Her comment catches me so off guard, I throw back my head and laugh. Hard.

“Smart, beautiful and witty—the feminine trifecta!”

“And apparently outrageously good on a horse,” she quips as she tries to stand.

I grab her under her arm to help stabilize her. She loses her balance a little and leans into me for support. Being the guy that I am, I can’t help but use the opportunity to put my arm around her waist and draw her in closer.

“Let me help you.”

“Thank you,” she says, putting her hand over mine where it rests on her side and grabbing my free hand with her other one.

“It wasn’t your fault, you know.”

“Of course it was. I’ve had horses buck on me before and I’ve never been unseated. I should’ve listened to you.”

“You weren’t paying attention. I shouldn’t have been distracting you so much on a horse like Titan.”

Cami looks up at me, her violet eyes sparkling in the evening sun. “You are pretty distracting.”

“You ought to see me juggle.”

“Juggle? So you are familiar with the Cirque du So-Lame.”

“Baby, there’s nothing lame about me.”

When we stop in front of Runner, who didn’t follow Titan very far, thank God, Cami looks up at me, her face as serious as a heart attack.

“You know, that’s one of the things I admire most about you.”

“What’s that?”

“Your humility,” she replies, dead pan. And then she starts laughing. Hard.

“Do you really want me to throw you over the saddle and make you ride all the way back with your ass in the air? Because that sorta sounds like what you’re getting at.”

“Would you really do that?” she asks, doing her best to look wide-eyed and innocent.

“Damn straight. And I’d love every minute of it”

She laughs, but I can tell it’s got a nervous edge to it. I don’t think she really knows what to say. For some reason, I like the thought that I unsettle her.

“Don’t be shy! Tell me how you really feel,” she teases.

I come around behind her and put my hands low on her waist. I know I shouldn’t be flirting with her, but God help me, I can’t seem to stop myself.

I bend down and whisper in her ear. “Trust me. You’re not ready to hear that.”

I’m thrilled when I see goose bumps break out on her neck and arms. It still has to be every bit of eighty or eighty-five degrees, so I know it can’t be the weather. It’s me. She reacts to me like I react to her.

But I’m not sure that’s a good thing at all.

Before she can speak, I continue. “Let me help you up on Runner.”

I hold onto Cami as she stretches to put her foot into my higher stirrup and then swings onto Runner’s back. I’m proud of myself that I resist the temptation to palm her ass under the guise of “helping.” I might be able to keep my job after all.

I climb up behind her and set Runner in motion. As we walk by the snake, Cami shivers.

“Not a fan of snakes?”

“Not particularly,” she admits.

“Well, that one’s not going to be doing much harm now.”

As if it’s trying to argue my point, the snake rattles its tail and its broken body writhes.

“You’re not going to leave it like that, are you?”

Actually, I was. After that snake had gotten Cami tossed on her back and nearly trampled, I would gladly have left it to suffer. But I can’t now. Not only because it would make me look callous, but, when put like she just put it, it would really be callous. And callous I’m not.

Pulling Runner to a stop, I hop off his back and look for something I can use to put the snake out of its misery.

“Don’t look,” I call to Cami over my shoulder. Even after I’m done and am once more sitting behind her on Runner’s back, she keeps her head averted. “Let’s get you home.”

Cami scoots forward in the saddle to give me room, but when she relaxes, her butt is rubbing me in all the right places. I bite my lip to keep from thinking things that will give…ahem, “rise” to certain body parts. I’m torn between wishing the ride could last a lot longer and wishing we were already back at the stable.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - Cami

Of all the times for Trick to get quiet, why does it have to be now?

It seems like, without my mind concentrating on his flirtatious wit, all I can think about is his body behind me. How it feels to have his strong arms wrapped around me, how his chest moves against my shoulders, how his thighs and his crotch feel rubbing against my back side. His clean soapy scent surrounds me and, with his face so near mine, I can’t help but think of turning my head just enough to kiss that strong jaw.

Ohmigod! This is the longest ride ever!

After we’ve gone a ways, I have to say something.

“Thank you for doing that,” I say quietly.

That was the wrong thing to do because he has to practically press his cheek to mine to hear me.

“Pardon?”

Even though I know I shouldn’t, I let my head fall back further and turn it slightly to the side to speak closer to his ear

“I just said ‘thank you’.”

He leans in further and looks down into my face, his lips literally a couple of inches from mine. I see his grayish eyes flicker to my mouth and his tongue sneaks out to wet his lips. I think I might die.

“Any time,” he says softly.

Although I don’t want to, I turn my head away. But I don’t lean forward again. Instead, we ride the rest of the way back with me reclining against him, my head sort of tucked in the crook of his neck.

Once we leave the trail, Trick doesn’t pick up speed as we cross the field. I wonder if it’s because he likes me nestled against him as much as I like being there. I sigh a little in disappointment when the stable comes into view.

I wish I could stay like this forever.

My eyes are closed and that’s what I’m thinking when Trick stiffens behind me. I sit up and look around. My eyes immediately go to the thing that has him suddenly uptight. There’s no question why.

My father is standing at the entrance to the stable, holding Titan’s reins. And wearing a thundercloud on his face.

Other than stiffening when he saw him, there is no other evidence that Trick is the least bit affected by Daddy. He guides Runner right up to him, brings him to a stop and dismounts. He even ignores him while he helps me down off Runner. Then, very calmly, he turns to take the reins from my father.

“I’ll take those, sir.”

“What the hell is going on here?”

I’m surprised my dad waited that long to lay into him. I think he’s a little thrown by Trick’s demeanor, too. Most people tremble in their boots and kiss his ass. Trick does neither.

