The Black Sheep and the Hidden Beauty by Donna Kauffman Page A

offer shouldn’t have caught her so off guard. They’d been circling each other almost from the moment he’d entered the stables. But it did. “I—I have chores. Then my horse…I have to see to her.” She was stuttering. She never stuttered. “I’d feel more comfortable if we kept this purely a professional relationship.”
    â€œOkay,” he said, a little too easily.
    Perverse creature that she was, she wished he’d at least been a bit more put out by her immediate refusal.
    â€œDoesn’t mean we can’t share a meal, does it?” he went on, making her feel inordinately better, which was a double warning sign.
    She didn’t want him pursuing her. On any level. No matter how good it made her feel. She couldn’t risk enjoying even something as simple as having her ego stroked. Much less any other part of her. She tried like hell not to look at his hands again.
    He grinned a little. “We can discuss a strategy for helping me show Mac up when we ride together for the first time.”
    She laughed in surprise. “So, that’s it, then. This is all just some kind of macho contest.”
    â€œWhere men and horses are concerned, isn’t it always?”
    She chuckled. “Most of the time, yes. And yet, somehow I don’t see you as the cowboy type.”
    â€œWhat do you see me as?” He laughed a little and shook his head. “Never mind. Maybe I don’t want to know.”
    He caught her gaze and held it. The combination of that twinkle in his eyes and the laughter was downright lethal. Her nipples ached, her thighs were all twitchy, and there were butterflies dancing in her tummy.
    â€œOr you can tell me over dinner.”
    She’d never wanted to accept an invitation more. She had no doubt that if the two of them were alone anywhere outside of a business-only situation, dinner wouldn’t be all they’d be having. Reason enough to end this little banter session. “I’m afraid I can’t.”
    She thought he might continue to press, and was surprised to find, even knowing better, she almost wanted him to. Maybe he’d find a way past her defenses, find a way to make it okay to take what she wanted and damn the consequences. Only the consequences, in this case, were huge. And didn’t involve only her. Knowing that didn’t make the ache go away, though. If anything, it only intensified. Her desires had always been career-oriented. She’d never wanted anything purely for the sake of having it.
    But she’d be lying if she said that, right then, right there, she didn’t want him. Just for now. Or at least until he could make the damn ache go away.
    â€œOkay, then,” he said, easily enough. Damn him. “Class over, I presume?”
    She broke eye contact, praying that nothing of the thoughts going through her head showed anywhere on her face. He was far too astute as it was. “For this round, yes. You can dismount here. I’ll take care of the rest.” The faster she increased the distance between them, the better.
    â€œNo, that’s okay. I’ll do what’s expected,” he said. “Not fair for you to do my work.”
    â€œFirst-timer’s pass,” she said. “We’ve gone a bit longer than I anticipated and I still have a list of chores to get through. It will go faster if I take care of her this go. You’ll definitely be in charge of that next time.”
    â€œSo, you’re willing to have a next time?”
    Do I have a choice? she wondered, but didn’t say it out loud. Not that she thought Kate would lean on her to help out her friend, but Elena wasn’t a novice when it came to work politics. In her previous field, she’d learned quickly that getting ahead sometimes meant doing things because you might benefit later from the favor. Even if the short-term risks didn’t seem worth the effort.
    â€œYou’re a quick