Page 142 of Burn of Summer
The woman threw back her head and laughed. “I’m Dawn, and you already met my brother Jake.” She gestured behind her to the motionless cowboy. “Those are my brothers, Quinn and Colton.”
“Ma’am,” both men said, tugging on hat brims while remaining perched comfortably on their stallions. Colton had the colorful array of hair, while Quinn’s hair and eyes were as dark as Jake’s.
Dawn stomped wet grass off her boots. “We’re from the Kooskia Tribe. I was trying to capture an action shot, but you stepped right into their path. This was perfect.” She patted Sophie’s hand. “Don’t worry. You weren’t in any danger. Jake’s an excellent rider.”
Wait a freakin’ minute. Sophie glared at Jake. What an asshole. “Why didn’t you put me down sooner?”
“Sorry if we scared you,” he said softly, his eyes anything but apologetic as his generous lips tipped in humor. “Dawn needed a picture for her college project while she and Colton are home for spring break, and I didn’t want to stop until I was sure she’d gotten what she needed. It was a long setup—or so she told us.”
Temper stirred at the base of Sophie’s neck. “I caught her? I get to keep her?”
Colton chortled. “You should’ve seen your face.”
“Yeah, you looked ready to faint,” Quinn said as his horse tossed its head and sidestepped in a graceful prance.
“Actually,” Jake said, his eyes narrowing, “she had shifted her stance to kick me in the knees.” He cocked his head, almost seeming wishful she had tried it.
She wondered if she could’ve taken him down and ignored the annoying voice in the back of her head laughing hysterically.
“Really?” Colton grinned. “I would’ve liked to see that.”
“Me, too.” Sophie returned his grin, and her temper dissipated. She bet she had looked terrified. She had been.
“I’m a junior at the University of Montana, and for my photography project, I need to capture a series of action shots. There’s nothing like horses rushing through shadowed trees to show action.” Dawn smiled even white teeth. “You’re probably lucky Jake was able to pick you up before running you over.”
Sophie cleared her throat, her gaze lifting again to Jake. Warmth spread through her abdomen. The man standing so solidly next to wild beasts and surrounded by untamed land was something new and definitely out of her experience. He was all male, and something feminine in her, deep down, stretched awake. Her heart kicked back into gear. Fighting her suddenly alive libido, she smoothed her face into curious lines. “Why didn’t you just shout for me to get out of the way?”
He cocked his head to the side, those dark eyes softening. “I did, but you didn’t move fast enough. One second the trail was clear, the next you were about to get trampled. I turned my horse and grabbed you before one of my brothers could run you over.”
So he had actually saved her. Sure, he’d had some fun at her expense, but at least if she needed to kick him later for it, she still had legs. She lifted her chin. “Thanks for the rescue.”
His cheek creased with a dimple before he turned and remounted his horse. “Any time, Sunshine.”
“What were you doing in our forest, anyway?” Dawn asked.
Sophie’s heart dropped to her stomach. This was where the niceties stopped. “I’m Sophie Smith from Green Par Designs.”
“Oh, the golf course lady.” Dawn nodded.
That was an easy, accepting tone. Sophie frowned. “Yes. I’m here to design the golf course next to the lake, so I was checking out the land.” Now the pretty woman would get angry, considering the Kooskia Tribe opposed the project. The pine-filled canopy blocked the sun’s warmth, and Sophie shivered.
“Oh. Well, that explains it, then.” Dawn tossed ebony hair out of her face.
Sophie gaped and quickly closed her mouth. “Aren’t you opposed to the golf course?”
“Of course. For one thing, it’s bad placement because the fertilizers will pollute the lake.” Dawn softened her rebuke with a smile.
“And the other thing?” Sophie asked.
Dawn shrugged. “A golf course just doesn’t fit the land right there.”
“Doesn’t fit?”
“Nope.” Dawn tugged her toward the clearing. “Come on, I’ll show you my shot before Jake takes you back to your car. Thanks again for the picture—it was perfect.”
“You’re welcome.” Sophie shook her head and let the woman lead her from the forest while three muscled cowboys followed tamely behind them.
