River Road (River's End Series, #4) (5 page)

He didn’t. He suddenly seemed to notice his hand was still resting, warm and comforting, on her back. The heat of it permeated the material of her tank top. She sighed, glancing down. It was ruined. Dirt blackened it. “What happened to me? I was sitting up and staring out at the gorgeous view—”
You, actually,
but she didn’t say that out loud to the shy cowboy. “And then, I did a face plant on the ground.”

“Horse shook and jumped. It got startled and you slipped off like an icicle melting off a steam room.”

“It was so fast. I couldn’t react in time.”

She finally examined her face and came away with dirt and grit on her fingers. She lifted her ruined top and wiped it, leaving a black mask imprint of her face. “There goes a small country’s budget.”

“What?”

Kate showed him the white material. “This brand of shirt. It’s ruined. Forever a rag now. Shame, too. This was a killer find, and I got it at a clearance sale, plus half off that. You’d celebrate with me if you’d only seen the original price.”
Plus, it makes my tits look killer
. But she withheld that comment out of respect for her shy cowboy’s sensibilities.

“Maybe it’s a good idea not to wear clothes that cost so much out here.”

“Really? Can I borrow some? Because I don’t have any, which is why I’m wearing these.”

“You didn’t consider that while you were packing to come to a horse ranch for vacation?” His tone implied she was incomprehensibly stupid to him. He was so close, his jaw was easy for her to inspect. Little whiskers covered it, so he must not have shaved this morning. She imagined his scruffy cheeks running over her thighs, rough and scratchy to the sensitive, delicate skin, going higher, and higher… She mentally banished her thoughts when she began fantasizing. Could any man cause quite the visceral and physical reaction inside her as this one did? Then again, maybe if she met a few more who looked like him, and worked with their hands and had muscles and were dirty and sweaty… Well, hell, she would have to fan herself soon if she didn’t stop.

“I wasn’t sure what I was packing for,” she grumbled. He rose and put his hand out, palm up. Again, she was struck at how appealing his hands were. She put her hand in his, the red manicured nails and slim, long fingers looking so elegant against his stubby, wide ones. Like a small, delicate flower growing through the rocks on a mountain. He gently tugged and pulled her up to her feet. She wobbled on her boots. “Or that I’d stay.”

“And yet, you’re staying?” he asked softly. He had a low, deep voice, but the tone he spoke in now was reservedly low, and she had to intensely focus on his lips to make sure she clearly heard him.

She stared eyeball-to-eyeball at him as a small, smirk lifted one side of her mouth. “Oh, I’m staying.”

He let go of her hand and cleared his throat. And like that, the moment was broken.

Behind AJ, the horses stood with their heads down, their jaws working the long strands of grass clumps, grinding the mouthfuls they swallowed, only to do it over again. Their reins hung loose and relaxed over their long, bent necks. They looked as peaceful and calm as the surrounding pine trees and natural scenery. “Well, I see the experience traumatized them as much as it did me,” she scoffed.

AJ sauntered over to them. He grabbed both of the horses’ reins and walked them towards her. They easily followed him without any resistance. “Are you afraid to get back on?”

“Oh, hell no. No four-legged animal decides if I ride it or not.” Her voice was filled with gusto, even though her stomach was filled with nervous butterflies now.

He nodded and held her horse still as she scrambled back onto the saddle. She gripped the saddlehorn this time, completely determined not to let it go. Her body was jarred and her head was still ringing. She would surely hurt tonight. And need a hot bath and big glass of wine.

He let her reins go before remounting his own horse. “Good. Now just be sure to pay attention at all times. It can seem very peaceful up here, and they are great horses, but they can easily startle at any time. They don’t mean you any harm, it’s just a reflex for them. So just…”

“Hold on for the ride?”

“Something like that,” he said with the smallest, flirty smile. It was there, but gone just as quickly as she blinked. Then he whipped his horse around and moved in front of hers. Okay, the cowboy thing was hot. Never before had she considered it, but yeah, it was
Master and Commander
kind of stuff. Man against nature. Primal. Sexual. She sighed. All this man did was keep making her go there.