I can’t help but think that’s hot!

“Cami was nice enough to come and help me exercise the horses. Unfortunately, a rattlesnake startled Titan and he threw her. I was just bringing her back.”

He turns his murderous expression on me. I see it soften, but only minimally. “Are you all right? Did you get hurt?”

“No. Just took my breath for a minute, but I’m fine.”

That’s all he needs to hear. He’s furious again, and it’s directed toward Trick.

“Is this how you show you are responsible enough to take care of things in Sooty’s absence?”

“Sir, the horses are fine.”

“What was my daughter doing on Titan anyway? Both of them could’ve been seriously injured!”

My father loves me. I know this. But I’m not fool enough to think that he puts me that far above his horses, his business. It’s times like this I’d like to strangle him.

Angrily, I step between Trick and him. “It was my idea. I insisted that I could ride Titan. I told you I want to learn more about the business and the horses. You said it was fine.”

“I told him to stay away from you,” he fires back at me.

I see red.

“You what?”

I can see him retreating the instant I call him on it.

“I mean, I told him just to—”

“Let’s get something straight here, Daddy. I’m an adult. I can do what I want, when I want, with whomever I want. Unless you want me spending my summer elsewhere, you’d better just back off of Trick. He didn’t do anything wrong. I told him I could ride any horse in this stable.”

“And what’s worse is you bring her back on Runner, when I’ve told you a dozen times he’s too wild,” he says, turning his anger on Trick again.

“Why did you even hire him if you don’t trust him? Trust his opinion? I’ve spent all of a couple hours with him, Daddy, and I can tell you he’s good. Very, very good. And that horse minds him perfectly. Now stop treating me like a baby and stop harassing Trick.” With that, I turn to Trick. “Thank you for letting me help and for bringing me back. I’m sorry to have caused you so much trouble.” I loop my arm through my father’s. “Daddy will walk me to the house, but I promise you I’m fine.”

Trick, still seemingly unaffected, nods to me then nods to my father. I might be crazy, but I think I see a little admiration sparkling in his eyes.

And even though it shouldn’t, that makes my stomach all warm.

As I walk away, I want to look back to see if he’s watching me. I feel like he is, but I can’t be sure. I make myself face forward, though. Daddy doesn’t need anything else to bitch about.

“Promise me you’re not going to fire Trick because of this.”

He says nothing. And, truthfully, I’m a little alarmed. I will never forgive myself if Trick loses his job because I couldn’t stay away from him.

“Daddy, he really needs his job. And I really want to learn more about this place. Just give us both a chance.”

He stops and looks down at me. His expression is still dark and I must admit he can be pretty intimidating. He’s 6’3” and has dark hair, dark skin and light blue eyes. He’s handsome for sure, but his ice cold eyes can be bone-chilling. Especially when he feels something important to him is being threatened. Fortunately, I grew up with it and I’ve learned to deal with it.

Somewhat, anyway.

“Please, Daddy,” I add for good measure.

Finally I see that I’m making a dent.

“No more screw ups, young lady. And I meant it.”

“Yes, sir.”

********

Hours later, I’m standing at my window looking down at the light shining from the windows in the stable. I really want to go down there and see what Trick’s doing. And just talk to him some more. But there are a thousand reasons that’s not a good idea. One of which is that I have a boyfriend, a boyfriend who I’ve thought of very little all day.

I’m going to have to keep an eye on that.

I sigh, mainly because I just can’t help it. Lately, I feel like I’m chained to Brent. Or maybe it’s that Brent represents chains to me. There are tons of great things about him—he’s from a good family, he’s smart, well-educated, successful, handsome, doting. He’s also my father’s choice, which makes things much more difficult in some respects. Easier in others.

But lately, since meeting Trick, my relationship with him just seems…constricting. And my feelings for him seem…trivial. Especially compared to the way Trick’s been setting my blood on fire.

Trick passes in front of the stable windows, drawing my attention back to the present.

My phone rings and I jump. For a second, I hope it’s Trick. But then I chastise myself. Number one, he doesn’t have my number. Number two, why would he be calling me when he’s a few hundred feet away? Number three, I shouldn’t want it to be.

I look at the caller ID and discover it’s Jenna. She doesn’t even give my time to answer. She starts talking the instant I hit the talk button.

“I’m plotting and I need your evil genius mind to help me work something out. You busy?”

“I guess I am now,” I reply. She’s the perfect thing to get my mind off Trick. “What’s up?”

“I need you to get that lickable stable boy of yours to bring Rusty to your house. Can’t you institute a bring-your-hot-friend-to-work day or something? I think it’s a great idea. And who knows? It might catch on. It could take the nation by storm and earn you the Nobel Peace Prize or something.”

“Have you been drinking?”

“No, but I can fix that if you need me to bring you a treat. You need some company?”

I look out the window again, at the light burning in the stable, as if beckoning to me. Yes, but her company isn’t exactly what I have in mind.

“Nah, I’m kinda tired. But thanks.”

“Well, you have to agree to help me before I’m letting you off this phone. So go ahead, tell me you’re in.”

“Jenna, what am I supposed to say to him? ‘My crazy friend wants you to bring Rusty here so she can molest him. Yes, she has a boyfriend. Yes, he works with Rusty. Yes, this could cause a shit storm for all of us, but what the hell! Do it anyway’.”

There’s silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds. “Do you think that would work?”

“Jenna!”

“I’m kidding. Of course you don’t say that. You just tell him I’d like to meet Rusty. That’s it. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“And if he happens to remember you have a boyfriend, which he probably will?”