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  “Okay, well your girl goes right here.” I pointed to the stall. “This good with you?”

  “Should be fine. Thanks.”

  I unlatched the stall door and slid it open, so she could lead the horse in.

  Summer took a step toward the open stall and jerked to a stop, spinning around. “Um, where’s the bedding?”

  “The what?”

  She stared at me. “The shavings. I can’t have her standing on a bare floor like this.” She craned her head to the next stall over and glared at the bottom of it. “None of your stalls have shavings?”

  “All the stalls have runs,” I answered with a shrug, sounding nonplussed but the truth of it was that her hoity-toity ways were beginning to annoy me. Springhill wasn’t a fancy place and neither were any of the people who lived on it. If she wanted to fit in, she’d need to get with the program…yesterday. “The horses are only in here at night,” I continued with a disinterest shrug. “They get turned out in the pasture during the day, unless they’re being ridden. So, nope, there’s no ‘bedding.’” Yep, I’d just finger-quoted. Summer frowned at me. Shit, she was obviously a good-looking woman, but damn, I didn’t care for high-maintenance chicks. It was a horse’s stall, for hell’s sake not a salon.

  She put her hands on her hips and scowled at me like she didn’t appreciate my tone. She didn’t say anything so I continued. “You’ll find, city slicker, that country folk out here are simple. We don’t have the same… needs that you do. But the sooner you drop those fancy notions of yours, the better you’ll be.” Not to mention that if Brady caught wind of this ridiculousness, he’d shit himself.

  “Fine, straw will do,” she answered, her lips tight. But then, worry twisted her brow as soon as she caught my expression. She might have been a pretentious little bitch but damn it, she was hot. And other parts of me were taking notice of exactly that same fact. I had to adjust myself so I turned around and did it as quickly as I could, not wanting her to see the instant reaction she had on me. Once I was comfortable, I turned back around to face her.

  She was still wearing that nervous and unsatisfied expression. “You have straw, don’t you?”

  “Straw?” I repeated with a smirk, deciding to play with her a little.

  “Yeah straw,” she insisted with a frown. “You have that, don’t you?”

  “Nope.” I shook my head. “Too messy.”

  She looked at the stall, then back at me, blinking rapidly like she had something stuck in her eyes. “I can’t put her on the floor like this. She’ll get bed sores. Her hocks will be a mess.”

  “Last I checked, she was an animal, no?” I asked, holding in a laugh because I was fairly sure that would send her over the edge.

  “I’m sure this sounds silly to you,” she started, her eyes narrowing on me. I immediately imagined ripping her clothes off until she was completely naked, then throwing her down over my knees so I could slap that indulgent ass a few times. God, it had been too long since I’d had sex because this woman was making me all kinds of crazy.

  “Now why would you suppose a thing like that?” I asked with a smile, clearly egging her on.

  “Well, regardless, Aria isn’t used to, uh, ‘roughing it,’” she finished, using the little quotes sign in the air to mock me. I chuckled. The girl had gumption, I’d give her that.

  “Look, Posh Spice, I gotta run into town and when I’m there, I’ll get something from the feed store. I’m sure your unicorn can handle being on the dirt floor for a couple hours without getting a sore?” I chuckled. I couldn’t help it. Sores…

  “That would be great,” she answered immediately, a forced smile covering her very pretty face. “And, thanks… Scary Spice,” she finished with a raised eyebrow as I erupted into another fit of laughter.

  “I’ll give it to you—you might be spoiled, but you’re quick.”

  She just smiled back at me as she led the mare into the stall and slipped her halter off. I took a step back to give her room as she hung the halter carefully on the door.

  “I don’t know if Brady briefed you at all, but this ranch runs family style,” I started, not wanting to take off just yet. There was something about her that made me want to stay and chat. Or maybe I just wanted to admire her a little bit more.

  She looked at me, sort of confused. “Family style?”

