Read Online Haze of Heat by Jennifer Dellerman - Free Book Online Page B

have been Spanish and Magnus snorted once, his big body dropping as he went down on one knee in a low, equine bow.
    Rachel’s jaw dropped. “That’s amazing.” She glanced at Porter. “What did you tell him?”
    He spoke something else and the horse rose. “I simply told him to take a bow, praised him, and released him. All in Spanish.”
    “Why Spanish?”
    His wide shoulders lifted in a negligent shrug. “I find it easier to train in a language other than the one I normally speak. That way I or someone else doesn’t accidentally say a command at the wrong time. I also incorporate hand and arm gestures, but it really depends on what works best for the animal.”
    Rachel glanced to the horse and then back at Porter. “How do you know what works best?”
    White teeth flashed against the deep honey of his skin. “I talk to them. Get to know them.”
    As if things couldn’t get any weirder. A jaguar shifter who trained and commanded horses to do his bidding. Unbelievable. Now Rachel could add horse-whisperer along with ghosts, pirates, hidden treasure, underground caves, vampires, threatening ex-husbands, orchards, private wildlife reserve, her own feline’s strange interest in Porter, and the sight of enough security to rival Fort Knox, to the list of oddities that were part and parcel of this particular pack.
    With all of this going on, hiding and worrying about some measly stalker was the last thing on her mind. “It sounds complicated.”
    “Not really. It’s like any new relationship. Sometimes it’s a slow melding, submitting of one’s trust and respect as two people get to know each other.” He angled his head to lay those mesmerizing eyes on her with a scorching heat she swore she actually felt. “And sometimes it’s instinctive .”
    Alarm bells clanged, but they couldn’t penetrate the sudden feeling of being trapped in a seductive web by Porter’s unwavering gaze. Some part of her being was jumping and waving, desperate for her attention, while the other wanted to slink into a puddle of feminine goo. It wasn’t until she felt her feline half roll over, exposing her belly in a submissive position, that the warning blared through in a single word.
    Charmer.
    Her jaw tightened, as did her resolve. No doubt he used the same line on countless other females, making them think the fierce attraction between them was special. Rare. Something to take a hold of with both hands and never let go.
    Until his interest waned. Would that be after one night or two? Didn’t matter. Neither did the knowledge that she’d nearly willingly and wholeheartedly fallen at his feet. What was important was that she’d caught herself in time.
    “It’s also instinctive to step on a cockroach,” Rachel retorted.
    At her side, Gwen hooted with glee and slapped Rachel on the shoulder. “Nice one, Rach! Now that I know she can handle you,” Gwen shot Porter an indecipherable look, “I don’t have to worry about you seducing a guest .”
    Though Porter clamped his mouth shut, his eyes threatened to incinerate Gwen on the spot. “Rachel, if you’re still interested in learning to ride, give me a few minutes to brush Magnus down and saddle up Daisy.”
    Rachel smelled a story at the silent message that passed between Gwen and Porter, causing her inquisitive self to lean in, all aquiver for any juicy tidbit. Were Gwen’s words a warning or reminder? Had Porter slept with a guest, resulting in some bad juju?
    Not only did Rachel’s inquiring mind want to know, her curiosity always overpowered her natural introvert tendencies. “Actually, if you don’t mind, Porter, I’d like to go with you.” She shrugged, the tiniest of smiles playing on her lips when four sets of eyes looked at her, if one counted Maddie and Magnus. “Maybe I could talk to Daisy while you take care of Magnus.” Her eyes twinkled. “Get to know her and vice versa, as you stated.”
    Porter’s face went from feral to blank to smug satisfaction in