little voices, what it would feel like to sit on a horse, touch its soft, warm coat.
When Sam had brought the pony for the children to ride, Kate had mentioned that it was a working ranch and there were no suitable horses for learners. Lydia had felt a tug of disappointment. She imagined it would be lovely to feel the freedom of riding a horse across the miles of ranch land Sam seemed to own.
Distracted by loud thumping noises, Lydia’s attention was caught by the sight of Sam as he led a beautiful horse down the ramp of a horsebox and around the end of the corral toward her. Dark cream with an almost-white mane and tail, Lydia sighed with pleasure at the beauty of the creature.
Her heart kicked up a beat, and she tried to slow her rapid breathing down as Sam led the horse over to where she sat on the fence. She reached out automatically, unable to speak, and smoothed her fingers over the horse’s velvet nose. Sam seemed casual and relaxed, but she found she couldn’t look him in the eye. The man confused her and she didn’t want him to see it. She felt so stupid and petty. For the first time in years, someone had actually shown a genuine interest in her, kissed her, held her, and almost turned her to mush. Then in an instant, he’d been turned off by what he believed she had done to her body. Although she had constantly tried to remain aloof and give him the impression of being disinterested, it hurt her to think that after the sensuous flirtation that had taken place, he had walked away from her so easily.
He was still technically her brother-in-law, and it was quite obvious that he was gentleman enough to remain polite. Maybe it was easier this way. He’d made her feel special for a short while, and now they would be friends.
Lydia smiled as she came to terms with that idea. If he could do it, so could she.
“She’s beautiful. I’ve never seen a horse this color before.”
“She’s a palomino. She belongs to my mother. Gentle as a lamb.”
The horse nuzzled into her and distracted her, its liquid brown eyes mellow and full of age-old understanding. Lydia felt an urge to lean forward and place her forehead against the horse’s face. She reached over, touched its soft ears, and watched as it nodded and then blew a breath out.
“She’s getting impatient,” Sam said from beside her. “Perhaps you should get on and see if that makes her happy.”
Lydia sat up straight.
“Get on? I can’t ride.”
“Now’s your chance to learn.”
“You want me to learn to ride?” She couldn’t mask her confusion.
“Only if you want to.” He looked up at her, but she tried her best to avoid eye contact. He leaned forward and took hold of her chin, turning her face toward him. He stared deep into her eyes. His were direct and probing.
“Lydia, what’s going on?” She frowned down at him and then huffed out, making the horse jerk it’s head. Sam murmured to it; his large hard, workman’s hands stroked its neck to soothe it.
“You confuse me,” she stated baldly.
“I do? Why would that be?” He used the same tone as he had with the palomino—calm and patient as though she was a sweet little innocent and not the mother of twins.
She felt so unsure of herself.
She looked down and rubbed her hands across her knees.
“I’m sorry…”
“Do you have a reason to apologize to me?” Her head came up at his sharp tone, and she stared him right in the eye.
“If you keep apologizing to me for nothing, I’m going to get pissed off.” Surprise had her jerk upright on the fence and pay close attention. “If you do something I don’t like, I’ll let you know. If you feel I’m right, you can apologize. I don’t know what went on in your life before, but I’m starting to get the idea.” As she opened her mouth to reply, he put his hand on top of hers.
“Lydia, I’m going to be straight with you. I’m looking to get you naked sometime soon.” Her eyes widened at his directness and she
When Sam had brought the pony for the children to ride, Kate had mentioned that it was a working ranch and there were no suitable horses for learners. Lydia had felt a tug of disappointment. She imagined it would be lovely to feel the freedom of riding a horse across the miles of ranch land Sam seemed to own.
Distracted by loud thumping noises, Lydia’s attention was caught by the sight of Sam as he led a beautiful horse down the ramp of a horsebox and around the end of the corral toward her. Dark cream with an almost-white mane and tail, Lydia sighed with pleasure at the beauty of the creature.
Her heart kicked up a beat, and she tried to slow her rapid breathing down as Sam led the horse over to where she sat on the fence. She reached out automatically, unable to speak, and smoothed her fingers over the horse’s velvet nose. Sam seemed casual and relaxed, but she found she couldn’t look him in the eye. The man confused her and she didn’t want him to see it. She felt so stupid and petty. For the first time in years, someone had actually shown a genuine interest in her, kissed her, held her, and almost turned her to mush. Then in an instant, he’d been turned off by what he believed she had done to her body. Although she had constantly tried to remain aloof and give him the impression of being disinterested, it hurt her to think that after the sensuous flirtation that had taken place, he had walked away from her so easily.
He was still technically her brother-in-law, and it was quite obvious that he was gentleman enough to remain polite. Maybe it was easier this way. He’d made her feel special for a short while, and now they would be friends.
Lydia smiled as she came to terms with that idea. If he could do it, so could she.
“She’s beautiful. I’ve never seen a horse this color before.”
“She’s a palomino. She belongs to my mother. Gentle as a lamb.”
The horse nuzzled into her and distracted her, its liquid brown eyes mellow and full of age-old understanding. Lydia felt an urge to lean forward and place her forehead against the horse’s face. She reached over, touched its soft ears, and watched as it nodded and then blew a breath out.
“She’s getting impatient,” Sam said from beside her. “Perhaps you should get on and see if that makes her happy.”
Lydia sat up straight.
“Get on? I can’t ride.”
“Now’s your chance to learn.”
“You want me to learn to ride?” She couldn’t mask her confusion.
“Only if you want to.” He looked up at her, but she tried her best to avoid eye contact. He leaned forward and took hold of her chin, turning her face toward him. He stared deep into her eyes. His were direct and probing.
“Lydia, what’s going on?” She frowned down at him and then huffed out, making the horse jerk it’s head. Sam murmured to it; his large hard, workman’s hands stroked its neck to soothe it.
“You confuse me,” she stated baldly.
“I do? Why would that be?” He used the same tone as he had with the palomino—calm and patient as though she was a sweet little innocent and not the mother of twins.
She felt so unsure of herself.
She looked down and rubbed her hands across her knees.
“I’m sorry…”
“Do you have a reason to apologize to me?” Her head came up at his sharp tone, and she stared him right in the eye.
“If you keep apologizing to me for nothing, I’m going to get pissed off.” Surprise had her jerk upright on the fence and pay close attention. “If you do something I don’t like, I’ll let you know. If you feel I’m right, you can apologize. I don’t know what went on in your life before, but I’m starting to get the idea.” As she opened her mouth to reply, he put his hand on top of hers.
“Lydia, I’m going to be straight with you. I’m looking to get you naked sometime soon.” Her eyes widened at his directness and she
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