Jarrett didn’t know how many people he’d performed in front of during his days in the rodeo. From country fairs to packed arenas, he’d played to the crowd in the minutes leading up to the moment when he entered the chute. After that, everything disappeared. The sound of cheers, the scent of fried food from the concession stands, the burst of light from cameras flashing around him. All of it faded into nothing.
His focus narrowed to the bull he was determined to ride. Didn’t matter if a hundred thousand people filled the seats or if the stadium was empty of a single soul. Only after he hit the ground—hopefully on two feet—did he once again become aware of the screaming fans all around him.
Even then, he’d never been cognizant of a single pair of eyes watching his every move. Never felt the warmth of a look as strongly as a touch.
But damn it if that wasn’t how he’d felt with Theresa’s blue eyes on him. It was as if her gaze had wrapped around him like slender arms, and she was seated astride the horse behind him. He shrugged his shoulders as if he could throw off the sensation of her body pressed against his back, but it didn’t do any good. Not when she was standing in front of him, those eyes still focused on his.
“So...” he said, his voice sounding as gravelly as the road leading out to his place. “’Bout that ride...”
“Uh, no. Thank you.”
He swallowed a deep exhale of relief. He’d known she’d turn him down, but there was still a brief moment of— What? Hope? More like sheer insanity if he’d wanted, even for a split second, for her to say yes.
Soft pink highlighted her cheeks, either from the cold or something he’d best not contemplate, and her gaze cut away from his to Silverbelle standing calmly on the far side of the corral. He was lucky the mare had come as far as she had. If he’d tried riding her a few weeks ago and let his concentration slip as he had today, he probably would have ended up landing on his ass in the dirt. And wouldn’t that have given Theresa something to see?
“I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry for the other day. I was rude, and I apologize.” Her gaze came back to meet his as she spoke, and Jarrett was hit by her sense of integrity and strength. She might look like a fairy-tale heroine, but Theresa had a toughness her beauty couldn’t hide.
Of course, right in that moment, she didn’t exactly fit the princess mold. She was dressed as casually as he was in jeans and a faded-to-orange sweatshirt. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, a few strands blowing across her cheeks thanks to the morning breeze, her face free of makeup. But just like the toughness that was so much a part of her, so, too, was the beauty and grace that had nothing to do with what she wore and everything to do with who she was.
“You weren’t rude. You said what you wanted and—” he shrugged “—you’re the guest.”
“And the guest is always right?” A hint of disbelief lifted her words, but Jarrett wasn’t sure what she was questioning. His words or the very idea that he thought of her as nothing but a guest.
“Company policy,” he lied.
“Uh-huh.”
“So how’s all that peace and quiet treating you?” he asked before whistling for Silverbelle.
“I’m guessing you already know that my entire family has been out to visit me.”
“Yep.” Jarrett reached for the reins and started leading Silver toward the gate. On the other side of the fence, Theresa followed along. “So much for your alone time.”
She gave a soft laugh. “You’re pretty much the only one who paid any attention to that.”
Jarrett shot a sidelong glance at her elegant profile. If he didn’t know better, he’d almost think she was complaining. He swallowed a snort of laughter. His imagination had to be working some serious overtime to even come up with such a harebrained notion.
“They mean well,” she said defensively enough to let Jarrett know she hadn’t really minded their interruptions.
He shoved aside any thought that maybe he should have stopped by unannounced, too.
Opening the gate, he led Silverbelle through. By the time he had the latch secured behind him and turned around, Theresa was standing almost eye to eye with the horse. A protest rose in his throat when she reached up, but instinct held the words back. His breath caught in his chest as he waited to see what happened. He wasn’t sure what interested him more—the horse’s response...or the woman’s.
Theresa moved slowly, her voice a low murmur as she talked to the mare. If he hadn’t seen for himself just how shy and nervous Silverbelle could still be, he would never have known it by her reaction to Theresa’s gentle greeting. The horse lowered her large head as if seeking out closer contact as Theresa stroked a hand over the horse’s muzzle.
So much for his theory that Theresa had rejected his offer to take her riding because she was afraid of horses. So was it because she was afraid of him? Afraid of whatever the hell it was he’d felt while she’d watched him ride? Had she felt it, too?
“She’s beautiful,” Theresa said softly. “What’s her name?”
“Silverbelle. Silver for short. And you’ll want to be careful around her,” he said, well aware that his warning was coming too late and hardly seemed necessary. “She’s a rescue and can be kinda shy.”
“Oh, I had no idea. After seeing you ride together, I assumed she was one of yours.”
“She is for now, and she’s come a long way. Can’t say yet that she’ll ever be comfortable enough for trail rides or for riding lessons, but maybe.” He shot her a sidelong glance as the three of them started walking toward the stables. “Speaking of trail rides—”
“No, thank you.” Theresa crossed her arms over her chest. “I appreciate the offer, but I...can’t.”
Jarrett nodded, keeping his gaze straight ahead, but he couldn’t pretend he hadn’t noticed the way she cradled her left arm close to her body, tucking it beneath the right. He swore beneath his breath. He should have realized her reluctance might have been because of the injuries she’d sustained. But she’d pushed so hard to prove herself by walking to the cabin and then coming down to the stables that he hadn’t given it a thought.
Instead, he’d shoved the offer for horseback riding in her face—not once, not twice, but a damned three times. And he was the man Nick wanted to look out for his cousin? He’d been right to shoot the veterinarian down.
“I could still use your help with the horses,” Jarrett blurted out.
“I’m sorry, Jarrett, really, but—”
“You don’t have to ride,” he said as they reached the stables. “Just give me a hand with Silverbelle’s tack and brushing her down. You’re good with her, and she needs to learn that I’m not the only human she can trust.”
“You really think that will help?”
Longing filled her blue gaze as she looked at Silver. The same
