Surrender to Temptation (12 page)

Nikki remained at the window, staring at the place from which they had disappeared with annoyance. Would Libby tell Chase that Nikki had been rude to her? Who was she to Chase? Not that Nikki was jealous or anything. Chase was free to hook up with whomever he liked. She was only showing an interest just in case it had a direct effect on her plans.

“And what the hell kind of a name is Libby, anyway?”

She didn’t realize she’d spoken aloud until Little Joe answered, “Her name is Liberty.”

The country air was making her act weird. “I was just curious. Nothing more.” She walked back toward the young man. “So, want to show me how to put a halter on a horse, Cowboy Joe?”

CHAPTER 8

“My flight was delayed, and I ended up missing the connection in Denver. The airline people were no help and rude. Remind me to never, ever again visit New York or fly…”

Chase listened to Liberty Hubbard’s rant as he unlocked the gate of the first paddock and held it open for her. He studied the thatches of grass for poisonous weeds. The wrong kind of weed could get a horse sick and affect pregnancy.

Libby was his Aunt Siobhán’s neighbor and Dean’s high school sweetheart, a woman he had loved beyond reason but who had disappointed him by marrying a man old enough to be her grandfather. It wasn’t that Libby hadn’t loved Dean—she had and still did—but she’d been determined to fulfill a vow she’d made to her grandfather.

Libby was to get back their ancestral land from a man who had won it in a card game. It hadn’t mattered that her late husband, Nathan Hubbard, had won it fair and square from Libby’s gambling grandfather. That land meant everything to Libby’s family. So she had married an ailing Nathan Hubbard and taken care of him, while Peter, his son from his first wife, had disowned him. The shame of his father marrying a full-blooded Crow Indian had been too much for Peter Hubbard to stomach. Not only had Peter refused to visit the old man, he’d stopped bringing his children to see their grandfather. Yet as soon as Nathan Hubbard had died and left half the land—including the homestead—to Libby and the other half to Peter, Peter had threatened to contest the will.

“Did Peter agree to back off, or is he still going ahead with the lawsuit?”

“He’s backing down. I gave him several chances to talk, but he refused, until the lawyer from your uncle’s firm gave him the letter. He came to my hotel two days later, furious and cursing me to hell and back, but he agreed to back down. I decided to catch up with some girlfriends and celebrate.”

“No wonder you’re in such a happy mood. Is your family settled in okay then?”

She grinned. “Except for my little brother, who wants to finish his schooling at the reservation, they are thrilled. Seeing my grandmother’s smile was worth the sacrifice,” Libby said with a smile. “Thanks for helping them settle in.”

“You should thank Dean, too. Without him, Sweet Pea would not have made it.”

The smile disappeared from Libby’s face. “I know. Curley shouldn’t have called him.
Jon knew the mare was due to deliver any minute.”

“But he lives an hour away, while Dean is right next door,” Chase explained. “He was great with the mare, Libby. The foal was coming out at an angle, but he made sure the delivery went smoothly. By the time the vet arrived, mother and foal were bonding.”

His cousin had called him early yesterday morning to observe the birthing. Dean insisted that a horse breeder had to be prepared for everything, including delivering foals when the vet was delayed. Chase hadn’t questioned Dean’s competence. The guy had grown up around horses and had helped Chase with a thing or two since he moved to the ranch.

“I don’t doubt Dean’s skills,” Libby said as they left the first paddock.

“Then thank the man instead of getting angry.”

“I’m not angry. I just hate being beholden to any man.”

“I’m sure Dean doesn’t see it that way. You know he will never understand why you married Hubbard unless you explain things to him,” Chase added.

“Why should I bother? He wasn’t willing to listen before.” She touched his arm. “Tell me about your new assistant. How long has she been here?”

Women! Chase shook his head at her stubbornness. “Nikki arrived two days ago.”

“Two days and she’s already helping around the farm? She’s different from the others, isn’t she? Even the men talk differently about her.”

