“You’re not serious,” she said tersely. “What the hell?”

  “Megan, it’ll be easier if you wake up there in the mornin’.”

  “I don’t care about easy, but if you don’t want to spend the night with me, no problem,” she snapped, climbing briskly from the bed, “and don’t worry about that sweatshirt. I’ll just—”

  “Whoa. What’s got your panties in a twist?”

  “I can’t believe you’re asking me that,” she shouted, fighting angry tears as she started to march from the room, but lunging toward her, he grasped her wrist.

  “Hey, darlin’, what’s got you so angry?” he demanded, turning her around to face him.

  “Don’t darling me! What the fuck do you think? I should’ve known. If something’s too good to be true, it usually is.”

  “Dammit, Megan, what’s wrong with sleepin’ in the loft?”

  “You can’t be serious,” she yelled, trying to wrestle her wrist from his grasp. “I trusted you! I gave myself to you like I’ve never given myself to anyone, and now you want to send me off to sleep in the loft? You think that’s okay? Are you out of your fucking mind? What planet are you from?”

  Her rant had tumbled out of her without pause, and as she spat out the last five words, her voice had cracked. On the verge of tears, and not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry, her rant had come to a sudden stop.

  “Megan, I don’t know why you think I was sendin’ you off to sleep in the loft alone,” he said patiently. “That’s the last thing I want. I was talkin’ about the two of us sleepin’ over there.”

  “But—but—you said, I think you should sleep in the loft tonight.”

  “No, darlin’, I said I think we should sleep in the loft tonight.”

  “What? No. You said we?”

  “I said we,” he stated firmly. “I’d never treat you that way. Never.”

  “I—uh—I didn’t think you would,” she stammered. “That’s why it shocked me.”

  “Damn, you jumped to that real quick,” he muttered, wrapping her into his arms. “What kinda jerks have you been datin’?”

  “Sorry.”

  “You don’t have to be sorry. You didn’t hear me right, and that happens sometimes, but if I ever say something that makes no sense, you’ve gotta ask me about it.”

  “I’ll try to remember that,” she promised, leaning against his chest and swallowing back the heat in her throat.

  “Those guys in Los Angeles must have led you on one helluva dance. Feelin’ better now?”

  “Yes, much,” she replied with a heavy sigh, then stepping back, she looked up at him. “I’m really sorry I flew off the handle.”

  “Considerin’ what you thought you heard I don’t blame you, but do you think for one second I’d do that, especially after the evenin’ we had?”

  “No, that’s why it freaked me out so much.”

  “Megan, what you said earlier about trustin’ me, you can. I’m only human, and I’m gonna make mistakes, but I’ll never be cruel, and you’ll always know where my head is at. If you’d rather stay here tonight, that’s fine with me.”

  “No, you’re right. Sleeping in the loft is a good idea. I’ll deal with the horses in the morning, and you can take off whenever you need to. You don’t have to rush back either. I’ll bring them in and do all that stuff.”

  “I’ll look at my schedule and we’ll figure out a regular routine. Not needin’ to spend that time before I leave in the mornin’ is a big help, but so was havin’ you with me at Furlong Farms yesterday.”

  “We’ll figure it out.”

  “Yeah, darlin’, we will, and anything else that needs figurin’. You ready to make those scrambled eggs now?”

  “If you give me a sweatshirt.”

  Giving her another quick hug, he walked into his closet, and watching him, she said a silent thank you.

  Catch suddenly whined.

  “Did I upset you?” she said, sitting on the floor next to him. “I’m sorry. You’re a very lucky dog and I’m a very lucky girl. You have a wonderful master, and I have a wonderful—is he my master too? I suppose he is in some ways. All I have to do now is make sure I keep Bonny, then my world will be perfect.”

  * * *

  Searching out a sweatshirt he’d accidentally shrunk, Brad pondered Megan’s behavior. She’d immediately jumped to the worst possible conclusion. Could a couple of bad experiences with flaky guys cause such an extreme reaction?

  With the question lingering in his mind, he found the fleecy top, then dressing in a clean pair of jeans and sweater, he started to walk from the closet.

  A thought flashed through his mind.

  “Your mother,” he muttered under his breath, pausing his step.

  She had abandoned Megan at an early age. Was the trauma of her past responsible? Did the scars run that deep?

  Chapter Twenty

  Slipping from the bed and leaving Megan’s warm, yielding body wasn’t easy. The hour was early, and watching her deep even breathing he didn’t have the heart to wake her up. Scribbling a quick note, he left it on the nightstand and crept from the loft.

  Returning to his house and taking a shower, he downed a bowl of cereal while Catch gobbled up his breakfast. The drive to his first stop was about twenty-five minutes. The western show barn wasn’t far from Carrie Phillips’ place, and jumping into his truck, he rolled out the driveway and headed to the diner for a large coffee to take on the road.

