He didn’t budge, just leaned against the gate. “Already did that. I’m scheduled for tomorrow.”
“We’ll be happy to give you a tour then. I’ll show you the way out.”
Amusement flickered. She seemed quite intent on ditching him. First the horse, now the woman. Had he lost his charm along with his reputation? There’d been few horses or women who he hadn’t been able to win over in his many years as a trainer, yet in the span of a few minutes, he’d lost two for two. “How come he’s locked up all alone back here?” he asked.
She cocked her head and squinted. “He prefers it,” she said shortly. “Now, I have to get back to work, Mr. . . .”
“O’Connor. Call me Aidan.”
“This way, Mr. O’Connor.” She began to briskly move away. The woman was polite, but it was obvious she didn’t have the patience or desire to interact with guests. Fascinating. Quite different from the warm, welcoming way Ophelia had greeted him. She’d also dodged his request to be addressed by his first name, choosing to keep her distance. It was probably rude of him not to follow her out, but he wanted a few more minutes alone with her. All that prickliness on the surface intrigued him. If she worked around animals, there must be more to her.
He just needed to dig a little.
He raised his voice, and she pivoted on her heel. “Why does he prefer it? Is he giving you a hard time? I’m good with horses. I’d be happy to check him out for you.”
Her voice iced and her eyes heated. “I’m good with horses, too,” she shot back. “I’m also quite capable of handling my barn.”
His brow arched. “Thought Ethan was in charge.”
She gave him a look full of distaste, like she’d smelled something foul. “Ethan is my brother and partner,” she said between gritted teeth. “And he’d be the first to tell you that I’m capable of taking care of the stables without his help, or his presence.”
He winced. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to insult womankind with that comment.”
Her smile was sharp and mercenary. “No need to apologize. You give yourself too much credit.”
He laughed. She knew the fine arts of banter and power plays, all right, but something told him she hid it well. Yeah, she was a ball buster, but she did it so quietly it’d keep a man on his toes.
He finally understood they were all related and worked together. She must’ve inherited the Black Irish gene, since she looked nothing like her sister. “So that makes you Ophelia’s sister.”
“Yes.”
He waited, but she said nothing further. Just looked at him with a suffering patience that made him want to stay longer. “And your name is . . .”
His prodding finally managed to unstick her tongue. “Harper,” she spit out reluctantly.
“Charmed to meet you, Harper,” he said with a big smile.
She grunted.
“Does your horse have a name, too?”
She gave a drawn-out sigh. “Are you going to be one of these pain-in-the-ass guests who drive the staff crazy because he needs constant attention?”
His lips twitched. “Why do I think Ophelia would yell at you for calling me a pain in the ass?”
“Because my sister received the gift of politeness. I didn’t.”
“What gift did you get?” he asked curiously.
“Fortitude. Helps me deal with annoyance.” Her pointed glance told him he was one of her tests.
He’d never been so charmed by a female so ornery. He still didn’t budge. She was too much fun. “Fortitude is important. But in my experience, charm will get you farther.”
“I apologize, then.”
He cocked his head. “For what?”
“That you received neither. I need to escort you out now. I’m behind schedule.”
Tamping down a laugh, he acquiesced this time, giving her a nod and following her out into the sunshine. He watched the swinging curve of her ass and the graceful way her body moved, as if each motion was clipped for efficiency. He bet she was a goddess on horseback. There had to be a way to see her fly before he ended his time here. “Your horse turned away from a perfectly good carrot. Seems to have a bit of an attitude.”
She slowed her pace so they walked side by side, allowing him to study her face. He caught the quick upward curve to her lip. “Phoenix doesn’t like a lot of people and owns a terrible sweet tooth. You’d have to upgrade to a cookie in order to snag his attention.”
“I like Phoenix already. He’s smart. Can I ride him?”
She shook her head. He liked the way the shiny, straight strands of hair lifted and caressed her cheeks. She wasn’t traditionally pretty—her features were too strong—but it was the type of face he could study for hours without getting bored.
