features and he shook his head.
"Eve's just playin' games with me to see how far she can go. I also told her she shouldn't have sold Fair Lady. That mare was one of the best in the barn. But, no, Eve's gonna do as she damned well pleases. Then, the next thing I know, she's got this ridiculous idea of weaning that baby, then showing her in a class two weeks later." He shook his head in pure wonderment. "I don't know what's the matter with the woman...she's probably just been in the horse business too long."
"I'm glad it wasn't your idea. That whole scene just about broke my heart."
He looked at her thoughtfully, then cleared his throat.
"Liz, I want to - "
Uncomfortable with the prospect of a serious conversation, Liz reached for a halter. "I have to work Ashiiqah. Her class is right after lunch."
Kurt nodded and stepped back. As Liz entered the stall, she felt him watching her, and a now familiar, delicious feeling crept through her. Though thrilled to learn that he'd come to the show specifically to see her, it frightened her to think about opening up another opportunity to be embarrassed. Why do I turn into such a wimp every time he's around? I need to get a grip. Mr. Cowboy will have to redeem himself before I'll fall into another one of his tender traps.
She emerged from the stall, and Kurt took the lunge-line from her other hand.
"Mind if I come along?"
Kurt leaned on the rail and watched Liz work the beautiful mare. Much as he'd tried to convince himself that his only interest was checking on the competition, he knew his desire to see Liz again was the real reason he'd come to Tahoe. She'd been on his mind constantly since she'd picked up Fair Lady. On that day, he'd wanted nothing more than to sweep her into his arms and tell her how badly he felt about his behavior after their kiss, that he hadn't meant a word of what he'd said.
He grinned, thinking about her feisty manner when she'd stood up to Eve to defend her opinion. Her self-confidence is what makes her so successful. I'll bet she's got the ranchers eating out of her hand by now.
As he watched her lunge the horse, his thoughts changed from personal to practical, and a frown creased his forehead. I can't let her influence me like this. I have too much at stake.
Liz felt Kurt's gaze boring into her back, feeling as though he were mentally undressing her. Hmm...Not an altogether unpleasant idea. However, within a few minutes, she pushed the sensual thoughts from her head, and concentrated on exercising Ashiiqah.
On the way back to the barn, Kurt was openly enthusiastic.
"Beautiful mare. What are her bloodlines?"
Liz loved to talk pedigrees with anyone knowledgeable, and she spent the next fifteen minutes chronicling the Polish and Egyptian bloodlines of the herd, delighted by Kurt's obvious appreciation.
He held the stall door open as Liz put the mare away.
"You planning to work that colt again today? I'd like to watch, if you don't mind."
"My pleasure."
She watched him saunter down the aisle, his jeans sculpted around his tight butt and muscular thighs. My pleasure, indeed! Her heart quickened at the prospect of being with him again. Learning that he hadn't been the one who'd insisted on the early weaning had altered her attitude. On two separate occasions now, she'd seen a gentleness peek from beneath his tough, professional exterior. She wanted to see more of that softer side of him, and swore to find a way.
At the edge of the arena, Liz waited nervously for the results of Ashiiqah's class. The mare had performed beautifully, as usual, but Liz never took anything for granted. A magnificent bay mare caught her attention. The horse's body looked as though it had been carved by an artist's hands: extremely fine legs, sharp facial bones, shapely ears with tips that almost touched. Has to be straight Egyptian. Bill Benton held the mare's rapt attention, and Liz shook her head. I guess if I'm going to lose, I'd just as soon lose to a
"Eve's just playin' games with me to see how far she can go. I also told her she shouldn't have sold Fair Lady. That mare was one of the best in the barn. But, no, Eve's gonna do as she damned well pleases. Then, the next thing I know, she's got this ridiculous idea of weaning that baby, then showing her in a class two weeks later." He shook his head in pure wonderment. "I don't know what's the matter with the woman...she's probably just been in the horse business too long."
"I'm glad it wasn't your idea. That whole scene just about broke my heart."
He looked at her thoughtfully, then cleared his throat.
"Liz, I want to - "
Uncomfortable with the prospect of a serious conversation, Liz reached for a halter. "I have to work Ashiiqah. Her class is right after lunch."
Kurt nodded and stepped back. As Liz entered the stall, she felt him watching her, and a now familiar, delicious feeling crept through her. Though thrilled to learn that he'd come to the show specifically to see her, it frightened her to think about opening up another opportunity to be embarrassed. Why do I turn into such a wimp every time he's around? I need to get a grip. Mr. Cowboy will have to redeem himself before I'll fall into another one of his tender traps.
She emerged from the stall, and Kurt took the lunge-line from her other hand.
"Mind if I come along?"
Kurt leaned on the rail and watched Liz work the beautiful mare. Much as he'd tried to convince himself that his only interest was checking on the competition, he knew his desire to see Liz again was the real reason he'd come to Tahoe. She'd been on his mind constantly since she'd picked up Fair Lady. On that day, he'd wanted nothing more than to sweep her into his arms and tell her how badly he felt about his behavior after their kiss, that he hadn't meant a word of what he'd said.
He grinned, thinking about her feisty manner when she'd stood up to Eve to defend her opinion. Her self-confidence is what makes her so successful. I'll bet she's got the ranchers eating out of her hand by now.
As he watched her lunge the horse, his thoughts changed from personal to practical, and a frown creased his forehead. I can't let her influence me like this. I have too much at stake.
Liz felt Kurt's gaze boring into her back, feeling as though he were mentally undressing her. Hmm...Not an altogether unpleasant idea. However, within a few minutes, she pushed the sensual thoughts from her head, and concentrated on exercising Ashiiqah.
On the way back to the barn, Kurt was openly enthusiastic.
"Beautiful mare. What are her bloodlines?"
Liz loved to talk pedigrees with anyone knowledgeable, and she spent the next fifteen minutes chronicling the Polish and Egyptian bloodlines of the herd, delighted by Kurt's obvious appreciation.
He held the stall door open as Liz put the mare away.
"You planning to work that colt again today? I'd like to watch, if you don't mind."
"My pleasure."
She watched him saunter down the aisle, his jeans sculpted around his tight butt and muscular thighs. My pleasure, indeed! Her heart quickened at the prospect of being with him again. Learning that he hadn't been the one who'd insisted on the early weaning had altered her attitude. On two separate occasions now, she'd seen a gentleness peek from beneath his tough, professional exterior. She wanted to see more of that softer side of him, and swore to find a way.
At the edge of the arena, Liz waited nervously for the results of Ashiiqah's class. The mare had performed beautifully, as usual, but Liz never took anything for granted. A magnificent bay mare caught her attention. The horse's body looked as though it had been carved by an artist's hands: extremely fine legs, sharp facial bones, shapely ears with tips that almost touched. Has to be straight Egyptian. Bill Benton held the mare's rapt attention, and Liz shook her head. I guess if I'm going to lose, I'd just as soon lose to a
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