Since I Found You (Crystal Springs Romances: The Wedding Chapel Book 2)
Page 21
“How exactly did you do that?” he asked, bracing himself for her answer. There came that megawatt smile of hers again. He had to break eye contact to re-engage his brain.
“I told you, I speak horse language. There’s no need to worry about me.”
“Whatever you say.” He stroked Majesty’s soft nose, then patted her sleek, warm neck. “I was worried about you riding bareback without even a bridle, especially since you’re out here alone. Scared you’d fall off and get hurt, so I came over to check things out. It’s not every day you see someone riding without any way to restrain their horse.”
“As I’ve already told you, I can control this mare,” she said softly. “If I wanted her to back away from you, she would.”
Logan narrowed his gaze on the lady and looked her straight in the eye, trying to determine if she was strung out on drugs. “Excuse me while I call Hank,” he said, lifting his phone from his shirt pocket and tapping Hank’s name.
“You should be more trusting,” the woman said. “I would not be here if I hadn’t been invited.”
“Patronize me,” he said as he waited for Hank to answer.
“Yeah, what’s up?” Hank said in greeting.
“I’m at the corral with some lady who’s riding Majesty bareback and without a bridle. Says she’s the new equine therapist.”
“That would be Natasha,” Hank replied. “Please don’t scare her off. I was lucky to get her.”
Logan glanced over at the woman. “If you say so,” he grumbled. “Thought I’d better check just to be sure.”
He heard muttering and then Hank spoke again. “Tell her Ashley wants her to come to dinner tomorrow night. Six o’clock. Why don’t you come, too? Get to know the lady you will be working with.”
That might be a smart move, Logan thought, hating that a part of him looked forward to it. “Tell Ashley thanks. I’ll take her up on that offer. See you tomorrow night.” He disconnected and shoved his cell phone back into his shirt pocket. “Dinner at Hank and Ashley’s tomorrow at six. Ashley wants to welcome you.”
“How nice. She is such a lovely woman.” Natasha smiled and slid off Majesty, and Logan caught the scent of horse and honeysuckle.
He stared down at the woman, his six foot, three-inch frame towering over her. She couldn’t be more than five feet tall. “How did someone your size even get up on that horse?”
“I flew,” she answered, a twitch lifting the corner of her full mouth.
He arched his brows. “I’m a therapist. I can spot a lie a mile away.”
“Fine. I can jump pretty well.”
He tried not to smile, but failed. “For someone your size you’d have to jump mighty high,” he said, shoving back a lock of his unruly, curly hair.
“Indeed.” She climbed the fence railing and dropped to the ground, her billowy, colorful skirt practically acting like a parachute. With a wave and toss of her head, she headed for the ranch house, the blue streak in her hair obvious as the last rays of sun shone on the woman.
“Don’t you even wear shoes when you ride?” he asked her retreating backside.
She stopped and turned, gave a shrug. “Sometimes I wear shoes, but I prefer being barefoot. I promise I will try to remember to wear shoes tomorrow at Hank and Ashley’s. I wouldn’t want you to be uncomfortable like you are now.”
“I’m not uncomfortable.” A blatant lie he realized the minute the words were out of his mouth, even though it was none of his business and ridiculous for him to even think about her bare feet. Before he could censor himself, he jumped over the fence and walked toward her. “Are you staying here at the ranch?”
“Yes. I’m delighted with it, too. The energy here is full of peace and tranquility. See you at dinner tomorrow,” she added with a smile. With that, she started back toward the house.
Majesty approached the fence and nickered, and Natasha turned around. “Bye to you, too, Majesty,” she said, then meandered across the lawn and up the porch steps.
He watched until she was inside. He’d definitely entered another dimension. He walked over to the mare, who stood with her head hanging over the top rail. She greeted him by blowing hot air across his chest. He patted her neck, more to try and ground himself than to give the horse attention. “So, tell me, girl, is that woman for real?”
The mare turned her head toward the ranch house, ears pricked, and stayed like that a long time. Logan let out a sigh. “I guess she wasn’t my imagination,” he said into the almost-cool night air. He had a sinking feeling the safe and peaceful world he’d taken great effort to create for himself was about to change. He patted Majesty’s neck absently, not wanting his world to change one bit. After all, he’d worked hard to create a refuge for himself after the only woman he’d ever loved—a woman who’d also been a free spirit—had kept him off balance and unsure every day of their six-year relationship.
He should stay away from Natasha, no matter how mesmerizing she seemed. Trouble was, some of his patients would be her students, and he needed to not only stay abreast of their progress but be a part of it, which meant staying in touch with this woman and participating in as many of his patients’ sessions as he could. After all, he hadn’t gotten certified in equine therapy to sit on the sidelines.
He gave Majesty one last pat and headed toward his car, knowing his orderly world was about to change and he would have to somehow learn how to deal with that.
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COMING FALL 2017!
I hope you enjoyed this book!
If so, please leave a review so other readers can find it easier.
Thank you.
~Mary Jane Morgan
CRYSTAL SPRINGS HOMECOMING ROMANCES
Long Road Home
Coming Home
A Home for Haley
Home at Last
CRYSTAL SPRINGS ROMANCES: THE WEDDING CHAPEL SERIES
Going to the Chapel
Since I Found You
OTHER BOOKS BY MARY JANE MORGAN
Dangerous Moves
Shelby’s Gift
www.maryjanemorganauthor.com