His gaze slid over her pointy chin, high brow line, carved cheekbones, and a jaw that held a stubborn tilt hinting at trouble. Her thick lips were peach colored. Her lashes were lush and dark, emphasizing the snapping green of her eyes. She was a mixture of too many shapes and colors held together, yet the whole worked like a perfect painting.
“No,” she said. “No one rides Phoenix except Ethan and me.”
“What if I paid extra?”
Just like that, she shut down. Her cold gaze crawled over him, and a wall slammed between them. “The only thing I take into consideration is my horse’s well-being, and I don’t take bribes. The path back to the inn is that way. Have a good afternoon.” She tipped her head and strode away without a glance back.
Well, shit. That hadn’t gone well at all.
Aidan stared at her retreating figure. She really didn’t like him. He’d never had that problem before. Of course, he was usually more focused on training a horse for a big race than on chasing a woman who disliked him, so maybe this was the first time he actually cared?
He wanted to spend more time with her. God knew there was nothing else to do around here. Might as well enjoy some insulting conversation with a sexy female until it was time to check out.
He stuck his hands in his pockets and began walking. Ethan was scheduled to take him riding tomorrow, but he’d love to have Harper be his guide. Of course, there was no way she’d volunteer after their conversation. But Aidan knew the perfect way to snag some quality time with her.
He whistled and prepped his plan for action.
Chapter Three
“What do you mean I have to take him riding?”
Harper stared at her sister, who held a steely-eyed determination that reminded her of their mother. She might run the inn with sweetness and light, but Harper knew intimately the fiery temper that red hair warned of. And right now, Ophelia was pissed.
“I cannot believe you were rude to a guest,” she snapped, shaking her head. “Aidan told me what happened. He was devastated he’d offended you by going into the stables without permission. Why would you yell at him, Harp? Did he do something to piss you off?”
Her jaw dropped. “He was very pushy! Wouldn’t listen to me when I told him to get out of my stable. Then he tried to bribe me with money so he could ride Phoenix.”
Ophelia rolled her eyes. “That’s his big crime? He saw a beautiful horse and wanted to ride him? What did we agree on when we took over the B & B? Do you remember?”
She blew out a breath in aggravation. This was ridiculous. “To back one another up?” she muttered.
Ophelia glared. “No. We agreed you and Ethan would be nice to my guests even if it was hard. I know both of you would rather avoid the social spotlight, but making the guests happy is the most important thing for me. Aidan almost checked out! But he specifically asked if you could lead his trail ride to offer you an apology. And you’re going to give him what he wants.”
Harper opened her mouth to tell her no. Then shut it. Ah, crap, there was no way to win an argument when her sister was on the warpath. It was better to get the whole thing over with. “Fine. But I don’t like him. He seems like a know-it-all.”
“He’s a fellow Irishman from Kildare on holiday and de
serves our best hospitality. Understood?”
“Fine,” she said again.
“Good. I booked him and the Grayson couple for one p.m. today. Be nice.” Her sister spun on her heel with her last warning.
Harper couldn’t help it. She stuck her tongue out and immediately felt better.
“Juvenile, Harp,” her sister sang without a break in her stride.
Yep. She was just like Mom.
Pissed off, Harper stomped back into the barn. She hated when her schedule was messed with, and now she’d lose a precious hour babysitting. At least it was a group ride. She could spend most of the time chatting the other couple up and keep a slow pace. No galloping for Mr. I’m-Good-With-Horses O’Connor.
The ridiculous small victory made her pause. Why had he gotten her so mad? She’d met a ton of annoying guests, and she was able to keep her game face on for the good of the inn. He wasn’t the only one who’d ever ventured into the barn to poke around.
Sure, he was good-looking. He had a nice body. Muscular. Solid. His height was surprising—he was actually a few inches taller than her. A rare occurrence, as she towered over most men. Still, he was nothing spectacular, and he shouldn’t have thrown her off.