Chase frowned at the change in Libby’s voice. “Nikki likes to rise to a challenge. Can you ride with us, say, in an hour?”

“Is she coming?” Libby asked glumly.

Chase stopped and studied her. “Yes. Is that a problem?”

She shrugged. “Maybe. I wasn’t nice to her.”

Chase frowned. “Why?”

“I don’t know, but she came back swinging.”

He chuckled. “Nikki Savoy doesn’t take things lying down.”

“Sounds like you like her,” Libby said, studying him with a peculiar expression.

Chase shrugged instead of answering her. He didn’t discuss his employees or his guests with anyone, including Libby. “So, can you exercise one of my horses or what?”

“Sure, but first, I must say howdy to Mrs. B and catch up.” Libby waved to him before heading toward the house.

Chase shook his head and went back to hunting for poisonous weeds. Knowing how cutting Libby could be, he was sure she had been unreasonably rude to Nikki.

A few minutes later, Chase yanked off his gloves, shoved them in the back pockets of his jeans, and went in search of Nikki. She was kneeling on a wooden box, her elbow on the stall door, and her eyes glued to Trinity.
Without alerting her of his presence, he stopped and watched them. If only she knew horses didn’t understand human talk like dogs. She had to learn horse talk, which was all body language.

She didn’t move or indicate that she knew he had entered the barn. She sighed and said, “I could stand here forever and just watch her.”

“The feeling seems mutual.” Chase went to stand
behind her and boxed her in by gripping the stall door on either side of her.

“It’s funny. I grew up in a small town in Texas Hill Country, watched rodeos and barrel racing, but I don’t remember seeing a mare like her,” she said. “She’s beautiful.”

Chase leaned in, loving the blend of her scents. “She is. I bought her at the Hanoverian Elite Foal and Broodmare auction. She’s even branded with their insignia.” He tilted his head to study her face. “So you are a country girl?”

“Not anymore. I’m a Cali girl now. And all this,” she indicated the ranch with a wave of her hand, “is pretty new.”

“Ready for more?”

“More? We just finished measuring the evening meal and even weighed out concentrated feed for each horse.”

“We have to put them to pasture while their stalls are mucked. The horses also have to be exercised and checked while they eat, rest, or play. Anything out of norm signifies even a bigger problem. Then their saddles and bridles must be cleaned and oiled, and the fences need to be mended.”

“Tell me again why you want to raise horses.”

He laughed softly and leaned forward until their eyes met. She stared back as though daring him. “I like a challenge. The tougher the better.”

Something flickered in her eyes, her breathing changing. “What if—”

He placed a finger on her lips and gave her a slow smile. “No ifs.”

Her lips parted, her breath warming his finger. The urge to replace his finger with his lips washed over him, but it was too soon. He reached for her right hand, pulled off the glove, and checked for any welts or bruises on her palm.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Just making sure you didn’t hurt yourself. You need sturdier gloves. Are you ready for more
challenges
?” He gave her a slow smile he’d used on women ever since he was old enough to appreciate their differences. He wasn’t surprised when her eyes widened.

“Lead the way, cowboy,” she said in a voice suddenly gone breathless.

Grinning, he didn’t let go of her hand as he led her toward the grooming room. In fact, he tucked her arm under his and interlaced their hands. He could swear he felt her tremble as he played with her fingers, absently stroking the thin sensitive skin between them. It pleased him when she didn’t pull her hand away. The attraction between them was undeniable, and he was happy she wasn’t running from it.

“What are we going to do now?” she asked.

“We aren’t done with the horses. You, city slicker, will groom your first horse today.” He walked into the tack room, pulled two halter ropes, and draped them over his shoulder. He still didn’t let go of her hand. He picked up a plastic container filled with brushes, sponges, and soaps.

“Which one?”

