wave the cloud of smoke outside. The alarm continued to buzz. Her ears ringing, she grabbed the broom and beat the infuriating thing into silence.
Good heavens, what a nightmare. Exhausted, she sat down and blew her hair from her eyes. She was a culinary disaster. A complete failure.
How could baking one little cake be so darned hard?
The clock on the wall chimed, reminding her she was going to be late for her riding lesson, so she tossed the cake into the trash, dumped the pan in, too, knowing she’d never be able to clean it, then ran to the bedroom to finish dressing.
Earlier, she’d teased Rafe about wearing something he would like, so she pulled on her black lace bikini underwear and matching bra, then dressed in jeans and a black cotton shirt, leaving the top two buttons open to reveal just enough skin to tease him.
But what about the cake?
Oh, well, she would just stop by Mimi’s coffee shop and pick up one. If she brought a silver tray from Rebecca’s cupboard and sliced the cake, then placed some garnish in a few strategic places on the platter, no one would ever know she hadn’t baked it herself.
After all, she had baked a cake, three cakes to be exact. Did it really matter if the one she took to Rafe’s wasn’t one of those monstrosities?
R AFE WORKED ALL AFTERNOON breaking the new quarter horse. Progress was slow, but he’d finally coached the coppery-brown horse into dropping his defenses, and had managed to rope him and lead him around the ring a few times. His chest swelled with the pride of accomplishment as he unhooked the rope. He didn’t want to push too hard today. Salamander had already conceded to the first steps in his training. Rafe would lose ground if he pushed him beyond his limits too quickly. He had to gain his trust, a task that took time. And patience. Both of which he had in spades when it came to horses.
Women were a different matter.
His patience with seeing Suzanne Hartwell and not touching her had worn thin. He was almost starting to like the woman. A far more dangerous situation.
Palo Romerez pulled his truck and double horse trailer up the drive and parked just as Rafe emerged from the barn. The young man looked sheepish as he approached.
“Come to check on Salamander?”
Romerez dug his booted heels into the dirt. “Actually, I came to tell you I have to move them.”
“What?” Rafe squinted in the afternoon sun. He’d hoped to get more boarders, not lose the ones he had.
“I’m sorry, Rafe, but I’ve found another trainer.”
Rafe frowned. He’d known Romerez for years, had always valued his friendship. And, although the man sometimes ran short on money, they had exchanged services before. Palo helped him during spring roundup and Rafe worked with his cutting horses. Of course, Rafe still had to charge him for boarding, but his reputation as a trainer was growing. Or so he’d thought. One reason he didn’t understand why he hadn’t received calls for any new boarders.
“What’s really going on, Palo?”
“I got an offer for steady work over at the Four Stars, and free boarding comes with the job. Plus I get to learn from their trainer.”
Landon. Rafe should have known the man would do whatever he could to make things more difficult for Rafe. Next thing he would be stealing Bud and Red away from him.
Losing Palo’s boarding fees would hurt. That money had helped pay Bud and Red’s salaries.
“I’m really sorry, Rafe, but I have to look out for my family.” Palo’s ruddy features looked weathered. “Geraldine’s pregnant, you know.”
“No, I didn’t. Congratulations.” Rafe wanted to put his fist through something, but he understood Palo’s problem. One reason he didn’t need a wife or family himself. He had nothing to offer them. He certainly couldn’t fault Palo for taking care of his own.
“You need help loading him up?” Rafe asked.
Palo looked past Rafe at the corral where Salamander pranced. “No, thanks, man, I can
Good heavens, what a nightmare. Exhausted, she sat down and blew her hair from her eyes. She was a culinary disaster. A complete failure.
How could baking one little cake be so darned hard?
The clock on the wall chimed, reminding her she was going to be late for her riding lesson, so she tossed the cake into the trash, dumped the pan in, too, knowing she’d never be able to clean it, then ran to the bedroom to finish dressing.
Earlier, she’d teased Rafe about wearing something he would like, so she pulled on her black lace bikini underwear and matching bra, then dressed in jeans and a black cotton shirt, leaving the top two buttons open to reveal just enough skin to tease him.
But what about the cake?
Oh, well, she would just stop by Mimi’s coffee shop and pick up one. If she brought a silver tray from Rebecca’s cupboard and sliced the cake, then placed some garnish in a few strategic places on the platter, no one would ever know she hadn’t baked it herself.
After all, she had baked a cake, three cakes to be exact. Did it really matter if the one she took to Rafe’s wasn’t one of those monstrosities?
R AFE WORKED ALL AFTERNOON breaking the new quarter horse. Progress was slow, but he’d finally coached the coppery-brown horse into dropping his defenses, and had managed to rope him and lead him around the ring a few times. His chest swelled with the pride of accomplishment as he unhooked the rope. He didn’t want to push too hard today. Salamander had already conceded to the first steps in his training. Rafe would lose ground if he pushed him beyond his limits too quickly. He had to gain his trust, a task that took time. And patience. Both of which he had in spades when it came to horses.
Women were a different matter.
His patience with seeing Suzanne Hartwell and not touching her had worn thin. He was almost starting to like the woman. A far more dangerous situation.
Palo Romerez pulled his truck and double horse trailer up the drive and parked just as Rafe emerged from the barn. The young man looked sheepish as he approached.
“Come to check on Salamander?”
Romerez dug his booted heels into the dirt. “Actually, I came to tell you I have to move them.”
“What?” Rafe squinted in the afternoon sun. He’d hoped to get more boarders, not lose the ones he had.
“I’m sorry, Rafe, but I’ve found another trainer.”
Rafe frowned. He’d known Romerez for years, had always valued his friendship. And, although the man sometimes ran short on money, they had exchanged services before. Palo helped him during spring roundup and Rafe worked with his cutting horses. Of course, Rafe still had to charge him for boarding, but his reputation as a trainer was growing. Or so he’d thought. One reason he didn’t understand why he hadn’t received calls for any new boarders.
“What’s really going on, Palo?”
“I got an offer for steady work over at the Four Stars, and free boarding comes with the job. Plus I get to learn from their trainer.”
Landon. Rafe should have known the man would do whatever he could to make things more difficult for Rafe. Next thing he would be stealing Bud and Red away from him.
Losing Palo’s boarding fees would hurt. That money had helped pay Bud and Red’s salaries.
“I’m really sorry, Rafe, but I have to look out for my family.” Palo’s ruddy features looked weathered. “Geraldine’s pregnant, you know.”
“No, I didn’t. Congratulations.” Rafe wanted to put his fist through something, but he understood Palo’s problem. One reason he didn’t need a wife or family himself. He had nothing to offer them. He certainly couldn’t fault Palo for taking care of his own.
“You need help loading him up?” Rafe asked.
Palo looked past Rafe at the corral where Salamander pranced. “No, thanks, man, I can
Similar Books
