happily put my head on the desk and slept.
    I took a few moments to think some more about Jon. When he looked at me, what did he see? An innocent lamb? Or damaged goods? I pushed that idea away, with some effort. I’d spent most of the last two years drifting along, scared of making plans, but somewhere over the recent months, I’d begun to relax.
    Did I want to go back to University one day? Finish my degree? Or was I happy to stay working in the bookshop forever?
    It suited me right now. Baby steps.
    The quiet was interrupted by Shelley. She came dashing up, hopping from one foot to the other in excitement. Sensibly, she’d waited until the last pupil had left, but now she perched on the edge of the desk, obviously bursting to tell me something.
    At that moment, Clare walked in, and sank into the other chair with a huge sigh. “I’m knackered,” she announced, while opening a can of lemonade. She took a long drink. “God, that’s better, although I wish I had some vodka in it.” She glanced at Shelley, and held up a finger to pause her. “Hang on a minute, Shell.”
    Turning to me, she took another swig from her can before speaking. “Anita, what the hell is the matter with Danny today? He has the worst mood I’ve seen in years, and