  “You know, we—as in everybody who works here—we all sit down for dinner together and visit, talk about the day and shoot the shit. In the mornings, we meet for coffee and breakfast in the kitchen and Brady gives us a rundown of the day to come.”

  “Oh. So, do I need to be at dinner tonight, you think?” she asked and I couldn’t explain the tremor in her voice.

  “If you wanna eat,” I answered with a shrug and another charming smile that was meant to annoy her. It looked like it worked.

  She inhaled deeply but held her tongue. As I looked at her, I thought to myself that she seemed kind of like an injured soul—she didn’t strike me as a victim per se, but something wasn’t right in her world, that much was obvious. But that was her business and it didn’t concern me. What did concern me, however, were those luscious breasts which were bigger than I’d previously gauged. They were so big, in fact, the buttons of her white, cotton shirt looked like they were ready to pop open. I suddenly wished they would.

  “Do you want some help with your tack before I head to town?” I asked. “I’m happy to put it in the tack room right there.” I pointed it out and she poked her head in. “There’s a saddle rack, and a place for your bridle and whatever else.”

  “I think I’ll just keep my tack in my bedroom.”

  I studied her with a frown. “You’re gonna drag it out every time you ride?”

  She slowly nodded and a smile eased across her face. “I guess you’re right. That does sound like a lot of work.”

  “You’re much prettier when you smile and stop being a fussy ass,” I said. Her eyes widened momentarily and I wondered if I’d said too much. Of course, if she wanted to survive out here, she’d need to toughen up. “I’ll help you get your tack.”

  “No. That’s okay. I can do it.”

  I walked with her back to her trailer anyway. The first time I’d seen her in the rusty, old rig, I’d decided it didn’t fit her, but now with the shavings thing and her momentary disdain for the tack room, I wanted to ask what her deal was. Was she just down on her luck? Or was there more to her story? Of course, there was more to her story. There had to be.

  She was obviously from money, but money didn’t drive a rusted-out truck and trailer. Given how fancy her expectations were, I couldn’t believe she’d even put that horse of hers in the trailer to begin with. I wouldn’t have thought twice about loading our stock in it because it looked safe enough and would get us from point a to b, but this woman was much more complicated than anyone I’d ever come across. It was going to be fun to bring her back down to earth.

  She opened the tack room to the trailer and stepped in, quickly pulling her fancy saddle off the rack. “You said you wanted to help. Fine. Here you go,” she said as she shoved the saddle at me. I was surprised but took the saddle anyway. We were going to have us a fine time…

  Her English saddle was much smaller and lighter than the bulky western saddles I was used to carrying around. I settled it on my forearm while she grabbed a bridle, a couple of pads, and another saddle blanket.

  “I hope I never have to saddle for you. I’d forget half the tack!” I laughed as she frowned back at me. “Whatever happened to a single pad, single saddle?” I continued. “Good Lord, woman. Life here is simple—you’d best remember that.”

  “I’ll come back for her blankets and rain sheet,” she offered, clearly ignoring my comment. I’d broken many a horse in my time and now I was just itching to break her in.

  “After you,” I said as she took the lead and I focused on the way her tight, round cheeks bounced as she walked. Yeah, this one was going to cause me trouble. I could already tell.


  The walk back to the tack room was a silent one but once inside, we settled her tack on an empty spot inside.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “Sure. No problem, Posh.”

  “Hey, you two,” Brady called from the doorway. “I’m going to show Summer to her cabin, but before I do that, can I see you for a sec, Jake?”

  I nodded as he touched Summer on the elbow. “Be right back, okay?”

  “Sure. Thanks again.” She smiled and damn if she didn’t light up the entire barn, regardless of the fact that she was the most spoiled and pretentious woman I’d ever met. But I was certainly up for the job of bringing her back down to earth again. I imagined I’d have a hell of a time taming the wild, little filly. The thought made my Johnson jump to attention, something which wasn’t exactly great timing, considering I was about to find myself alone with Brady. At that thought, it quieted down again. Thank God.

