Summer Nights (Fool's Gold #8)(62)

A couple of older women entered. Nevada waved at them, then leaned back in her chair. “Does anyone else think it’s strange that in a town like Fool’s Gold we don’t have one of those cute local coffee places? Not that I don’t love Starbucks, but don’t you think we need one?”

“We do,” Heidi agreed. “Maybe a coffeehouse art gallery.”

Annabelle grinned. “Or a place that has poetry readings.”

“Really bad poetry,” Nevada added.

“Of course. It’s the best kind. Or performance art. A woman brushing her hair for an hour or someone setting up a plant we could all watch grow.”

They laughed together.

“Don’t say anything to Mayor Marsha,” Nevada advised. “Trust me. The second she gets the idea that you’re the right person for the job, she’ll be on you and you won’t stand a chance.”

“I’m a believer,” Annabelle said. “Shane had no plans to teach those girls to ride horses and now he has horses for them and is scheduling regular lessons. It’s pretty funny.”

“She has more power than any of us can imagine,” Nevada said. “You have to respect that.”

Heidi and Nevada continued to talk about the mayor, but Annabelle found herself caught up in thoughts of Shane. He had resisted the horseback riding lessons, but in the end, he’d surrendered to the inevitable. The irony was, he was good with the girls. Patient and gentle with their delicate sensibilities. For all his macho attitude and developed muscles, he was kind of a pushover and she found she liked that in a guy.

With her divorce final and Lewis gone, maybe she and Shane could look forward to a little quiet time together. A chance to get to know each other better. Maybe in a room with a big bed and a lock on the door, she thought with a smile.

He was special, the kind of man worth hanging on to. She knew he was attracted to her. More important, he liked her. Now all she had to do was make sure there weren’t any more surprises.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“RELAX,” SHANE SAID patiently.

Annabelle tried to loosen her grip on the saddle. The good news was these days she was able to hang on with only one hand instead of both. That was progress.

She enjoyed the dance Shane had choreographed for Khatar. The steps were mostly easy, with swoops to the side and a couple of spins. It was the big finish, with the stallion coming up on his back legs, that still made her sweat. If only he weren’t so tall. She didn’t think having Reno make the same move would be so frightening.

“Okay,” she said, and drew in a deep breath. “Let’s go through it.”

Shane gave a three-tone whistle. As soon as she heard the sound, Annabelle nudged Khatar into place. The stallion knew what came next and easily worked through the steps. She guided him into a quick turn to the left, one more to the right and gripped him hard with her thighs as he rose into the air.

She leaned forward, going with the movement rather than fighting it, and tightened her stomach muscles to keep her from falling back. Her right hand held the reins and her left hovered over the saddle. At the last second, she raised her left arm so her fingers were nearly shoulder level. Khatar returned all four hooves to the ground and she shouted a cheer.

“Did you see?” she asked Shane as she patted the stallion. “I didn’t hold on.”

“I saw. That was great. You’ll do even better next time.”

She glanced at him. “Now you’re treating me like one of your students.”

“You are one of my students.”

“You know what I mean. You get that teacher voice.”

“You don’t like my teacher voice?”

“I’ve had your tongue in my mouth, so no.”

He crossed to her and helped her down. She slid to the ground and turned to face him, only to find him standing very close.

“No teacher crushes in high school?” he asked, his dark eyes crinkling with amusement.

“My teachers were all women, Shane. What about you?”

“Oh, my eleventh grade algebra teacher was hot,” he admitted. “Married, but hot.” He lightly touched her cheek. “About my tongue in your mouth…”

She grinned. “Yes?”

He glanced past her. “Maybe later. You know how he gets.”

She turned and patted the horse. “Are you jealous, Khatar? Not to worry. I love you best.”

“Figures,” Shane said. “Beaten by a horse.”

“He’s prettier than you. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you that, but it’s the truth. He’s one handsome guy.”

Later, when Khatar was back in his corral, Shane walked her to her car.

“What’s your schedule like at the library?” he asked. “Could you get a couple of days off?”

She leaned against her door. “That could be arranged. Why?”

“Deadline’s Dream is in a race in Del Mar on Saturday. I was going to go down and watch him run. I’d like you to come with me.”

“The Del Mar racetrack?”

“That’s the one. Have you been? It’s one of my favorite places to go.”

Excitement started at her toes and worked its way up. Tingles joined in and she did her best not to break into the happy dance.

“I haven’t been. It’s by San Diego, isn’t it?”