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We didn’t speak—mostly because it was difficult between the wind and the speed of the horse, but I’d already perceived this man favored quiet over the noise of voices When I was coer’s movement, I carefully lifted one of my hands fro our fingers, his muscles tensed at my back, but he didn’t pull away He accepted h the colors of the sky, the roar of the wind, and the heat of our bodies pressed together with our fingers entwined

We held each other all the way until we pulled up at the barn and Ranger slowed to a trot, breaking our rasp Still, a se had been built A tiny step forward

He pulled Ranger to a stop and quickly swung his leg off froround, he held up a hand to help me down before I could catch my breath

Dropping in front of his to be different, soe, but his expression was back to closed, distant

“I didn’t brush down Cheyenne when she got back” He turned his back onme bewildered where I stood “You can take care of her”

With an exasperated breath, I stomped into the tack room, past him, and snatched up an oval brush and a co ridiculous, but so was he How could he act like nothing just happened between us?

“I’ll get her saddle for you,” he said, but I didn’t stop

I almost told him I didn’t care He could do whatever the hell he wanted, but that would’ve been a lie No ht now, I still cared very much what he did

Cheyenne was in her stall fully tacked I took a deep breath before opening her door, not wanting to agitate her with my frustrated mood

“Hey, girl,” I said in a quiet voice, runningsound

“The ind feels nice, but it bothers some of the animals” Stuart stepped past me into the pen and loosened the strap that ran around her belly

In a matter of minutes he lifted the blanket and saddle easily I stayed at her nose holding her bridle, not wanting to care how his muscles looked when they flexed or how sexy his profile ith that straight nose and slightly full lips

“I’ll be back for her bridle,” he said as he passed “You can start brushing her down”

He was gone, and I released the breath I didn’t even realize I was holding Going to Cheyenne’s side, I pulled the brush across her back in long, firm strokes I traced it over and over, down to her rump, across her belly then I pulled out the co to the side of her rear, I quickly co when Stuart returned for the bridle

“Dinner’s ready, but you probably want to shower” He reached up and casually lifted the bridle off her ears and slid it down her face She released the bit at once