Royal Holiday Baby by Leanne Banks Page A

marriage. What subject could possibly be so forbidden with Zach?
    Glancing at Hildie’s implacable expression, she felt a strange sense of forboding. What did she really know about Zachary Logan? Had she made a mistake by coming here?
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    For the next two days, Tina didn’t see Zach. Although she appreciated the opportunity for extra rest and quiet time, she felt frustrated about the lack of opportunity to get to know him better. After all, wasn’t that part of the reason she’d come to his ranch?
    Donning tennis shoes her sister had included in a package she’d sent her, along with a loose pair of jeans and blouse, she decided to go for a walk. The heat and humidity were already intense, even at nine thirty. Tina wished she’d risen early but knew she was still adjusting to the change in time zones. Pregnancy exacerbated her jet lag, but she felt herself getting stronger.
    Spotting a barn with a fenced pasture and a couple of horses, she walked toward it. When she was a teenager, Tina had loved horseback riding. Unfortunately she’d had little time for it once she’d left for college.
    She walked into the cool barn and peeked into the stalls. Two quarter horses roomed next to each other, then a gorgeous palomino and black gelding. She wandered toward thepasture and saw a tall, slim, dark-haired woman talking to a colt. The young horse’s ears twitched.
    Curious, Tina continued to watch in silence.
    The woman must have felt her presence, however, because she turned to look at her. “Hello, I’m working with Samson right now. There’s no other riding.”
    Surprised and impressed at the woman’s assertiveness, Tina shook her head. “I wasn’t planning to ride,” she said. “I’m a guest of Mr. Logan’s and I was just taking a walk. Pardon me, I didn’t mean to intrude.”
    The woman nodded. “No problem. You can watch if you like. This colt of Zach’s is a little ornery, so I’m working with him.”
    Tina watched as the woman led the colt in a series of walking and stopping around the corral. Constantly cooing, she put a saddle on the colt. He gave a half-beat of a pause then allowed her to lead him again around the corral.
    She gave the young horse an apple and praised him effusively then returned him to his stall, which was waiting with fresh oats and water.
    Finally, she turned to Tina. “I’m Eve, Hildie’s niece,” she said.
    Tina nodded and extended her hand. “I’m Tina. Hildie has talked about you. She’s so proud of you,” she said.
    Eve nodded, giving a self-conscious smile as she shook Tina’s hand. “Hildie’s wonderful, but she’s a little over the top sometimes.”
    â€œIn your case, it’s over the top in a good way,” Tina said.
    â€œAh,” Eve said. “You’ve obviously spent enough time with her to understand her.”
    â€œIt didn’t take long. She definitely speaks her mind,” Tina said.
    Eve laughed. “That’s an understatement. How do you know Zach?”
    â€œMutual friends,” she said. “I met him several months ago. I could have sworn Hildie told me that you worked for an international hotel chain as a regional manager.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Eve said. “This is my fun time. My day off. I used to do more training and Zach made me promise that I would always come back in case he had any problems. Samson here is a problem.”
    â€œHow did he wrangle that agreement out of you?”
    â€œPaid for all my education that wasn’t covered by scholarships,” she said then shrugged. “But I don’t mind. I really do enjoy my time with horses. They’re lots more fun than corporate meetings.” She glanced over her back at the stalls. “I should have asked after I finished with Samson. Do you ride? Would you like to ride today? Candy’s a nice