~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Carly and Heath had been watching from Heath's office, and letting out a sigh, Carly leaned her head into his shoulder.
"If we ever open up a lesson program, that's who should run it."
"I've gotta feeling he won't be available. Those two are a couple waitin' to happen."
"I've got that feeling too." Carly murmured. "The question is, what about Jerry?"
CHAPTER FIVE
When Caleb returned to Dream Horse Ranch, he found Domino's legs had been wrapped for the trip home, and the horse van was ready. As Carly and Connie said their goodbyes, Heath and Caleb began loading the big horse.
"Heath, I owe you one," Caleb said, closing the doors. "Thanks so much for callin'."
"Are you kiddin'? I owe you!" Heath declared. "If you hadn't stepped up to help, Connie might have been leavin' here with an empty trailer, and I might have lost a client."
"I guess this is a win/win."
"From where I'm standin' it looks like a trifecta. Connie's found someone who can help her. I don't know how she lost her nerve, but she's got you now, and I know you'll get her back on track. I gotta say though, the folks around here sure will miss you."
"That's nice of you to say, Heath."
"Are you gonna be livin' on her ranch?"
"She said something about that, but I think I wanna be off-site, at least to start with."
"Wouldn't it be easier if you were on the property?"
"Yep, work-wise, but I'll be honest with you. I like her, as in, like her. I think I'd be smarter spendin' my nights somewhere else, at least to start."
"Caleb, if this doesn't work out, you've got a place here," Heath said, lowering his voice. "Carly and I have been talkin' about startin' up a lesson program. After what I saw this mornin', I can't think of anyone better to take the reins."
"That's good to know, and I appreciate it. I guess we'd better hit the road. I'd like to get there before the sun goes down."
"All the best, Caleb," Heath said, slapping him on the back. "I'm only a phone call away if you need a chinwag."
"I'll probably take you up on that," Caleb said with a chuckle as he started walking back towards the girls. "You about ready, Connie?"
"Sure am."
"Drive carefully, both of you," Carly said, "and do me a favor. Call me when you get there. Let me know you've arrived safe and sound."
"Wait," Theresa called, hurrying towards them holding two paper sacks. "Here. Some brownies and a chicken sandwich for each of you."
"That's mighty kind," Caleb said gratefully. "You're gonna make some fella real happy one of these days."
"I just hope he's wearing a cowboy hat."
"Theresa," Connie said, taking her by the elbow and leading her away, "can I talk to you for a second?"
"Don't take too long," Caleb warned. "We need to hit the road."
"Don't worry. I'll only be a second."
"What is it?" Theresa asked nervously. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No, no, of course not. Are you serious about wanting to catch a cowboy?"
"Totally. I grew up in the city. I'd never been in a place like this. I love it, and I don't know what it is about those hats and boots, but damn, cowboys are sexy as hell."
"I know, right?" Connie said with a giggle. "Here's my suggestion. Take some riding lessons. There are some decent barns in the area. Check them out. You won't meet anyone hanging around here all day."
"But I told you, horses make me nervous."
"Exactly. Some yummy cowboy will have to help you."
"Ooh. I see. Thanks, Connie. That's a great idea."
"Hey, Connie. We've gotta go!" Caleb called impatiently, climbing into the cab of the horse van.
"Coming!" she called back, hurrying across to his truck.
Moments later they were rolling down the driveway, with Heath, Carly and Theresa waving goodbye. As they disappeared from view, Theresa walked back into the house, but Carly had looped her arm through Heath's, leaning her head against his shoulder.
"Those two belong together," she remarked with a sigh. "Why is she with a jerk like Jerry?"
"I don't know what to say about Jerry," Heath replied, "but as much as I think Caleb and Connie would be good for each other, the situation is complicated. She's worth a mint, and Caleb, well, he isn't, and he's gonna be workin' for her."
"That's a shame. She really likes him."
