Bareback(38)
Tory gave a deep sigh. She wished she could go out with just one woman who didn’t ask the same question, but Jessica was more than just another Skyler groupie wanting to know her whole life story. Tory collected her thoughts. She didn’t want to send Jessica rushing back to the Creek Barn to try to “save” Skyler from herself. She’d tried that once, herself, to no avail.
“Skyler was one of the first kids to go though the equestrian program at Cherokee Falls,” she told Jessica. “She’s an exceptional rider, and with the Parker family backing, she was working in no time as a professional. But she has a wild streak. Her downfall was rich, straight women. Seducing them was a conquest for her, these rich women throwing themselves at a kid from the wrong side of the street.”
“Like Alexandra Rourke,” Jessica said quietly.
“Yes, and dozens of her ilk. Skyler overplayed her hand, though, when she went after Sarah Berrington Tate. She made the mistake of falling in love. Sarah wasn’t married, but they didn’t hide their affair very well, and Sarah’s father found out. He gave Sarah an ultimatum. Either she drop Skyler or he would cut off all her money.”
“That’s appalling.” Jessica could imagine how effective that threat would be for many of the people she met on the circuit, who lived lives of privilege.
“Sarah wasn’t anxious to share a barn apartment with Skyler and have to work for her money. Skyler was crushed. Old man Tate went a step further. He managed to convince the rest of gentry that Skyler was a sexual predator and he got her blacklisted on the circuit. Nobody would hire her as a professional rider, so she had to wait tables, groom horses, muck stalls, or whatever else.”
“That’s when Kate came to her rescue?”
Tory nodded. “She gave Skyler a job training horses and equestrians. But Skyler was still devastated. She’s never returned to the circuit and rarely goes to any of the shows. She hasn’t seen Sarah since. At least, I don’t think she has.”
“That really sucks,” Jessica said sadly.
“I’ve known Skyler since we were in high school.” Tory took a sip of wine. “Sarah really, really hurt her. Since then, Skyler has stuck to one-night stands or married women who won’t leave their husbands’ money.” Her eyes sought Jessica’s. “Don’t underestimate how damaged she is. It’s more than a broken heart. Skyler’s father was abusive. I think the first time she ever let herself open up to another person was with Sarah.”
“Quite a betrayal,” Jessica sighed. Now that she had a context for Skyler’s behavior, she should feel optimistic. But she wasn’t confident that Skyler was the kind of person who could just “get over it.”
“I’m not sure she could trust someone enough to fall in love again. Some really good women have tried, but only been hurt. Skyler knows her limitations. She values your friendship too much to encourage anything more. You should respect that.”
“I guess that was what Kate’s been trying to tell me, too,” Jessica said.
“However, I would love to cultivate more than a friendship with you.” Tory smiled warmly and held out her hand to Jessica. “Would you like to dance?”
Jessica smiled and took her hand. Tory was an excellent dancer and they glided smoothly across the floor. Her arms were strong and Jessica felt safe and relaxed in her embrace. There was no denying that the veterinarian was very attractive. Many of the women in the bar had been eyeing both of them all evening. Tory pressed warm, soft lips against Jessica’s forehead. Jessica smiled weakly and responded with a soft kiss to Tory’s lips. The sensation was pleasant, but it did nothing to ease the pain or chase away the sad thoughts of her tall, blond trainer.
Across town, Skyler stepped into a dimly lit bar not quite as upscale as the piano bar Tory had picked out for Jessica. The black walls and ceiling vibrated with the dance music spun by a disc jockey in a booth overlooking a strobe-lit dance floor. At one end of the bar, a pool of light illuminated denim-clad women gathered around four pool tables and leaned casually against the wall to watch the action and the dancers. Her faded Levi’s and thin, sleeveless Lycra shirt accented Skyler’s athletic physique, and many eyes followed her from the door to the bar.
“So, Skyler Reese is on the prowl tonight,” teased the bartender as she poured the neat Bourbon Skyler asked for.