Read Online His Arranged Marriage by Tina Leonard - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tina Leonard
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Heat,” Serena murmured softly. “Not that you’d need any introduction.” She took down a lead rope and, before Cade could stop her, opened the stall. “You’re magnificent,” she breathed. “Much more impressive than even your pictures,” she said to the wary horse. He eyed her and she allowed him to, without extending a hand to him. His great nostrils quivered as he decided whether or not to accept her in his space.
“Serena—” Cade started, but his brother’s handon his arm stopped him. “She’s going to get kicked, or worse.”
Mac shook his head. “It would have happened by now. The horse was ready for attention. He senses Serena is going to give it to him.”
“She isn’t used to riding stallions! She probably rode overfed palace ponies, if they didn’t have retainers who rode her horses for her!”
“Serena seems to know what she’s about. If she puts the saddle on backward, you’ll know she’s inexperienced and can step in to help. But give her a chance. She’s trying to fit in.”
Cade’s breath stuck in his throat as he watched the delicate princess woo Texas Heat. The horse drew his head near enough to smell her, giving Cade a fright that Serena might soon lose an ear. But the horse dropped his head a little, satisfied, and Serena slipped the bridle on him without difficulty after inserting the bit.
“Well done,” Mac murmured, his voice tinged with admiration.
“So far,” Cade grumbled.
“Come on, handsome,” she said, leading the horse from the stall. Texas Heat came out, his body proud with shining majesty. “Now, this is a male who needs no words to showcase his attributes,” she said to Cade and Mac, while firmly patting the neck muscles. “No need to brag about his prowess. No, this steed knows he has descended from a line ofproud royalty, and to pretend otherwise would not be possible. In his very posture, he shows he is a king among his kind.”
She led the horse out from the stable and secured him for saddling, choosing a western saddle for herself and putting it on the horse without assistance. Placing a foot into the stirrup, she neatly vaulted herself into the seat. She stared down at the two cowboys with wicked glee, but her words were aimed at Cade. “I imagine that when he is sent to visit with a lady, he goes about his business with the sure execution a female expects from a male. Masterfully, enthusiastically, without having to be prodded—and certainly without boastful displays to cover his own lack of confidence.”
Smiling into Cade’s astonished eyes, she turned the horse, starting an even canter away from him, before glancing over her shoulder at him for a split second. He could hear her laughter on the breeze.
“What the hell was that all about?” Mac demanded. “Is the princess trying to tell you something?”
Cade stomped over to swiftly saddle Dakar. “That I am a recalcitrant prince and lover. On the one hand, she is correct. On the other, she, by the stars, is not. ”
Mac laughed as Cade leaped astride the stallion and none too slowly tore out of the stable. “I’ll call the county fire department,” he called after hisbrother, “and warn ’em they’re not to worry if they see sparks flying from The Desert Rose!”
I N THE HOUSE , Rose was placing the most difficult phone call of her life. She dreaded telling the king what had transpired so much that her hands shook. Never in her life could she have imagined that Cade would do as he had done.
And yet, he and the princess seemed determined to, if not fall head over heels in instant love, to be satisfied to dig at each other like splinters under skin.
She had never seen Cade act in such a manner. He reminded her of Dakar when a female was brought to him. There was much display of cocky body language, designed to illuminate his magnificent muscles and strong bearing. Rarely had a mare been able to resist the eventual mating, more often than not surrendering to him with
“Serena—” Cade started, but his brother’s handon his arm stopped him. “She’s going to get kicked, or worse.”
Mac shook his head. “It would have happened by now. The horse was ready for attention. He senses Serena is going to give it to him.”
“She isn’t used to riding stallions! She probably rode overfed palace ponies, if they didn’t have retainers who rode her horses for her!”
“Serena seems to know what she’s about. If she puts the saddle on backward, you’ll know she’s inexperienced and can step in to help. But give her a chance. She’s trying to fit in.”
Cade’s breath stuck in his throat as he watched the delicate princess woo Texas Heat. The horse drew his head near enough to smell her, giving Cade a fright that Serena might soon lose an ear. But the horse dropped his head a little, satisfied, and Serena slipped the bridle on him without difficulty after inserting the bit.
“Well done,” Mac murmured, his voice tinged with admiration.
“So far,” Cade grumbled.
“Come on, handsome,” she said, leading the horse from the stall. Texas Heat came out, his body proud with shining majesty. “Now, this is a male who needs no words to showcase his attributes,” she said to Cade and Mac, while firmly patting the neck muscles. “No need to brag about his prowess. No, this steed knows he has descended from a line ofproud royalty, and to pretend otherwise would not be possible. In his very posture, he shows he is a king among his kind.”
She led the horse out from the stable and secured him for saddling, choosing a western saddle for herself and putting it on the horse without assistance. Placing a foot into the stirrup, she neatly vaulted herself into the seat. She stared down at the two cowboys with wicked glee, but her words were aimed at Cade. “I imagine that when he is sent to visit with a lady, he goes about his business with the sure execution a female expects from a male. Masterfully, enthusiastically, without having to be prodded—and certainly without boastful displays to cover his own lack of confidence.”
Smiling into Cade’s astonished eyes, she turned the horse, starting an even canter away from him, before glancing over her shoulder at him for a split second. He could hear her laughter on the breeze.
“What the hell was that all about?” Mac demanded. “Is the princess trying to tell you something?”
Cade stomped over to swiftly saddle Dakar. “That I am a recalcitrant prince and lover. On the one hand, she is correct. On the other, she, by the stars, is not. ”
Mac laughed as Cade leaped astride the stallion and none too slowly tore out of the stable. “I’ll call the county fire department,” he called after hisbrother, “and warn ’em they’re not to worry if they see sparks flying from The Desert Rose!”
I N THE HOUSE , Rose was placing the most difficult phone call of her life. She dreaded telling the king what had transpired so much that her hands shook. Never in her life could she have imagined that Cade would do as he had done.
And yet, he and the princess seemed determined to, if not fall head over heels in instant love, to be satisfied to dig at each other like splinters under skin.
She had never seen Cade act in such a manner. He reminded her of Dakar when a female was brought to him. There was much display of cocky body language, designed to illuminate his magnificent muscles and strong bearing. Rarely had a mare been able to resist the eventual mating, more often than not surrendering to him with
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