She finished her ride with relative pride, clutching the saddlehorn and squeezing the reins until her fingers ached, but she stayed on. When they re-entered the ranch, she could see the last of the large group that Erin took riding. Most were already gone and dispersing towards the cabins. That left… only Erin.

As they entered the ranch from the driveway and stopped just outside the arena, Erin came sauntering out of a little room off the arena. The horse tack must have been stowed there, Kate suspected. Erin leaned her slim shoulder against the side of the building, using her hand to shade her eyes as she watched them ride up. Kate envied the narrow width of her shoulders. Kate’s were wide and just as stout as the rest of her. She was tall and thin, but not thin-boned by any means. Her shoulders might have even been a bit too boxy.

“Hey, AJ,” Erin called. “How was the ride?”

He stopped his horse and stood, swinging his leg around. Erin’s gaze landed on Kate. She jerked off the wall. “What happened?”

Kate touched her cheek. “Good lord. How bad do I look?”

Erin walked forward and grabbed the horse’s nose, the bridle, as AJ called it. “I’m sorry. My name is Erin Rydell. I’m—”

“The owner? Therefore the one who is liable and worried I might be an unreasonable, selfish asshole who decides to sue you for a random, stupid accident? Don’t worry, I own a business too, I get it. I fell off the horse due to my own carelessness. Not AJ’s, not the horse’s fault, certainly not the ranch’s and therefore, not your fault either. Believe me, I plan to drink a bottle of wine and forget this even happened. I’m not planning to hash it out anywhere, especially in public.”

Erin’s facial expression showed her shock, surprise, and finally, a genuine smile. “Ah, well, I wasn’t going to say that. But yes. I’m responsible for the horseback rides here.”

“And the owner?”

“No. Jack is the owner.”

“Isn’t he your husband? I’m sure I heard Jocelyn say that.” No, Kate knew that before she came, but why wouldn’t this woman claim this place as hers? Her job and her right? God, why give her husband all the credit? Like she’s just a lucky little lady because she is supported there?

“Yes. This ranch belongs to his family.”

“And therefore, it’s legally half yours,” Kate said as she swung her leg down and got to her now shaky feet. Her butt and the backs of her thighs shook and cramped. Damn horse. She hung on to the saddle. “You all seem concerned. I’m guessing that since AJ here didn’t know my name, nor did Jocelyn, apparently, take it down, I’m guessing there must be some kind of liability form you usually have guests sign before riding your horses. Get it for me and I’ll sign it now. No harm, no foul. I’m just embarrassed, but not looking to cause any trouble.”

Erin visibly released her breath and held up a paper. “Yes. Thank you, Mrs. Morgan. Jocelyn did forget. I assumed… I think AJ assumed…”

“Read me the highlights until the feeling returns to my ass.”

Kate was too busy staring at her feet while wiggling her toes to make her blood circulate. So when Erin didn’t reply, Kate glanced up and Erin’s face was almost white. She stared down at the paper, as a weird, almost horrified expression appeared on her face. AJ suddenly, quickly, and faster than she ever saw him move, grabbed the paper from her. It made a
whoosh!
sound as it flapped and he held it in one hand.

Wow. These men around here… Kate would have kicked them in the shins the way they seemed to strong-arm Erin. The ultimate condescending treatment for
the little woman
.

AJ started to read. Liability issues, not Rydell River LLC responsibility if she got hurt, blah blah, blah; the legalese continued.

Kate held the horse while she nodded. “Sounds all legit. Hand me a pen and I’ll—”

“What’s going on? Why do you look like you’re holding a meeting?”

The male voice came from outside the arena’s walls. It was blocked by the ass end of the horse Kate had ridden. She was still holding on to its saddle as her aching, jarred body staggered with weariness. It was his voice. For some reason, Kate was sure of it that time. This wasn’t any ranch hand or foreman or stranger. No, the authority and confidence in his tone, expecting an answer, had to belong to Jack Rydell, the owner of the ranch, the resort; Erin’s husband and her own half-brother.

