The Black Sheep and the Hidden Beauty by Donna Kauffman

Spectacularly.
    He cleared his throat and, cheeks heating, she jerked her gaze to his. But not before wondering what those khakis might do for his rear view. “I—I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were here.” Great—she was already stuttering and they hadn’t even started yet. Having a few days to regroup and prepare for the impact he so effortlessly had on her hadn’t helped in the least.
    â€œI was out at Kate’s office, so I came in from the other side.” He walked around, glanced out into the ring, then back in the stables.
    Eyes on the goal, she schooled herself, attention on the class. Not the way those button-flap pockets show off his incredibly fine ass.
    He turned abruptly back to her. “I know I don’t know much about horses, but I’m assuming it usually helps to actually have one in order to learn to ride one.”
    Caught staring twice in as many minutes, she felt the heat in her cheeks climb and wondered what it would take to get a grip where this man was concerned. Then he stepped closer and she realized his easy banter wasn’t as easy for him as he was making it sound. Not if the taut lines bracketing both his mouth and his eyes were any indication. That, and the fact that it looked as if the hands he’d shoved into his pockets were balled into fists.
    Her smile came more naturally then. Just wait till you find out what class number one consists of . Reclaiming a sorely needed piece of her fickle control, she walked past him without pausing, motioning for him to follow her farther into the building. “This way. I’ll introduce you to your new partner.”
    They walked past Bonder, who was still facing the rear corner of his stall, and on past a few of the other horses used for classes, before finally coming to a stop at the next-to-last stall. Still smiling, she turned and gestured toward the chest-high door with a flourish. “Mr. Santiago, meet Petunia. She’s going to be your riding buddy for the duration. I just know you two are going to hit it off.”
    Petunia was the oldest horse at Dalton Downs, but far from retirement. Well, kind of far. A year or two, anyway. She was the gentlest mount they had and would pretty much put up with anything. They used her with the frailer kids, as well as the ones with more unpredictable behaviors.
    It wasn’t that she thought Rafe needed such an easy mount; she was just, well, being a bit perverse. But he didn’t have to know that. For all he knew, this was standard.
    â€œPetunia? What kind of name is that for a horse?”
    â€œI don’t know—you’d have to take that up with Kate. From what I understand, Petunia belonged to her former college roommate, who was the one who got Kate interested in working with challenged kids. When Marti died, Kate inherited her.” It was a story everyone who’d spent any time with Petunia or Kate knew about. Except, apparently, Rafe. “She’s one of the favorites here.”
    He didn’t do much more than glance at the horse. “Why is she still in the stall? Shouldn’t she be saddled and ready? I know your time is valuable—”
    â€œOh, you won’t be riding her today. First class is always meeting your horse, along with learning grooming, saddling, and the basic maintenance you’ll be responsible for as part of your classes.”
    â€œIs that really necessary? Surely the kids who come to class don’t—”
    â€œThose who can, cherish that part of their time. And believe me when I say, those who can’t wish they could.”
    He did have the grace to look properly abashed. “Point taken, and my apologies. It’s just, as a fully functioning adult, I thought perhaps we could just move on to the actual riding part of the program. I don’t plan on buying my own horse, so—”
    â€œDid you just get in a car and drive it the first time you saw one?”
    Rafe