Summer Nights (Fool's Gold #8)(74)

She cleared her throat and searched for a safer topic. “So, um, how’s Wilbur settling in?”

“You really want to talk about the pig?”

“It seems safer.”

He glanced around, then returned his attention to her. “Good point. They probably don’t want us taking one of the tubs for a test drive.”

“It could be awkward. I’m not sure Marcus would approve.”

“Wilbur’s fine. Reno likes him more than Priscilla does, I think. It’s not like they share their innermost feelings with me. But he’s settled in and now the odd duet has become an even stranger trio.”

“I’m glad Priscilla isn’t alone. She must have been lonely by herself. Elephants are social animals.”

“Someone’s been doing research on the internet.”

“A little,” she admitted.

“Study any horse stuff?”

She laughed. “Some. Khatar is my one true love. I need to understand him.”

“He’s a pretty simple guy.”

“As are you.” She linked her arm with his and enjoyed the socially polite feel of his body next to hers. “Come on. Be a brave little toaster. We’re going to look at showers. This is going to be fun because some of them come with gadgets.”

“What do you mean?”

“You can get a steam shower if you want. Or one that you can program the temperature. You punch in what you want it to be and it tells you when it’s there.”

“I like technology.”

“I thought you might. There are also showers with heads coming out the side, so every part of you gets clean.”

He glanced at her. “I don’t need that. I have a woman come in every morning to wash me.”

“Really? I haven’t met this woman. What’s she like?”

“Beautiful. Naked. It’s how I start my day.”

She drew back. “Interesting. I think I liked you better when you were frightened of the sink choices.”

He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. “Don’t be jealous. She’s a professional. It’s a business arrangement.”

“The strange woman who bathes you every morning?”

“Uh-huh. But you could try out for the job. I’m a very easy grader.”

They’d arrived back at the bathrooms. She pointed to the electronic display. “See if they have a setting for icy cold. Because that’s all you’re getting from me.”

“I’m wounded.” He faced her and put his free hand on her waist. “If it really bothers you, I’ll get rid of her.”

“I think I’d like to meet this mystery woman of the professional washing.”

“You’d have to come over very early.”

“I guess I’d better get used to waking up early if I’m going to milk Heidi’s goats.”

“You should probably spend the night, just to make it easy on yourself.”

She found herself getting lost in his dark eyes. This was the Shane she liked most, she thought, wanting to lean in and feel his mouth on hers. The teasing, fun guy who made her heart beat faster.

Nearby, someone cleared his throat. Annabelle saw that Marcus had returned. She took a quick step back and sipped her coffee.

Shane didn’t look the least bit chagrined. “We were discussing the digital temperatures in the shower.”

“Ah, I see. You should look at this one. It changes color as the temperature changes.”

Shane grabbed her hand and drew her along after Marcus. “It changes color. I like that. Maybe we can find one that makes the water different colors, too.”

* * *

“YOU DID REALLY WELL,” Annabelle said four hours later as they drove back to Fool’s Gold. “We got everything you needed from the store. It will be shipped to the job site and make your contractor very happy.”

“Good. Because she has serious attitude if she’s not happy.”

Annabelle didn’t want to think about how much money Shane had spent in a single afternoon. All those fixtures added up, especially since he tended to choose high-end materials. She supposed she was going to have to integrate the fact that he wasn’t just a guy who worked with horses. He was a successful breeder and racehorse owner. She had a feeling he paid more in taxes than she made.

“With the measurements for what you bought, construction can continue,” she said.

“Yeah. I’ll get a two-day break and then she’ll be on me about lighting fixtures.”

“The electrician is going to need to know what goes where.”

He turned off the main highway for the road to the ranch. “Want to pick them for me?”

“No, but I’ll go with you.”

“Thanks.”

Their eyes met for a second and she felt the familiar flutter in her chest. He was good, she thought. Better than good.

As he made another turn, they passed a flatbed truck with the name of a delivery service going the other way. Shane groaned.

“What did she buy now?”

“At least it’s not an animal,” Annabelle said, looking at the flatbed, hoping to see a clue. “They always come in enclosed trailers.”

“Unless it was in a cage or something. Like a lion.”