The Tycoon's Tender Triumph by Elizabeth Lennox

found an old wool jacket she’d left behind in her dad’s house several years ago but it wasn’t very practical out here in Texas, especially as she worked on th e stable that would soon house those beautiful horses.  She had to work harder, she told herself as her numb fingers pulled open the door.  She’d thought the house was cold but she had to brace herself when the cold, Texas wind whipped past the front door.  It was barely past dawn, she told herself.  It was bound to warm up as the sun rose over the horizon.  And she should be able to get that roof finished today. 
     
    Gloves and tools in hand, she pulled her woolen hat lower over her ears and headed to the stable with determination.  Just get the roof finished, then the walls would be easier.  She’d read last night over the internet about the next step, finding tips that would make the hammering easier and faster.  If it weren’t for the internet, she’d still be working on the interiors, unsure of what she should do first, second or last.  Thank goodness for computers , she thought as she climbed up the ladder, steadying herself on the top before lifting her sore leg over the ledge. 
     
    Chloe had no sense of time, just a sense of urgency so when the angry voice came up behind her, she almost slipped down the slightly slanting roof.
     
    “What the hell are you doing up there, woman?” Sam demanded. 
     
    Chloe started and turned too quickly, had to re-balance herself before she could find the source of her latest irritation.  Once she was well balanced again, she turned, more slowly, to look down at Sam.  Even from up above, that man looked huge, she thought grouchily. 
     
    “I’m making toast,” she said, then turned back to pick up the next shingle, sliding it into place before picking up the hammer once again.  Her fingers ached and she could barely lift the damn thing, but she refused to let him see how much she hurt. 
     
    “Get down, right now!”
     
    She lifted the hammer and slammed it down, barely hitting the head of the nail but glad that she hadn’t totally missed i t this time.  “Sam, you’re on my dad’s property.  You can’t tell me what to do.”
     
    “Why don’t you have an air gun?  And why are you re-building this old thing in the first place?  I told you the horses could stay with me for as long as you needed.”
     
    Chloe didn’t bother to look back at him, but wondered at why his voice was moving.  “I’m building it because I now have horses to take care of.  And I won’t be indebted to you for long.  I’ll pay you for the boarding costs too.   Besides, I can’t imagine why my dad let this thing becomes so out of sorts if he was housing other horses throughout the months.  I don’t want him falling again once his leg repairs this time. ”
     
    “Don’t be ridiculous, Chloe,” he growled.  A moment later, the hammer was lifted out of her hands as Sam stood next to her.  Chloe wanted to stand up and confront him, but she was just too tired.  Instead, she plopped down, pretending that it was more of a controlled fall, and looked up at Sam as he towered over her.  “I have no idea what an air gun is, or why I would need it, but while you’re taunting me with this little test of yours, give me back my hammer.  I’m on a schedule and you’re slowing me down.”
     
    Instead of following her order, he bent down and picked up her hand which was now uncovered by the glove.  “Why aren’t you wearing gloves?” he asked, this time more softly.
     
    Chloe wished her fingers didn’t tremble but he was just too close and too male.  She curled her fingers into her palm, embarrassed that her fingers were raw, nails broken and cuts all over her fingers, palms and the back of her hand.  “My glove fell off the roof about an hour ago.”
     
    Looking at her eyes, Sam finished the explanation.  “And you’re too tired to climb down and get it, right?”
     
    She couldn’t