Owen interrupted her thoughts when he trudged into the barn, a look of fear on his face. With his cherub cheeks, ruddy skin, and wild blond hair that exploded around his face in corkscrew curls, he looked like a surfer dude who’d gotten lost on his way to California. “Harper, that chicken is after me again. I need you to lock him up.”
She sighed. “Hei Hei won’t hurt you. He just likes to squawk and pretend he’s the boss. If you ignore him, he’ll go away. Did you clean out the stalls and refresh the hay and water?”
“Not yet. The chicken’s been following me, so I couldn’t. Hey, can I get off early today? I think I’m coming down with a cold. I have the sniffles.”
“No, you probably just have allergies. The pollen count is high today. I’ll bring Hei Hei back to the house so you can finish the stalls.”
“I don’t think allergies feel like this.” He wrinkled his nose, sniffing dramatically and putting a hand to his forehead. “I may have a fever.”
His phone lit up and he dove for it eagerly, his thumbs flying over the screen as he texted back and dropped out of their conversation.
“Big guys’ night out, huh?” she asked innocently.
“Hell yeah. Dudes want to hit it hard, so . . .” he answered, trailing off as he realized what he’d said. His face fell. “Guess you got me on that one, huh?”
Damn, either he wasn’t that bright or he just wasn’t paying enough attention. “Listen, Owen, your grandfather wants you to do well here. You need to pay off the vandalism. Lying isn’t helping anyone.”
He gave her the perfect puppy-dog look, his baby blues wide and pleading. “You’re right. Please don’t tell him, Harper.”
“Do the stalls and I’ll consider it.”
“Okay, but the smell sometimes makes me gag.” He wandered off, still checking his screen.
She wondered briefly what the future held. The last time she’d gone to Bea’s Diner, an entire family had spent their mealtime with their heads down, gazes glued to their phones. Family dinners at the Bishop farm revolved around chatter and laughing. Connection. She hoped Owen would begin to notice the beauty of the animals around him and appreciate the farm. Real joy existed beyond his Instagram followers. She’d like to show him that.
Shaking her head, she got back to work and did her best to stuff in as many tasks as possible until her fated horseback ride. The hours flew by, and she had just begun to pull the horses to prep them when the air seemed to thicken, reminding her of the tension before a storm exploded. She turned her head and met Aidan’s gaze head-on, and everything inside her stilled.
“Hello, Harper.”
Her belly did a long, slow flip-flop. Damn Irish brogue. What was it about a man with an accent that made women weak at the knees? Guess she wasn’t immune, even though her clichéd reaction annoyed her.
Harper turned and swept her gaze over his figure. He wore casual faded jeans and a simple green T-shirt, which stretched over a nice set of muscles and broad chest. His hair was closely cropped, the crisp strands the color of straw. He had a broad, defined nose, arched brows, and full lips enhanced by just the slightest stubble. Tiny lines bracketed his eyes and mouth, evidence he liked to laugh. But it was his eyes that got her. How hadn’t she noticed them before? The color of mysterious amber, a mixture of brown and gold that seemed to glow with a direct intensity. A woman could get lost in a gaze that deep. A woman could get found.
A woman could get into trouble.
Harper nodded a greeting and shook off her strange thoughts. “Ready for your ride?” she asked politely.
“Been looking forward to it.” He strode close, reaching out to stroke Maximus, letting his fingers linger so the stallion could catch his scent. He hadn’t been lying when he said he was good with horses. She caught it in his very aura, the sense of familiarity and comfort as he stroked the horse’s flank and double-checked the fit of the saddle. His scent drifted to her nostrils. Clean and earthy. Like woods mixed with freshly cut grass. “Just us today?” he asked.
She almost gave another sniff before catching herself and stepping back. “No, we have another couple joining us.”
“This fine one mine?”
She watched his hands rub the horse. They looked rough and hard, with a few lingering blisters. Working hands. This man didn’t push paperwork around. “Yes, his name is Maximus. I’m assuming you’re an expert rider?”
“Yes. Been around horses my whole life. They’re family.”
The simple words stirred her emotions. It was rare she heard men talk like that about animals.
