nailed every female who came to work there as a matter of course.
But being paranoid was what had kept her and Springer safe this long. She couldn’t afford to be any other way. Which certainly didn’t explain why, every time she opened her mouth around this man, she couldn’t seem to help but continue the verbal foreplay he’d so effortlessly begun. Like, even if she didn’t have bigger things to worry about, she’d want the attentions of a guy who was more interested in racking up notches on his bedpost than caring who he notched them with. He’d all but admitted she wasn’t even his type.
Her forehead began to throb. What she really needed was to go lie down somewhere and give this pheromone fog presently poisoning her every chance to dissipate and leave her the hell alone.
But, instead, she smiled right back at him, and said, “So, you’re essentially trying to get both of us in trouble.”
His lips curved. There was a flash of white teeth. “It looks that way, yes.”
Poisoned, surely that was it. “So, now I either say yes or I say no, and you go bother one of my staff and distract them from their duties, which will just get me in trouble anyway.”
His grin was brief, but downright lethal. “Interesting how that works.”
So, he was even more dangerous when amused. She’d have to remember that. “When did you want to begin?”
He looked briefly surprised. Hunh. Well, it was good to know she could get him off balance. At least she had some leverage, slender thread though it may be. Then she had another thought that had her swallowing a grin of her own.
If it was leverage she needed, well, maybe she just needed to get him up on the back of a horse first.
Chapter 3
“Riding lessons? You?” Donovan MacLeod laughed. Hard. “Don’t start. I’m actually doing this for you and your significant other.”
“Right. So when you get thrown on your ass, it’s all my fault.”
“You learned to ride. How hard can it be?”
“Very funny.” Mac stood at the edge of the patio, staring down the sloping back hill to where the stables were. “But why don’t you just come out and admit that what this is really about is you wanting to get her naked?” He turned and grinned. “Which, when you think about it, is also a form of riding lessons. Just without the crop.” His gray eyes gleamed. “I assume, anyway.”
Rafe didn’t take the bait. “I’m serious about this. I think there is something else going on where she’s concerned. Or I sure as hell wouldn’t be getting on the back of some damn horse.”
“Oh yeah, spending time with her will be a real sacrifice. She might not be your usual fare of perfectly put-together arm candy with a law degree. But she’s got thoroughbred legs and an incredibly fine—”
“Hey,” Kate said, as she stepped out onto the porch. “The only ass you’re allowed to make Neanderthal comments about is mine.” She glanced at Rafe. “Although he’s right. I’ve seen her in riding pants. I’d kill for her ass.”
Mac put his hand proprietarily on Kate’s backside. “Your ass is spectacular.”
She grinned at him. “You just want to get laid.”
“Well, yeah, but I could probably manage that without lying, so you know I mean it.”
“Men and their logic.” When Mac went to take his hand away, she immediately pulled it around her shoulder. “But I’ll take it, I’ll take it.” Tucked under Mac’s arm, she looked at Rafe. “When Elena told me you’d asked for lessons, I almost choked. You hate horses. What’s going on?”
He’d known this was coming since the moment three days ago when he’d apparently lost what was left of his mind and propositioned Elena. In more ways than one. Which hadn’t remotely been his intent when he’d walked out to that barn. He’d been regretting it ever since. Never more so than right this second. “I don’t hate horses. They’re beautiful animals. I just don’t see the need to climb up on the back of one. But that’s not the point here. The point is, I think something else is going on with your new manager. Either she’s in trouble, or running to avoid it. But something’s not right. And I don’t want her troubles becoming your troubles.”
Mac glanced down at Kate. “He’s just jealous because he’s around us too much. Now he’s hot for a barn chick who isn’t his normal glamazon type, so he’s projecting some sort of crisis so he can write it off as a work-induced fascination.”
Kate listened to Mac with an indulgent smile, then turned a quite serious expression to Rafe. “What makes you think she’s hiding something?”
“Hey,” Mac said, obviously put out by being brushed off.
Kate leaned up and kissed him on the jaw. “I love you, but you’re reacting like a guy, and not like a business owner. If something is going on, then I need to know about it. My kids and my camp come first. I like Elena. A lot. In fact, she’s the best thing that’s happened around here in awhile.” She looked back to Rafe. “Almost too good to be true. I’ve been saying that since the start. I’d really hate for there to be something to that.”
Mac rolled his eyes, but accepted defeat and turned to Rafe. “When did this amazing insight take place? You’ve evidently had your eye on her since she got here and that was only a few months ago. I was wondering when you’d finally get over yourself and make a move.”
“I’m not ‘making a move,’” Rafe said, though that was precisely what he’d done. He could tell himself that this was about Kate and protecting her interests, and therefore Dalton Downs’ interests, but that didn’t remotely explain why he couldn’t stop thinking about Elena Caulfield. “Maybe the reason I’ve been noticing her is because my instincts have been telling me something isn’t right. And after what I overheard the other day, I think that’s more important than whatever attraction there might be.”
Now Kate’s eyebrows lifted. “Might be?” She avoided Mac’s elbow nudge, keeping her now openly speculative attention on Rafe. “So, what, you think women who work in barns and muck out stalls aren’t good enough for you?”
“Don’t go all feminist rant on me. I never said that. She actually struck me as a sharp, intelligent woman who handles very large animals like they’re small children. I have a lot of respect for that, but I can’t help it if I’m more attracted to women who dress and act like women.”
Kate’s smile turned knowing, and grew wider. She looked up at Mac. “Okay, maybe you have a point.”
Mac just grinned. “Guys know these things.”
“What?” Rafe demanded. “What’s wrong with being honest about what you like and don’t like?”
“Because what you like is Elena, and it’s making you crazy because you just won’t admit it to yourself,” Mac said.
That much was true, but not for the reasons he meant. Well, mostly not for those reasons. Elena was more earthy than his usual choice in female companions, but something about the way she’d held his gaze, and handled his attention, had definitely gotten to him. In ways he didn’t want
