men here that you’re available.”
Grace shot her arm out so fast he missed a step. She curled her fingers lightly over the bulge of his biceps.
He chuckled softly.
“Don’t celebrate too long, Sheriff Campbell.”
He cut her a sidelong glance before reaching up to touch the brim of his hat as they passed several ladies. “Don’t be a dark storm cloud, Ms. Grace.”
“Or you’ll do what?” She was playing with fire but couldn’t seem to return to being detached.
“Kiss you until you purr … again.”
She tripped.
His warm hand clasped hers to his forearm to steady her. The man just caused her emotions to go haywire. Memory was painfully clear. The flesh between her thighs began to pulse in response to his scent.
They crested the rise and the horse corral came into view. There were dozens of horses and Brice steered her through the maze of people and animals. Brice kept moving until they’d climbed yet another rise. Below them sat five corrals. All were spaced out from each other.
“The stallions,” Brice informed her.
Grace ran her gaze over the magnificent creatures. They tossed their heads and pawed at the air, daring anyone to ride them. A huge black one caught her eye and she recognized the animal instantly. The painting hanging in Brice’s dining room captured the creature’s likeness exactly.
Somehow the idea that this man didn’t ride a more tame horse made her tremble. He was strong, very strong, and very basic. Just like the black stallion that he chose to ride. Her eyes locked onto the coal-black creature. Its likeness had been captivating, the reality was spellbinding.
Brice kept them on a steady course that led to the stallion’s corral. “That’s Cole.”
Jacobs had a boot propped on the rail of the corral and was watching the black beast intently. Brice issued a high-pitched whistle and the horse tossed his head and reared up onto his hindquarters. Brice lifted her hand from his arm and carried it to his lips once again. This time he lingered over the kiss. The slow burn of a blush worked its way up her face again. Those brown eyes pinned her with an intent that was more threat than promise.
“You are a little arrogant,” she accused softly before twisting her hand out of his grip.
“And you are stubborn,” Brice countered.
Jacobs was silently watching them both and it grated on her nerves.
“Well now, since we’re all just here to have a little down time. I guess I’ll take myself off to where the women are. I certainly wouldn’t want to appear out of place,” she delivered smoothly before turning around with a swish of her skirt.
Brice watched the angry sway of her skirt as she all but ran back up the hill. His body was acutely aware of her, even as she was placing distance between them.
“Maybe I should mention the fact that Grace gets a little…violent when men hit on her,” Jacobs informed Brice. “You might have noticed that the night you two were introduced.”
Jacobs’s look was lost as Brice jumped the corral fence. He held a gloved hand out and Cole nuzzled into his master’s hand. He pulled a saddle from the fence and began strapping it onto the stallion.
“Well, I hear some girls like that sort of thing.”
“Ah ha.” Pulling his hand over his jaw, Jacobs settled his feet under him, bringing his body to its full height. “Consider yourself warned, I’m not going to search her just to save your hide. This was your idea.”
“You didn’t have a better one,” Brice shot back. “But if you mean to imply that Grace would need a weapon to injure me, I’m going to be sorely disappointed in her skills.”
“Breaking some of your bones she can manage bare handed,” Jacobs clarified. “She’ll need a weapon to kill you.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
“That was a warning, Brice.”
Swinging up into the saddle, Brice locked gazes with the major. “Take a hike, Jacobs.”
Digging his heels into the stallion, Brice cleared
Grace shot her arm out so fast he missed a step. She curled her fingers lightly over the bulge of his biceps.
He chuckled softly.
“Don’t celebrate too long, Sheriff Campbell.”
He cut her a sidelong glance before reaching up to touch the brim of his hat as they passed several ladies. “Don’t be a dark storm cloud, Ms. Grace.”
“Or you’ll do what?” She was playing with fire but couldn’t seem to return to being detached.
“Kiss you until you purr … again.”
She tripped.
His warm hand clasped hers to his forearm to steady her. The man just caused her emotions to go haywire. Memory was painfully clear. The flesh between her thighs began to pulse in response to his scent.
They crested the rise and the horse corral came into view. There were dozens of horses and Brice steered her through the maze of people and animals. Brice kept moving until they’d climbed yet another rise. Below them sat five corrals. All were spaced out from each other.
“The stallions,” Brice informed her.
Grace ran her gaze over the magnificent creatures. They tossed their heads and pawed at the air, daring anyone to ride them. A huge black one caught her eye and she recognized the animal instantly. The painting hanging in Brice’s dining room captured the creature’s likeness exactly.
Somehow the idea that this man didn’t ride a more tame horse made her tremble. He was strong, very strong, and very basic. Just like the black stallion that he chose to ride. Her eyes locked onto the coal-black creature. Its likeness had been captivating, the reality was spellbinding.
Brice kept them on a steady course that led to the stallion’s corral. “That’s Cole.”
Jacobs had a boot propped on the rail of the corral and was watching the black beast intently. Brice issued a high-pitched whistle and the horse tossed his head and reared up onto his hindquarters. Brice lifted her hand from his arm and carried it to his lips once again. This time he lingered over the kiss. The slow burn of a blush worked its way up her face again. Those brown eyes pinned her with an intent that was more threat than promise.
“You are a little arrogant,” she accused softly before twisting her hand out of his grip.
“And you are stubborn,” Brice countered.
Jacobs was silently watching them both and it grated on her nerves.
“Well now, since we’re all just here to have a little down time. I guess I’ll take myself off to where the women are. I certainly wouldn’t want to appear out of place,” she delivered smoothly before turning around with a swish of her skirt.
Brice watched the angry sway of her skirt as she all but ran back up the hill. His body was acutely aware of her, even as she was placing distance between them.
“Maybe I should mention the fact that Grace gets a little…violent when men hit on her,” Jacobs informed Brice. “You might have noticed that the night you two were introduced.”
Jacobs’s look was lost as Brice jumped the corral fence. He held a gloved hand out and Cole nuzzled into his master’s hand. He pulled a saddle from the fence and began strapping it onto the stallion.
“Well, I hear some girls like that sort of thing.”
“Ah ha.” Pulling his hand over his jaw, Jacobs settled his feet under him, bringing his body to its full height. “Consider yourself warned, I’m not going to search her just to save your hide. This was your idea.”
“You didn’t have a better one,” Brice shot back. “But if you mean to imply that Grace would need a weapon to injure me, I’m going to be sorely disappointed in her skills.”
“Breaking some of your bones she can manage bare handed,” Jacobs clarified. “She’ll need a weapon to kill you.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
“That was a warning, Brice.”
Swinging up into the saddle, Brice locked gazes with the major. “Take a hike, Jacobs.”
Digging his heels into the stallion, Brice cleared
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