maybe it was the politeness of it ⎯⎯⎯ the kind that felt a little old fashioned , a little slower than what she was used to . back home introductions were usually of a quicker nature , more shallow , niceties swallowed by the noise of bars or crowded sidewalks , but it's a pleasure felt different somehow , like he actually might mean it . and then there was the way he repeated her name ; the syllables a little more deliberate , like he actually intended to remember them . his hand closed around her smaller one , and it was warm — warmer than she expected — and his palm , a little roughened with texture , like sunlight and traces of the day had worked its way into the lines of his skin . “ nice to meet you too , mack , ” she echoed , testing the shape of his name against her tongue . the moment stretched , longer than a handshake usually would have , but for some reason she didn't pull away until he slipped his hand gently from hers .
the whistle cut through the air , sharp and effortless . “ wait , what — ” she trailed off , turning toward the sound , curiosity flickering briefly across her face before the horse came into view . it emerged like something out of an oil painting ; all warm brown muscle and slow grace . bigger than she expected . much bigger . her stomach dipped the way it did when an elevator started descending too fast , and she instinctively took a step back as the horse stopped in front of them , putting a few extra inches of polite distance between herself and the animal that had just been summoned by a whistle , much like a scene taken straight out of a movie .
“ you do have a horse , ” she stated matter - of - factly , almost to herself , as if grounding herself in the fact . she stood there ; hands clasped together loosely in front of her , rocking a little on her heels . she watched mack move closer , leaning into her as casually as if daisy was nothing more intimidating than an oversized dog . she considered his question for a moment as she watched the interaction play out . “ i don't know about scared , just — ” her eyes tracked along the curve of daisy's neck , the sunlight gleaming against it , “ — respectfully aware of the fact that they're big enough to stomp me to death , you know ? ” she watched them carefully at first , a little wary , but then daisy lifted her head , ears flicking forward and dark eyes soft and curious in her direction , and just like that , something in isla eased along with it . hesitation melted into something lighter , and her shoulders relaxed a little , curiosity winning over instinct as she stepped forward .
at mack's side , her hand hovered hesitantly in the air for a moment before she dared to finally reach for her , fingertips soon smoothing cautiously along the curve of daisy's neck . “ hey , pretty girl , ” she murmured , almost absentmindedly , a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth . daisy huffed softly in response and shifted closer beneath her touch , the unexpected weight of the movement making isla stumble half a step back before she caught herself with a quiet laugh . “ woah . ” the sound came out half breathless surprise , half nervous amusement , but her fingers stayed comfortably tangled in the warmth of daisy's coat , growing steadier by the second . feeling more at ease , she glanced back over her shoulder at mack , sunlight catching her smile . “ she's beautiful . ”
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