Read Online Borderland Beauty by Samantha Holt - Free Book Online Page A

for his liking. Damn it, she’d be cut to shreds in the woods. He’d never reach her in time.
    As the horse careered towards the bare trees, Dominic fought the urge to close his eyes and he watched helplessly as Lucy plunged forward and her mare reared. His breaths came raggedly as he closed in on her, ready to leap from his saddle and scoop her off the floor. But as the horse reared, instead of crashing to the ground like he expected, she snatched at the reins and held the horse in mid-air for a moment before its powerful hooves crashed to the ground.
    Dominic blinked as she urged her horse around, bounding back up the hill and past him, flashing him a bright smile as she went. He came to a stop and gave chase, cursing again but this time directing his curse at Lucy. She flicked a look over her shoulder and slowed down her pace as he gained on her.
    “Hell’s teeth, lass, are you mad?” he grated out, struggling to regain his breath as he approached. He clenched his reins, fighting the urge to clamp his hands around Lucy and shake her for scaring him so.
    Lucy laughed and his breath stuck in his throat as he drew his mount to her side. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled with delight. Eyeing the tilt of her pale lips, his body tensed as heat ignited under his skin. It almost dampened his anger.
    Almost.
    “You could have been killed,” he persisted when she showed no sign of remorse.
    “Misty would never throw me,” she said with a grin and an affectionate pat to the horse’s mane.
    He swiped a hand over his damp brow and glowered at her. “You could have been scratched to death in those trees. Of all the foolish—”
    “I had little intention of being dragged through the trees. It just took me a while to calm her down, ‘tis all. I had everything under control.” She secured him with a serious look.
    “Under control? Under—” he spluttered.
    “It was hardly my fault that Misty was startled, Lord Dominic. There is little reason for you to be so riled with me.” Her lips tilted again as she cast her gaze over his exasperated expression. “But you need not have given chase. I was in no need of rescuing.”
    “Ack!” He sucked in a deep breath and held it, forcing the swell of anger down. It was a rare thing for him to lose his temper but, by God, Lucy was testing it. “You are damned lucky you were not hurt. You may not care for your neck, but I…” he hesitated before adding firmly, “I do.”
    Her smile dropped swiftly and her eyes flew wide. She opened her mouth but he held up a hand.
    “You’ve had your fun for the day. Can we return to the keep? I have need of a strong drink.”
    Dropping her gaze, Lucy shifted in her saddle and Dominic suffered a pang of remorse for his temper. Ack, she was right, it was not her fault the horse had been startled.
    “I meant not to rile you,” she offered quietly, “‘twas not my intention. I did not think you’d be so concerned and I knew Misty would not lead me to harm.”
    His posture softened and he shook his head with a small smile. “‘Tis alright, lass.” His gaze skimmed over her. “You have some skill with a horse.”
    The red in her cheeks deepened at his words. It amused him how compliments towards her figure or her beauty merely garnered him a wry look of disbelief but one word on her riding skills and she flustered like a young maid.
    “I enjoy riding,” she told him carefully.
    “Aye, that much is evident. ‘Tis the first time you’ve directed one of those smiles at me.” He leaned over and brushed a wisp of hair away from her face, noting the slight parting of her lips. “Would that I could garner another one.”
    Dominic watched as she tried and failed to tame her smile and fix him with a stern look. He chuckled and she shook her head with a flash of a grin that made his stomach clench.
    She manoeuvred her horse away from him, taking it a few steps forward before looking at him over her shoulder. “Do not hold onto