He murmured something in the horse’s ear, and Maximus gave a snort of pleasure.
A crazy flare of heat shot through her, and she deliberately turned her back on the lovefest to get the other horses ready.
She was losing her mind.
A few minutes later, Owen came into the barn, sniffling dramatically. “Harper, I think I am sick for real, and it has nothing to do with dollar shots tonight. I did one stall, but then Little Foot kept butting me, and when I didn’t give her attention, she crapped all over and I almost threw up. Oh, someone also called and left a message about canceling a horse ride.”
She clawed for patience. “The Graysons? For today?”
He snapped his fingers. Blond curls bounced around his face as he nodded. “Yeah! Those people. Can I go home?”
“Did you clean up the crap?”
His face fell. “Can’t Ethan do it?”
“No, and we’re short-staffed today. Just do that first, and then you can go.”
“Deal.” Owen skidded out.
“Please tell me that wasn’t one of your top workers,” Aidan said, staring after his retreating figure. “He seems to do a lot of whingeing.”
She enjoyed the way the unusual word rolled over his tongue, and a laugh escaped her lips. “God, no. We take on volunteers and the occasional community-service project. This one’s the latter. I promised his grandfather a favor, and I’m sorely regretting it.”
“If some horse crap scares him, he’s not likely to flourish here.”
“I should’ve sent him to Ophelia. She would have gotten him in shape fast.”
He cocked his head, studying her with those jeweled eyes. “Something tells me you’re just as hard-assed. Bet it runs in the family.”
She shot him a grin. “Maybe. Need any help?”
“No.”
“Then let’s go.”
She saddled up smoothly, guiding Uncle Scar out toward the pasture. He was a spirited horse that liked to test limits, but she was in the mood for a bit of spunk today.
She checked quickly on Aidan, but he seemed comfortable and at ease. “Maximus is a bit dominant and likes to steal control. He tends to snack on the trail, and usually tries to open up
when we get to the fields.”
“Does he like long walks in the moonlight, too?” Aidan teased.
“Only with Flower. They’re currently in a relationship. I can’t take them out too much together because they get distracted making moony eyes at each other.”
“It’s a genuine Match.com here, huh? How many horses do you have?”
“About twenty,” she said, leaning back as they climbed down a steep hill.
“Nice. Are all of them rescues?”
“Mostly, but we also board and offer lessons. I use the majority for trail rides, but I’m always looking to place them with permanent homes. The more I place, the more I can take in.”
“How big is the farm?”
“Thirty acres of property and about a dozen working trails.”
He whistled. “Big place. How long have you been doing the rescue portion?”
She glanced behind to check on him. Pride etched her voice when she spoke. “My mother taught me you can’t ride until you can take care of your horse, so I was helping in the barns daily as a six-year-old. Took over the farm full time after my mom passed.”
“Most don’t have the stomach to do rescue work long term. No money. Lots of heartbreak. Little reward.”
“Funny, I disagree. I’m pretty damn fulfilled. And if I save one, that’s all the reward I need.”
He was silent, but she got the sense he was examining her words. It had taken her a long time not to worry and analyze everything she said, which was another reason she’d gotten into a habit of speaking less. A shudder racked her body at the memories. In school, if she’d uttered the wrong thing, her peers had delighted in viciously teasing her until even answering a question from the teacher had made her nauseous, her head spinning with all the possibilities to keep herself under the radar. Returning home to her beloved horses was the only thing that had eased her. Animals needed only love, and there was never any judgment from them. Or cruelty.
The only sounds were the gentle creaking of leather and the wind in the trees. Her muscles adapted to the sway of the horse, legs tight, heels down, her body a natural extension of the saddle and the magnificent creature who allowed her to ride him. She soaked in the beauty of the mountains before her, then led them into the crooked paths deep into the woods. Inside, the tension dissipated, and her mind grew quiet again. The woods were her own personal church and heaven, reminding her there was something much bigger and more important working constantly; reminding her she didn’t have the control she always furiously sought; reminding her it was okay to just be and accept what was.
all roads lead to you Page 3