  “Don’t even think about it,” Brady said as soon as we were out of earshot.

  “What?” I asked, jamming my hands deep in my pockets but I already knew what he was talking about.

  “You know what. Don’t touch that girl. I just saw the way you were looking at her. She’s off limits.”

  “And just why is that?” I asked, sounding bored. He’d never made any woman off limits to me, mainly because Brady tended to keep to himself and respected that my business was just that… mine.

  “Because she’s had a bad time lately and I don’t need you causing her any more grief.”

  “I don’t plan to cause her any grief.” Brady and I got along real well because we understood one another. And because he didn’t shadow me. He respected me because he knew I knew what I was doing.

  “Don’t touch her, Jake.”

  I shrugged. “Fine. I’ll keep it in my pants.”

  “Make sure you do.”

  “Heard you the first time, Brady,” I answered with a bored sigh. Brady nodded and then started back to the tack room. I crossed my arms, content to stand there and watch him lead Summer to her cabin. Yes, I was irritated and disappointed but the more I thought about it, the more I realized she wasn’t my type anyway—way too ornery and pretentious. I liked my women beautiful, sexy yes but also down to earth.

  Regardless of the fact that she wasn’t my type, the girl had a body. And no one was going to blame a man for looking—and I could do that all day long.

  Look but don’t touch, old man, I thought to myself with a smile because I never had been good at window shopping.

  Chapter Three

  Summer

  “This is your cabin.” Brady swung the door open to a small log cabin.

  The word “cozy” immediately entered my mind. We walked into the front room where a dark brown and beat-up leather sofa sat before a weathered planked coffee table which sat in front of a wood fire stove. A tiny kitchen was tucked off to the side with a two-stove burner, sink, a tiny fridge, and enough counter space to set down a cutting board and a plate. And not a big plate either.

  Brady showed me past the kitchen to the bedroom, complete with saloon style doors. Inside, a double bed took up most of the space, and a bathroom only big enough for one person was in the corner. The decor was very ranch style, with some deer antlers over the bed (yeah, those would have to go), and a painting of the frontier with a few cows dotted in for good measure. There was a small wooden side table with a lamp that was shaped like a log, a leather lampshade sitting atop it. The room was all browns, dark greens and tans, the same colors reflected in the patchwork quilt on the bed.

  In the living room, the dead animal theme was continued with the cow-hide on the floor underneath the coffee table. It was soooo completely different to the French style of my bedroom back home, complete with chandeliers and beautiful antiques. I just had to remind myself that all of this was a temporary situation until I got my life figured out. And once I did get my life figured out, I’d definitely scrap this whole cabin-living thing.

  Brady had agreed to hire me for the spring and summer and that was going to be the end of my employment here, as far as I was concerned. Then I’d start to think about a real job... and a real house and real furnishings and starting my “real life.”

  I glanced around myself again, silently bemoaning the fact that my room back home was twice the size of this cabin. But then I had to remind myself that none of that mattered anymore because Connecticut didn’t matter anymore. I firmly set my things in the corner and with renewed determination to make this new life of mine work, I walked over to the large window which faced Pikes Peak.

  “Good enough for you?” Brady asked as he set my other bag down.

  I immediately worried that my distaste was showing and instantly felt guilty. Who the hell was I to be thinking the way I was? Here, Brady was doing Liza and me a favor and all I could think about was how awful my surroundings were. And the truth of the matter was that the cabin wasn’t that awful. Small yes but...

  “Yes, this is perfect and I really appreciate you putting me up here,” I said firmly as I faced him with a smile.

  “This all your stuff?” he asked as he motioned to my two suitcases, laptop, and iPad.

  “Yes, that’s it. Thank you.”

  “Surprised you didn’t have more,” he answered with a quick shrug. “Important city person and all.”

  “Oh, I’m not an important city person,” I corrected him with a quick laugh. “And now I’m not even a city person period.” Then I smiled broadly and he returned it.

