High Stakes Chattel by Andie Blue

her. He’d never seen a woman ride astride before.
    “Well, just be careful,” he murmured, returning to his paper and trying once again to ignore her. He’d never get anything done if had that image in his head all day.
    She excused herself moments later, and Nico took his coffee up to his lab. He stared down into the microscope and began to make notes. Before long, instead of working, he found himself standing at the window, staring down at the stables, waiting for her to come into view.
    At last she did, her brilliant auburn hair already out of its pins and streaming behind her like a flag. She probably thought her curly auburn mane the bane of her existence, but he loved it. Her hair was as wild and free as she was. She sat the stallion beautifully, a born horsewoman, dressed once again in those boy’s trousers he so loved. 
    “Uggh,” he grunted to himself and started to pace in front of the windowsill. After watching her a few more minutes, he suddenly had no desire to spend the day cooped up inside, bent over his microscopes. He wanted to go out into the park, breathe in the fresh air, and enjoy the company of his captivating houseguest. Perhaps it would be a good opportunity to set things right between them.
    Decision made, he briskly walked down to his room to change into riding clothes and stopped in the kitchen to have Mrs. Lotte pack a picnic lunch.
    She’d had such a head start on him by the time he got on his horse that it took him a while to find her. At last he caught sight of her standing beside the small lake on the far edge of his property, letting her stallion graze quietly in the long grass beside her. He’d never seen that view look so beautiful.
    “Here you are,” he said as he dismounted. “I’ve been looking for you.”
    “Is something wrong?” she asked, turning to look at him, her look concerned.
    “No,” he replied, coming to stand beside her. “After you left this morning, I just started thinking that a ride sounded like a good idea and I wanted to join you.”
    She gave him a shy smile, obviously happy. “Your property is beautiful,” she told him. “I’ve been enjoying myself very much.”
    “Thank you,” he told her, pleased. “I like it too. Beyond the park there are crop fields. We grow wheat, potatoes and sugar beets and have quite a herd of sheep.”
    “So you are a farmer like me ?”
    “No, I have help. But I do enjoy the challenge of managing the estate and working with my steward to make improvements in the land and crops. It is similar to science in experimentation.”
    “Yes. Little things make a big difference in the success or failure of the land.” It was strange that they were speaking so politely to each other when twelve hours earlier he had been kissing her against the window. He tried to put the memory out of his head.
    “You are a good rider.” Nico gazed over at her horse. The stallion was a very fine animal. She smiled, obviously pleased with his praise.
    “ How do you feel about a race to the tree line?” he asked, pointing across the lake. “If you win, you can have your pick of the cherry tarts. I had Mrs. Lotte pack us a lunch.”
    She raised a challenging brow. “Well, I hardly think it’s a fair match up, but I’ll take you up on it.”
    “I’ll give you a head start,” he told her with a grin.
    “I meant for you!” Laughing, she strode over to her horse and leapt on, and he groaned inwardly at the sight of her in those trousers. He absolutely loved the way the fabric molded her lovely curves and long, slender legs. How was he expected to remain platonic while she sported those pants? He was so busy gawking that he hadn’t even mounted his chestnut yet before she spurred her stallion off at breakneck speed.
    Shaking his head at himself, he quickly jumped on the ch estnut and took off after her. How long had it been since he’d done anything so pointless, just for enjoyment? She made him feel like he was twenty, and in love