"Things might develop. You never know. I need to get back to my office, and you need to find Andy. He wants to talk about tryin' that new horse he found."
"No rest for the wicked."
"Nope," he said, giving her a quick slap.
"Hey! What was that for?"
"Just cos I love you."
"Some girls get roses. I get spanked."
"Yep, and you wouldn't have it any other way."
"You got that right, cowboy."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The trip to Connie's ranch went smoothly, and as Caleb followed her up a gravel driveway, he liked what he saw. A two-storied log cabin with picturesque paned windows and a wide verandah, but parked in front, an exotic yellow sports car looked out of place. He couldn't imagine her driving such an outlandish—pay-attention-to-me—vehicle, and immediately assumed the car belonged to her fiancé. The thought sent a churning through his gut, but the sight of a covered arena caught his attention. Drawing closer, attached corrals came into view. Pulling to a stop, he climbed from the van and gratefully stretched.
"Here we are," Connie declared, jumping out of his truck and walking up to join him. "This place isn't as big as Dream Horse Ranch, but I love it."
"How many paddocks do you have?"
"Four, but they're big. When you bring in your horse we can easily make room for him. Sorry, I didn't ask. You do have a horse, don't you?"
"I couldn't live without a horse," he said with a grin. "His name's Neon. I have a friend takin' care of him while I'm here. She's not gonna be happy if I end up movin'."
Connie felt her heart twinge. He'd said—she. Silently chiding herself, she glanced at the twinkling rock on her finger. She had Jerry, and a cowboy like Caleb was sure to have women in his life.
"Seems like a great property," Caleb said, walking to the back of the van. "I'm happy to see you have corrals attached to your stalls. Horses don't belong in cages."
The big gelding backed out of the van, and lifting his head, he whinnied loudly.
"Yeah, I know," Caleb said, walking him forward. "You wanna say howdy to your pals. Lead on, Connie."
Heading down a short path and entering the barn, Caleb found himself in an airy aisle with six stalls along one side. They were double-sized, and the corrals behind them were larger than he'd first thought.
"You've got a nice setup here, Connie."
"Thank you. There used to be twelve stalls, but I took out every other wall."
"Smart move, and that's why the corrals are so big. They must be twenty-four by—what? Thirty-six?"
"Forty-eight, but I'd like them to be larger."
"I know what you mean. Horses never seem to have enough room."
"Domino lives in here," she said, sliding open a stall door. "Oh, no!"
"What?"
"This hasn't been cleaned. What the hell?"
"Do your guys have Sunday off?"
"Yes, except I called last night, and promised to pay them to work this morning. I usually clean on Sunday's, but none of these have been touched since yesterday morning when I left," she said angrily, moving from stall to stall. "I can't believe it. When I said I felt weird talking to them, this is what I meant. They pull crap like this all the time. Promise to do something, then don't. It drives me crazy. What the hell am I supposed to do?"
"Hey, take a deep breath. I'll hold Domino while you take off his leg wraps, then I'll call them."
"I don't believe this," she repeated, crouching down to remove the protective bandages. "If I had people to replace them, I'd fir
e them right now."
"What are their names?"
"David and George. They're brothers. David's the oldest. They work for a couple of other barns around here as well."
"Did Malcom have any trouble?"
"I have no idea."
"How far away do they live?"
"Just on the other side of town. About fifteen minutes. Okay. I'm done."
Straightening up, she pulled her phone from her pocket and placed the call.
"Here you go," she said, handing him her phone. "I'll walk Domino through to his corral."
Taking the lead rope, she led her horse away while Caleb waited for someone to answer.
"Connie, what is it?" a gruff male voice asked brusquely. "I'm in the middle of something."
"This isn't Connie," Caleb replied, putting the phone on speaker as Connie hurried back to listen. "Are you David or George?"
"Uh, David. Who's this?"
"Caleb King. I'm Connie's new barn manager. Why haven't the stalls been cleaned?"
