failure as a racehorse more perplexing.
On Saturday, the final day of her first work week, Lyndie cooled Silver by jogging him around the training track. As usual, Jake stood just inside the rail, arms crossed. A handful of other riders worked their mounts around the oval while she rode. It shouldn’t be, then, that Jake’s gaze never seemed to leave her. Yet, as far asshe could tell, it didn’t leave her. Ever. Every single time Lyndie cut a glance at him while she was riding, for six mornings in a row, his attention had been focused on her. Day after day, horse after horse. She could only guess that he watched her constantly because she was new and he didn’t want her making a mistake with one of his horses.
She peeked at him as she passed by. And yes. There it was again, his attention locked on her. His gaze met hers with the force of a laser.
In response, something hot pinged in her stomach. He slid from view. This type of reaction to Jake had been sneaking up on Lyndie over the past couple of days. The pings and pangs were part physical magnetism, part awareness. Rare and delicious sensations for Lyndie. Also bemusing. It seemed that the girl who was not easily attracted to men had developed a small, uninvited attraction to one particular man.
Tall, Dark, and Brooding? Great choice, Lyndie. He’s your boss. He’s so solemnly in control of himself that he has no softness left. He doesn’t allow himself vulnerabilities. And nor , lest you forget, does he seem to like you in any way.
She didn’t know whether to blame the pings and pangs on the fragile connection that remained between the two of them or on the fact that Jake was . . . well . . . gorgeous.
He was. It really couldn’t be disputed. He was gorgeous in a ruthless, commanding, scarred pirate type of way. If you liked that sort of thing.
Her lips curled into a rueful smile. She hadn’t liked that sort of thing in the past. But surprisingly, she wasn’t immune.
How long had it been since she’d experienced a stirring of desire for anyone? Ages. A couple of years at least. It was fun and harmless to . . . tingle . . . over someone again. It wasn’t as if Jake was in danger of returning her feelings. Or as if this altered her intentions toward him.
She was determined to help him and his horse. The kind of help she had in mind for Jake had nothing to do with Valentine’s Day emotions and everything to do with God’s power to redeem.
Once she’d finished Silver’s cooldown, she brought the horse to a stop near the track’s rail. Jake held himself with the sort of stillness that might have been identified as contentment in another man. In him, it reverberated with edgy tension. His face looked drawn with tiredness today, his scar stark. He angled a look at her from beneath his Stetson.
“He’s running well.” Lyndie smiled and tucked back a wayward wisp of hair.
“Yes.”
You’re a real chatterbox, aren’t you, Jake? “What a beautiful morning. I’m loving the sunshine. It’s like California weather.” Crisp and bright.
“That’ll do for today.”
“Okay.” Conversational skills were not Jake’s strong point. She walked Silver in the direction of the barn.
Every chance she got, she’d been trying to engage Jake in simple conversation. He’d not yet been receptive. Apparently, he did not much enjoy communicating with his fellow human beings. Horses, yes. Humans, no.
Silver’s groom, Zoe, waited for them beside the path. Zoe had clothed her lanky six-foot frame in her usual work wardrobe of skinny jeans and a fraternity event T-shirt. Her lime green Hunter rain boots sported floral fleece liners that folded over the tops. With her super long and thin legs and arms, the twenty-two-year-old would never pass for a textbook sort of pretty. As it happened, Zoe possessed something far more winning: immediate likability.
Zoe gave Lyndie her customary salute, took gentle hold of the reins, and guided Silver into the barn. As
On Saturday, the final day of her first work week, Lyndie cooled Silver by jogging him around the training track. As usual, Jake stood just inside the rail, arms crossed. A handful of other riders worked their mounts around the oval while she rode. It shouldn’t be, then, that Jake’s gaze never seemed to leave her. Yet, as far asshe could tell, it didn’t leave her. Ever. Every single time Lyndie cut a glance at him while she was riding, for six mornings in a row, his attention had been focused on her. Day after day, horse after horse. She could only guess that he watched her constantly because she was new and he didn’t want her making a mistake with one of his horses.
She peeked at him as she passed by. And yes. There it was again, his attention locked on her. His gaze met hers with the force of a laser.
In response, something hot pinged in her stomach. He slid from view. This type of reaction to Jake had been sneaking up on Lyndie over the past couple of days. The pings and pangs were part physical magnetism, part awareness. Rare and delicious sensations for Lyndie. Also bemusing. It seemed that the girl who was not easily attracted to men had developed a small, uninvited attraction to one particular man.
Tall, Dark, and Brooding? Great choice, Lyndie. He’s your boss. He’s so solemnly in control of himself that he has no softness left. He doesn’t allow himself vulnerabilities. And nor , lest you forget, does he seem to like you in any way.
She didn’t know whether to blame the pings and pangs on the fragile connection that remained between the two of them or on the fact that Jake was . . . well . . . gorgeous.
He was. It really couldn’t be disputed. He was gorgeous in a ruthless, commanding, scarred pirate type of way. If you liked that sort of thing.
Her lips curled into a rueful smile. She hadn’t liked that sort of thing in the past. But surprisingly, she wasn’t immune.
How long had it been since she’d experienced a stirring of desire for anyone? Ages. A couple of years at least. It was fun and harmless to . . . tingle . . . over someone again. It wasn’t as if Jake was in danger of returning her feelings. Or as if this altered her intentions toward him.
She was determined to help him and his horse. The kind of help she had in mind for Jake had nothing to do with Valentine’s Day emotions and everything to do with God’s power to redeem.
Once she’d finished Silver’s cooldown, she brought the horse to a stop near the track’s rail. Jake held himself with the sort of stillness that might have been identified as contentment in another man. In him, it reverberated with edgy tension. His face looked drawn with tiredness today, his scar stark. He angled a look at her from beneath his Stetson.
“He’s running well.” Lyndie smiled and tucked back a wayward wisp of hair.
“Yes.”
You’re a real chatterbox, aren’t you, Jake? “What a beautiful morning. I’m loving the sunshine. It’s like California weather.” Crisp and bright.
“That’ll do for today.”
“Okay.” Conversational skills were not Jake’s strong point. She walked Silver in the direction of the barn.
Every chance she got, she’d been trying to engage Jake in simple conversation. He’d not yet been receptive. Apparently, he did not much enjoy communicating with his fellow human beings. Horses, yes. Humans, no.
Silver’s groom, Zoe, waited for them beside the path. Zoe had clothed her lanky six-foot frame in her usual work wardrobe of skinny jeans and a fraternity event T-shirt. Her lime green Hunter rain boots sported floral fleece liners that folded over the tops. With her super long and thin legs and arms, the twenty-two-year-old would never pass for a textbook sort of pretty. As it happened, Zoe possessed something far more winning: immediate likability.
Zoe gave Lyndie her customary salute, took gentle hold of the reins, and guided Silver into the barn. As
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