Reckless(23)

The words come without thinking. “Because this doesn’t feel like work.” I’m not sure if I mean raising horses or the idea of teaching her what I do, but the answer is the same regardless.

I don’t mean to check her out, but it’s hard not to notice her beauty or her warm amber eyes. Those rosy, flushed cheeks. Her teasing smile.

Tori twists her long hair up into a top knot, and I can’t help appreciating her graceful neck.

Which has me looking down her body, my pulse quickening from the generous curves of her breasts beneath the maddeningly snug tank top.

I look away, not wanting to be that guy.

A moment later, her voice draws my attention back to her.

“Must be nice to have something you love so much.” A cool breeze blows through the barn, and she tilts her head and closes her eyes. “To have something that’s so a part of you, you feel it all the way down to the soles of your shoes.”

“It’s fulfilling, for sure, and there’s nothing like teaching someone who loves horses how to ride.” It’s true. It’d be a damn delight to show her the ropes if she’s as interested in these guys as I think she is. Peeling off my baseball cap, I wipe the sweat off my forehead and put my baseball cap on backwards, so I can feel more of that breeze on my face. I lower my voice, so my children don’t overhear. “But I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t stressful. Being here, doing this for my family, it’s a lot of pressure. As much as I love the ranch, I wish I could spend more time with my kids.”

She studies my face, and those crazy golden eyes turn wistful. “You’re a good guy, Ethan Carter.”

Her praise washes over me, and I’m almost speechless from the compliment. I open my mouth, but a shrill female voice interrupts.

“Ethan, honey. Yoo-hoo!” Mallory struts through my barn even though I don’t have her down for a lesson today.

The sweet, dreamy gaze in Tori’s eyes shutters faster than my brother drops his drawers on a Friday night.

Mallory flutters up to us. “And who is this?” She eyeballs Tori up and down, but Tori gives her a small smile.

“I’m nobody. Just the nanny. I’ll get out of your hair so you guys can work.” With a quick wave, she wrangles the kids and is out the door before Mallory’s claws fully extend.

After I get my client out of my hair, I’m still thinking about Tori and how she made us lunch. Apparently, my brother is too.

He elbows me when I reach for the leftover cookies in my desk.

“Maybe you don’t need to head out to find yourself a little hookup.” He wiggles his fingers around his head. “Because the sparks were flying around here earlier with you and your new employee.”

“Shut the fuck up,” I grunt. “You and I both know I have too much on my plate right now to entertain anything like that.”

But sometimes, I wish I didn’t.





12





Tori





Even with my bedroom door closed, I can hear the kids in the kitchen. The way their dad talks sweetly to them. His deep voice. Their laughter.

Part of me—a big part of me—wants to go out there and enjoy dinner with them, but after we had lunch in the barn with Ethan and his brother, I don’t need more opportunities to see Ethan with his children. To see how much he adores them. How hard he works to provide for them. How much he wants to spend time with them.

Lucky kids.

Wish I could’ve seen my dad in the middle of the day like that. Laughed with my sister so easily when we were young. The thought makes my stomach ache.

I’m not sure who that woman in the barn was, but she gazed at Ethan like he was a prized stallion she wanted to mount, with or without the audience. I’m surprised she didn’t lean over and lick him to show ownership.

No amount of sexy ruggedness is enough to get me interested in a guy who might be involved elsewhere.

Never mind that he’s still married.

Yeah, complicated.

I’ll stick to my single lifestyle, thank you very much.

The best distraction just so happens to live a few miles down the road.

I pick up my phone and call my sister. Ten minutes later, I jump in Kat’s truck, and we head to her house.

“Hey, preggo. How’s your baby bun?” She can barely fit behind the wheel. How does she still have two months left to go? My vag hurts when I think about that delivery.

“Kickin’ up a storm. I almost peed my pants earlier today, and my back hurts like a mother.”

“Ooooh. Look at you almost curse.” I love teasing my sister. She’s always such a saint. Saint Katherine. I almost snort at my old nickname for her.

“Are you settling in at the ranch? How’s your room?”

I think about the pale blue paint with white trim and the neat bookshelf that’s been alphabetized. The lovely curtains that were obviously sewed with love and care, and the colorful quilt that covers the cushy queen-sized bed.

“It’s perfect.” I avoid telling her about the corner of my room where my shit explodes out of my suitcase. “Like the rest of the house. Spacious.”

Stunning. A dream house, really. A wrap-around porch with a swing and potted plants. Five bedrooms and three and a half baths. A fantastic kitchen with tons of gleaming counter space and every appliance imaginable. Big, comfy couches that make me itch to have a Netflix marathon.