His head appeared first, rising above the top of the wall, turning into the arena and past the horses. He wore a tan cowboy hat and a chambray shirt. He came fully into view then, his long legs and extended torso, and he appeared to be in good shape. He was surprisingly neat for a guy who shoveled horse shit all day. His jeans were unripped and clean. He was tall, like AJ and her. His body was lean and sinewy. Handsome, but a different kind of handsome from the brute strength of AJ and his boxy, rough-hewn face. Jack stopped right beside Erin, leaning down to swipe a kiss on her forehead.

“She fell off the horse,” Erin blurted out. Kate glanced at Erin as she gazed up at him, her eyes foggy with concern. “I forgot to check. I was taking the larger group out, and at the last minute, we had AJ step in—”

“And I forgot to check too.”

Kate stood there, her head turning from Erin to AJ and back, before rising to look up at Jack. Good God. It seemed like they were both little mice and the big, bad cat had just entered the room, deciding which one he should attack first. Kate rolled her eyes. Jack’s first impression didn’t bode well for Kate. He seemed to strong-arm the help, as well as his wife, judging by the way they both seemed so anxious to justify a stupid, clerical error.

“It’s not your job, AJ. It’s mine.”

“Actually, it’s Jocelyn’s,” Jack countered in a quiet tone, his mouth turning into a frown.

Kate rolled her eyes, but faced the horse, so no one saw. “So he was reading it to me while I was dismounting. What’s the big deal? I told you all I’d sign it. No harm, no foul.”

Jack’s gaze finally shifted to her and he stared into her eyes, without flinching or shyness. His gaze swept over her, taking in all the details of her appearance. But he wasn’t checking her out. She’d have to give him credit for that. He didn’t stand there ogling her in front of his wife. 

Jack stepped forward, stretching his arm out. “I’m Jack Rydell. I—”

“Own the place? I’ve heard your name from many different sources. Kate Morgan.” She stepped forward too, right into his personal space, and pumped his hand up and down with a vigorous, healthy shake. She nodded her head as she said her name, giving him direct eye contact. No mousey little woman here. She intended to make sure this macho, old-fashioned asshole understood that right off.

“No, no. My family owns it. I’m more the… the acting operations manager. Anyway, sorry you took a spill. Are you sure you don’t need to get checked out at the hospital, Mrs. Morgan?”

“No. I’m a little bruised and got the wind knocked out of me. Used to happen when I fell off the swing on the playground. I certainly don’t need any medical attention. Just give me your form and it’s signed. No one needs to take blame or responsibility for anything.”

AJ handed it to her and Erin scrambled off before returning with a pen. Kate took both and scrawled her signature. “There. Your ranch and resort are safe from any lawsuit from me.”

Jack smiled. “Thank you for understanding.”

“And not being an unreasonable asshole. You’re welcome. Sad you all have to be so diligent, isn’t it? Providing a rare treat here, and some people go off and be stupid and all. I run a business too, I get covering one’s ass, Jack.” She held his gaze as she said his name. None of this
Mr
.
and
Mrs.
shit.

Jack’s smile widened. “No comment on the stupid people. We have
guests
. But yes, some can be… interesting. What business are you in?” Somehow, his emphasis and tone when he said
guests
suggested how little he thought of them, and therefore, Kate too, for being one.

“I run a consulting company that streamlines businesses from their operations to the way in which they market their products.”

“Based in Seattle?”

“Yes.” Wow, one minute of conversation and Jack knew more about her, including her name, than AJ had gleaned after over an hour spent all alone with her.

“Well, I appreciate your willingness to sign our paperwork, even after the fact.”

Why? Because he would have beaten up Erin or AJ for not obtaining it beforehand? God, he seemed too heavy-handed. Jeez. Erin was his wife, not his employee.

“Sure. Now I’m going to take some pain meds along with some alcohol.”

He stepped aside. Erin smiled as she moved to take Kate’s horse. She heard Jack say, “AJ, can you mow the lawn over by the cabins before lunch?”