  “We have breakfast at six each morning in the kitchen up at the main house but you’ll be needed before then to help cook. Then, we start chores. Lunch is on your own, and dinner is at 6:30 after chores.”

  “Great,” I said, although this was starting to sound a bit too much like the summer camp my mother made me go to when I was twelve. I’d never wanted to go but my mother insisted that Camp Yodelanda would help make me a well-rounded individual. So, she sent me there for the entire summer. And I hated every second of it. All I’d wanted was to be back home with my horse. Plus, I’d started my period halfway through the summer. Stained the white shorts I was wearing. I became the joke around camp. The nurse even called home and suggested my mom come out and at least talk to me about it.

  But had she?

  No. Because she couldn’t be bothered to miss a single practice with her hot tennis instructor. Fiery anger quickly replaced my pity party. Even four years later, I still hadn’t gotten over her betrayal with Ryan, my ex-boyfriend. If nothing else came out of this trip, I wanted to be free of the stranglehold my mother still had on my emotions.

  I took a deep breath and tried to look at the cabin with fresh eyes as I prayed that this wouldn’t be anything like that summer camp. And even if it were, at least this time I had Aria with me.

  Brady approached the door and pushed the screen open. “Get yourself settled. I’m sure you’ll want to check on that mare of yours in a bit. We feed alfalfa here. I assume that’s okay?”

  I shook my head as my stomach dropped. “No. She’s been on Orchard and Timothy hay. I give her supplements as well.” I still had a bale of each left in the trailer from the trip, but my bag of supplements was almost gone. Alfalfa absolutely wouldn’t do! She’d get sick.

  “Huh. Well, I’ll give you the number to the feed store then, and that’s a cost you’ll need to absorb. I got a program here and it’s alfalfa.”

  I wasn’t sure what to say. There was no way I could feed alfalfa to Aria. It was too high in protein and she wasn’t used to it. I was sure with my new workload that I’d be backing off her exercise program, which meant the alfalfa would make her fat. I groaned to myself as the weight of this new information settled on my shoulders like boulders. I should have thought this through better. But, really, how was I supposed to know what he fed his cow horses?

  Our deal was that I would work the ranch for Brady and in return, he would supply room and board for both Aria and me. I didn’t have any ot
her money coming in and I was down to my last hundred twenty bucks. There was no way I’d be able to purchase her feed, but I didn’t want to jeopardize the job here either.

  “Okay,” I said as my voice fell and I started worrying my lower lip. “Um… but, I’m not sure how I can do that. I, uh, I’ll need some actual money to buy her feed.”

  “Guess you might have to get a second job in the evenings, then,” Brady answered with an uninterested shrug like this wasn’t his problem. Which it wasn’t. “My good friend Sharon owns a diner in town and just last week she said she was looking for a part time waitress. Ever wait tables before?”

  My heart sunk even further. “No.” The only thing I’d ever done in a restaurant was eat. I had less than zero experience with anything that I was about to take on here and that realization was going to keep me up at night, I had a feeling.

  “That’s alright, Sharon’s place isn’t exactly a five-star restaurant. I’m sure she can use you if you can learn quickly.”

  I nodded, not really sure what else to say. Waitressing? In a diner? God, this situation just kept getting better and better. “Yes, I pick things up quickly.” I thought I did. Hopefully I did. Hopefully I would.

  “You’re pretty, so just smile a lot and act like you’re happy to be there,” Brady advised. “People around here are easy to please. I’ll give Sharon a call an’ see if I can’t get you in for an interview.”

  “Thanks,” I mumbled, basically speechless. I didn’t want to admit that maybe I’d made the wrong decision to come here, because I was out of options. There was only here. So now it was time to make lemonade.

  I plopped down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. This was so not me. This place… was… so… not… me… I sighed and told myself that for the next few months, I had better let this become “me,” and get my shit together. No more worrying and dwelling on a past that I couldn’t change, no matter how badly I wanted to.