"The horses were fed and turned out, but we ran out of time."
"And what about last night? It's obvious these stalls haven't been cleaned since yesterday morning."
"Uh…"
"It's almost five o'clock. If you're not here by five-thirty you're both fired, and there'll be no check for this weekend. You don't do the job, you don't get paid."
"What?"
"Do I need to repeat myself?"
"Uh…"
"I'm your new boss. Do your job and we'll get along, but mess up again and you're out. Oh, and one more thing. From now on you call your employer Miss Masters."
"Uh…"
"Are you coming or should I call my own workers in?"
"We'll be there. What's your name again?"
"Caleb King."
"We'll be right over."
"Thank you," Connie said softly as Caleb ended the call. "I probably shouldn't ask you this, but—no, never mind."
"Go ahead. What?"
"Can I ask for a hug?"
"Sure. Ask away. Though I can't make any promises."
"Caleb!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide as she playfully punched him. "Ouch! Good grief. What are you? The bionic man?"
"Damn, the secret's out," he said with a grin, and impulsively pulled her into his arms.
Letting out a sigh and closing her eyes, she sank against his chest, praying he'd slip his fingers into her hair, tug it back, and press his lips on hers.
"Is this what you wanted?" he murmured.
"Yes," she managed, feeling wonderfully weak. "Exactly what I wanted. I'm so glad you're here."
"So am I."
A soft floral fragrance tickled his nostrils, her breasts pressed against him, and as her luscious, yielding body melted in his arms, he wanted to ardently kiss her, lay her down, peel off her clothes and utterly ravage her.
"You should go up to the house," he said softly, his cock surging to life and needing to break the hug. "I have to meet these guys by myself."
She reluctantly stepped back, and as his arms fell away, she stared up at him.
"I think that's the best hug I've ever had. Now I owe you three times over."
"How do you figure?"
"You helped get my confidence back, you dealt with my workers, and as I said, you've just given me the best hug I've ever had."
"Better not let your fiancé hear you say that."
The comment slipped out before he could stop it, but he had no regrets. Her engagement was their reality.
"Uh, Jerry is super," she said awkwardly, "but he's not much into hugs. I doubt he'd care."
"In that case, I'll always have a hug available whenever you need it, but there's an extra cost, and I'm not talkin' money."
"You're not?" she said, feeling the threat of a blush.
"Nope. I'm into baked goods, especially brownies. Did Theresa give you her recipe?"
"No, but I'll call her," she promised, breaking into a grin. "I'll go and make sure the guest room is ready."
"Guest room?"
"Sure. Where did you think you were going to sleep? In the barn?"
"That Motel Six we passed."
"No, no, no! Absolutely not. You have to stay here."
"Connie, I don't think that's a good idea."
"I have a ton of room, and having a man in the house will be comforting."
"What about Jerry?"
"He's in the city during the week. Please, you have to stay. We have so much to talk about."
Caleb frowned. The meaning behind his question—What about Jerry—had been—Won't Jerry have a problem with me staying in the house? Her misinterpretation spoke volumes.
"I'll think about it. I'm gonna check things out while I'm waitin'."
"If you have any questions, just call."
"I might be a while. Most guys waste beddin' when they clean. I wanna see how they work."
"Funny you should say that. I've always thought the shavings went too fast. Caleb, you're an absolute lifesaver. Thank you, truly, thank you."
"Hey, stop thankin' me. I'm real glad to be here."
Shooting him a happy smile, she turned and walked from the barn.
"Damn," he mumbled, unable to pull his eyes away from her curvaceous backside. "This is gonna be tougher than I thought."
CHAPTER SIX
Four Days Later
To kiss a cowboy.
Especially Caleb.
Was it too much to ask?
Dropping her eyes to the huge glittering diamond resting on her finger, Connie let out a heavy sigh. Yes it was.
