Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 143842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
My job might be to manage every aspect of the stables, but the horses were my main concern.
I unlatched the gate of a four-year-old foal named Giselle and stepped into her stall. Her coat was black and shiny, her eyes the color of pitch and brimming with soul.
I swore, horses saw everything. Felt everything.
Knew.
My stomach tightened in a fit of nostalgia, the tiniest bit of grief, but I sucked it down and stepped forward so I could softly run my hand down her neck. I whispered, “Hey, there, beautiful girl. You are gorgeous. Just perfect, aren’t you?”
I let my hand sweep down her neck a couple times in hopes of winning her trust.
She snorted and sighed before she shifted her weight into me, and I edged around to her front so I could stroke my thumb between her eyes.
Softly.
Slowly.
“That’s right,” I murmured.
She chuffed and nuzzled her nose into my cheek. A quick giggle got free, and I leaned in even closer, wrapping my arm around her neck in an embrace.
She was as gentle as could be. Most all the horses here were since we needed them to carry guests of varying experiences, sizes, and demeanor.
I stayed like that with her for the longest time. Getting to know her and letting her get to know me. Each of us giving our trust. Our love. Our devotion.
I froze when I felt the frisson of energy cover me from behind, and a swath of irritation blazed over my flesh when I finally pulled away to peer back at the source.
Cody Cooper was leaned on the inside of the gate, big hands stuffed in his pockets, one boot crossed at the ankle.
Looking like the epitome of a self-loving cowboy.
Arrogant.
Brash.
Too big for his own britches, like my father used to say about the hands I’d been instructed to stay away from. God, should I have listened.
He wore that smirk that forever seemed to light on his face.
There was something different about him, though, the way those golden eyes seemed to glow as they watched me from three feet away.
“Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Cooper?” I asked, going all business.
That grin twitched, and something sly and flirty drifted into his tenor. “So, we’re just going to pretend we don’t know each other? Don’t you remember me?”
There was almost a tease tacked onto the last.
Was he serious? As if I could ever forget.
“I think it’s you who didn’t remember me.” It came out far too snippy. Like I cared, when I didn’t. Guys like him didn’t deserve the extra attention.
His gaze raked over my body, dragging from my head to my toes and back up again. Far too languid for it to be considered polite.
“I’ll admit it was dark last night and…”
He trailed off, leaving the obvious unsaid.
I looked different.
Back when I’d met him when I was eighteen, I used to be rail thin, bare faced, covered in dirt and grime and running around the ranch like I was the same as the hands.
Now I was all curves and had decided I loved a good haul from Sephora.
“…I thought you’d moved away,” he added, his voice dropping in caution.
My spirit clutched.
Maybe he did remember after all.
I turned back to Giselle, petting her again, needing something to do with my hands. “I did.”
“And now you’re back.” It rang with some kind of implication before I heard the tease weave its way back in. “And living right next door to me.”
An unfortunate complication.
“Apparently so.”
“You didn’t move back to work on your father’s ranch?”
My head shook. “It was time I did something for myself.”
I cringed, hating that it revealed too much, that I was opening up to this guy who I knew better than to trust.
“Because you’re not weak.” He took me back to what I’d done my best to claim last night.
Disbelief punched from my lungs. He didn’t know anything about me, and I didn’t need him standing there insinuating that he did.
“Fuckin’ gorgeous, too.”
Desire twisted my stomach. Do not fall for his bullshit, Hailey.
“I think you should get back to work, Mr. Cooper, and save the inappropriate comments. From my understanding, this is a big project. That’s where you should probably put your focus. I saw the contract, and I think you’re being more than well-compensated.”
He was making a small fortune.
I refused to look back at him, just kept my regard on Giselle as he stood there like he was shocked that I didn’t fall into his hands.
So typical of his type.
He was used to women falling all over him. He used them up for one night, then he left them broken in the morning.
And by whatever energy he was exuding, he had some kind of delusion I was going to be one of them.
Like I would ever betray…
My teeth ground as my thoughts threatened to dive into dangerous territory.