“Trinity, of course.” Her doubtful expression as he wrapped her fingers around the handle of the container made the need to reassure her wash over him. He reached out and trailed a finger along her cheek. Warm. Silky. Once again, she didn’t move from his caress.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you,” he whispered. “This will give you and Trinity a chance to bond
properly. It won’t happen telepathically from staring at each other, you know,” he teased.

“Quit making fun of me. I was plotting.”

“Just remember horses are herd animals with a pecking order. You have to show them you are the leader, the dominant one. Show them fear and they think they are in charge and won’t listen to you.”

He picked up another grooming kit and kept conversing as they took their kits to the grooming room.
Back at Trinity’s stall, he explained the basics of putting a halter on a horse, glancing at Nikki to make sure she understood.

Nikki didn’t say anything. Chase frowned. Maybe he was pushing her too hard. “You know, if you’ve had enough, we can stop.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Does that mean you think I’m not up to the challenge?”

“You tell me. I don’t want to rush you or force you to do anything you’re not ready for.”

“No one can force me do anything against my will, cowboy.”

“Some people get swept in the excitement of something new.” He wasn’t sure whether they were talking about them or the horse. “I’ll understand if you’re not interested.”

“I’m very interested.”

Their gazes locked.
They were definitely not talking about the horse.

“Prove it,” Chase said, his voice low.

“Okay,” she said slowly. Chin up, eyes not leaving his, she stepped closer and raised the hand not carrying the brushes toward his face.

Chase’s senses reacted to her nearness, her delectable scent, the bold way she was reaching up to touch him. The anticipation of kissing her sent blood rushing through his veins even though he’d thought it was too soon less than a minute ago. If she initiated it, he’d be a fool not to take her up on the offer. He leaned in, too.

With a whip of her wrist, she held out her hand, palm up. “The halter please.”

He frowned. “The halter?”

“Yes. You asked me to prove that I’m up to the challenge.”

“I wasn’t talking about the damn horse,” he snapped.

She gave him a slow smile. “I know. And you need to watch it with name calling. Trinity is not a
damn horse
.”

He shook his head. “Woman, you are…”

Her grin turned sassy. “I am what, cowboy?”

“I don’t know yet, but I’ll tell you as soon as I figure you out.” Swallowing his disappointment, he undid the halter and carefully placed it in her hand.

Throwing him a triumphant look, she talked softly to Trinity as she went to work.

***

Nikki used the horse to hide how flustered she was. She’d known what Chase meant as soon as a sensual glint had appeared in his eyes. He’d wanted her to kiss him, and she’d wanted to do it, too. Even now, as he watched her with heat in his eyes, she wanted to throw the halter on the ground, grab his shirt, and plant one on those sensual lips. The only thing stopping her was Libby.

“Not bad,” he said.

She grinned, rubbing the horse’s neck. “She’s a doll.”

Somehow, she managed to listen as he explained how to properly walk a horse, which she already knew, but any chance to continue casting her spell on the cowboy was never wasted. She was determined to get him talking.

Whispering to Trinity in a calm voice, she walked her to the grooming area. Chase stayed with her until she secured the reins on a hook. Then he went to get Thunder.

She watched him walk away, admiring his cocky swagger. The man could wear anything and still look smoking hot. His gloves dangled from the back pocket of his jeans, and she had an insane idea to replace them with her hands. He turned suddenly and captured her gaze, a smug masculine grin settling on his lips.

She didn’t know how she managed to focus after that. The silence between them was ripe with tension. Every time she looked up, she caught his eyes on her.

They were finishing when Nikki looked up and saw Libby through the window. The woman was hurrying toward the barn. She didn’t look happy. The way Chase kept staring at Nikki would definitely push Libby over the edge. That would be hilarious. She didn’t like the bitch.

“Looks like your girlfriend got tired of waiting for you inside the house,” Nikki said.

Chase followed the direction of her gaze and frowned. “Libby is not my girlfriend.” At Nikki’s cocked eyebrow, he chuckled and added, “She and my cousin Dean have a history that goes way back. They were high school sweethearts, but things didn’t go as planned.”