Lounging in a recliner on the terrace outside her bedroom, Connie missed Caleb already. He'd be leaving shortly to collect the rest of his belongings. Martha, her long-time friend and housekeeper, absolutely adored him, and in a few short days he'd transformed the barn. The many odd jobs were underway. The feed room had been re-organized, the tack room had never been cleaner, and when she ran into the workers they were polite and respectful.
Then there were the lessons.
Caleb made them fun and positive, and when she climbed off Domino she was excited, not frustrated. Her handsome new trainer often hugged her, exclaiming his pride in her progress, but he hadn't engulfed her in his arms as he had that first day.
The all-consuming, time-stopping, melting-into-him hug.
The memory kept her up at night, and sent her fingers between her legs. Caleb King. Even his name sounded sexy, and when he tilted his head to the side, crossed his arms and captured her eyes, the butterflies in her stomach burst to life.
"To kiss him just one time," she mumbled, gazing across at the paddocks. "I want to so badly."
"Hey, beautiful."
She jumped, and turning around she saw Jerry ambling towards her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, shocked to see him. "Aren't I supposed to be driving your car into town tomorrow? Did you change your mind?"
"I have to go to London. A last minute thing. I had the copter bring me here. I'll take the car back myself. I wanted to surprise you. I thought it would be nice to spend the afternoon together before I leave."
"Just the afternoon? When are you flying out?"
"Tonight."
"Wow. That's short notice."
"It happens. Have you had lunch?"
"No, but I've been thinking about it."
"I'll ask Martha to set up the table by the pool," he said, moving closer. "Maybe we could take a swim. You're already dressed for it, and I can't wait to get out of this monkey suit."
"That's a great idea. Sorry, my phone," she said as a horse's whinny blasted through the air.
"Take it. I'm going to change."
Her phone rested beside her, and lifting it up, Caleb's name stared up at her from the screen. Her heart skipped, but that happened every time he called.
"Hi, Caleb," she said, rising to her feet and walking to the terrace railing. "Is everything okay?"
"Domino's a bit gimpy, but I think I know the
problem. You wanna come down here for a minute?"
"Uh, sure. I just need to throw on some jeans. I'm up on the terrace getting some sun."
"Don't forget to put your boots on."
She heard a wry grin in his voice, and she laughed her response.
"I have no intention of stepping into the barn barefoot. See you in a minute."
Moving into her bedroom, she discovered Jerry's suit on the bed. Assuming he'd changed and left, she walked into her closet and began to pull on her jeans and boots.
"I thought we were going for a swim!"
Startled for the second time, she spun around and frowned at him.
"You scared me. Why must you sneak around? I didn't hear you when you walked up behind me on the terrace either."
"I don't sneak around!" he retorted, scowling at her.
"I always hear Martha when she comes in."
"I'm not interested in bickering, and I'm sorry if you're jumpy."
"I'm not jumpy!"
"Whatever! The question remains. Why have you dressed?"
"Domino's lame. Caleb wants me to see the problem. It won't take long."
"Why does he need you? That's his job. Let him take care of it."
"He's leaving to collect the rest of his things. If something's wrong I have to know about it."
"How long is this going to take?"
"I just said, not long."
"Not long," he grunted. "When you go into that barn not long could be an hour."
"Jerry, please. This will not take an hour. Why don't you come with me?"
"No thanks. I'll be at the pool," he said brusquely, turning to walk away.
"Wait, I'll come downstairs with you."
"I'm going to check in with my office first. You go ahead."
"Of course you are. I have to check in with the office," she mumbled, mimicking him under her breath. "Your excuse when you don't want to talk about something."
Slipping an aqua V-neck T-shirt over her head, she let out a frustrated sigh. Trying to shake off her testiness, she headed into the hall, trotted down the stairs, and walked through the kitchen to the back door.
"Jerry said he wants a chopped salad for lunch," Martha said as Connie entered."Would you like that too?"
To Kiss A Cowboy (Hunks and Horses Book 1) Page 4