Page 26 of Untamed Heart
‘Well, I guess it’s better than Dunkin,’ I said to her. ‘At least you didn’t become Dairy Queen.’
Leading her out, still talking nonsense in a low voice, I brought us to the corral.
‘Can I get used to her for a few minutes in here?’ I asked, half turning back to Cole, noting the way he considered me, his stance casual but his face hard.
‘If you need it, I guess so. I’m gonna get Domino.’
I rolled my eyes to myself.
‘What’s his beef, huh?’ I asked Bambi, tucking the rope around the pommel and tightening her cinch. ‘I think your cowboy has a stick up his ass about something.’
She grunted in a way that almost sounded like agreement, and as I swung on, she immediately started moving off.
‘Hey there,’ I said, guiding her into the corral, a thread of fear winding through me. Could I actually handle this? ‘Let’s take it easy, okay?’
We circled the corral, her gait much bouncier than Jasper’s, youth and energy flowing through each step. After a few minutes I felt her relax and as I began to ask her to slow down, speed up, change leg, she was really listening.
‘Good girl,’ I said, leaning down to pat her neck, unable to keep from smiling.
‘It’s all well and good in there,’ Cole’s voice floated across from the yard, ‘but this isn’t a dressage competition. You want to do some real riding?’
I paused, deciding to rise above.
‘By all means,’ I replied, guiding Bambi back to the gate. ‘I’d love to see your definition of real—’
A gust of wind caught the gate, still ajar from when I’d entered, and slammed it shut with an almightyCLANG.
I grabbed the pommel with my free hand, but I was too slow. Ears back and terrified, Bambi leapt backwards, and despite sitting down low, heels pushed down hard, with one almighty buck, I found myself on the ground. Ass first.
‘Lottie? Shit! Cole, get in there, goddamn it!’
I watched as Lil ran down the path from the house, hat almost lifting clean off her head. With my dignity in tatters for the second time in one day, I didn’t dare look up, just concentrated on moving slowly and bringing my legs round so I could stand. Bambi stood on the other side of the corral, fidgeting and snorting, thoroughly wary of the gate.
‘I warned you – she’s just as green as the damn horse,’ Cole said in a low voice as Lil approached. Then, as he climbed the fence into the corral, heading towards me, he added, ‘Guess this is what dude ranching is all about, huh? Picking city folk out of the dirt.’
Pure, unbridled temper stirred in my gut.
I rushed to stand up by myself, brushing dirt off my new jeans and taking a step back as he offered a hand.
‘Are you okay, Lottie?’ Lil asked, reaching the fence and vaulting over, heading for Bambi.
I looked up into his face, ignoring his hand, my cousin and the damn butterflies that immediately took flight.
‘First of all,’ I hissed, braving a step forward, ‘I’m notcity folk. And second of all, you don’t know the first fucking thing about me. Anyone could’ve come off at that. I wouldn’t make assumptions – you come across like an asshole.’
Lil slowed and I felt her hesitation at catching Bambi or getting in the middle of whatever this was.
But Cole’s eyes burnt into mine as he crossed his arms, the huge bulk of his body casting a shadow between us.
‘I know one thing,’ he said, taking a half-step into my space, his eyes slowly shifting to my lips. ‘You’re definitely no princess with that filthy mouth.’
My breathing almost stopped, the tension between our bodies shimmering in the air. Neither one of us moved, as though we were locked in place. Grasping at any shred of self-control, my back and ass now throbbing, I leant into the pain and narrowed my eyes.
‘It’s okay, Lil, I’ll get Bambi. I know you must be busy.’
Keeping my head high, I turned from Cole and waved Lil away, despite her concern.
‘You sure, honey? You landed pretty hard there,’ she said, then as I levelled my side-eye at her, she backed off, hands up. ‘Okay, okay. Nice to see the Dean stubbornness is still alive and kicking.’