  As he pulled into the parking lot he spied only two other cars. The calm before the storm. In the next half-hour the place would be jammed. Strolling through the door, he spied Maria taking an order from four beefy men. As she turned in his direction, she broke into a happy smile and hurried forward to greet him.

  “Hey, cowboy,” she said with a wink. “Do you want a table?”

  “Nope, just a large coffee to go.”

  “Sure thing.”

  She hesitated before stepping behind the counter, as though she had something else to say but changed her mind. He watched her hand off the order for the men she’d been serving to the kitchen, then pick up the coffeepot and pour the rich, hot beverage into a tall paper cup.

  “Here you go,” she said with a smile. “You know where to find the creamer and sugar. We’ve added a shaker of cinnamon.”

  “Gettin’ fancy!” Brad remarked, pulling two dollar bills from his pocket and handing it to her. “Keep the change.”

  “Thanks. Hey, uh, that girl you were with...”

  “What about her?”

  “Is she—uh—are you two an item?”

  “An item?”

  “Sorry, I know it’s none of my business, but sometimes a girl’s gotta ask what a girl’s gotta ask.”

  Though Maria had always been overtly flirtatious she’d never spoken up, and her unabashed question took him by surprise.

  “Are you two dating?” she pressed, her tone betraying her nerves. “It seemed like you were together, like, together.”

  “It did?”

  “Yeah,” then pausing and lowering her voice, she added, “Brad, you may not know this, but I’ve always had a thing for you, and seeing the two of you, I—uh—I thought I maybe should find out in case I was wrong and you’re still single. Sorry, I’m making a mess of this.”

  “No, you’re not, Maria, but you weren’t wrong.”

  “Oh. Okay. Well, if you ever get lonely, or need someone to talk to...”

  “Maria, you’re very attractive and I’m complimented, but I’m not a guy who gets lonely, and when I need a chat I talk to Catch. I don’t have to worry about him spillin’ any beans.”

  “Ha, ha, that’s funny.”

  “Funny but true. You have a good day.”

  The craving look he knew so well danced in her eyes. He felt sorry for her, but stepping across to the counter with the condiments, he splashed some cream in his coffee then walked outside. He’d known for some time she was attracted to his dominant energy, but he had resisted the temptation to play with anyone in the small town, especially a waitress at the popular diner.

  Climbing into his truck and setting the coffee in the cup holder, he drove from the parking lot and hit the road, but Maria’s overture lingered in his mind.

  So many women privately ached for his special brand of attention, and he suspected just as many men harbored dominant fantasies they were afraid to express. The BDSM club to which he belonged wasn’t inexpensive, and he often spotted the same faces, but discretion between the members was strictly adhered to.

  “Teddy,” he mumbled under his breath, a puzzled expression crossing his face. “Some girl took you there? I don’t think so. It’s members only, not a place you can just drop into. Huh. Whatta ya think, Catch?” he said, glancing across at his dog panting happily in the passenger seat. “There’s a story there, I can feel it. As long as he keeps his mouth shut it’s none of my business, but I’ve gotta admit, I am curious.”

  Switching on his radio and tuning into his favorite country station, the miles soon whizzed by, and he was pulling into the well-known facility. Stopping at the main barn and climbing out, he spotted the trainer, Luke Cameron, striding toward him.

  “Hey there, Brad. You’re early this mornin’.”

  “Yep, and glad of it,” Brad replied as Catch jumped to the ground beside them.

  “You got five minutes before you start?”

  “Sure. What’s goin’ on?”

  “It’s Dandy. He’s started tossin’ his head like crazy. Can’t figure it out. Any ideas?”

  “My first thought would be his ears?”

  “Checked, and there’s no problem with his saddle fit. It’s like he’s pissed at the world.”

  “Hmm. You know, Luke, I’ve just hired a new assistant to take over for Andy. She’s a farrier, but she’s also a trainer, and when I say a trainer, I mean she’s got instincts like you wouldn’t believe.”

  “Where is she?”

  “She’s workin’ with my horses today, but she’ll be out with me tomorrow and we’ll be over at Carrie Phillips’ place. If you want we can swing by.”

  “That’d be great. What does she charge?”

  “If she fixes the problem,” Brad said, thinking on his feet, “the charge is seventy-five dollars regardless of how much time it takes. If she can’t help you, no charge, again, regardless how much time she spends with the horse. If it’s an ongoin’ trainin’ issue, fifty an hour.”

  “Can’t beat that. Dandy won’t be goin’ to any shows until he’s back to normal. Wendy’s gettin’ upset. Her horse is actin’ up, and you know Dandy. He’s a solid citizen.”

  “That’s a bummer. I’ll bring Megan by tomorrow. She speaks horse like no one I’ve ever met before.”

  “Did you say Megan? You don’t mean Megan Newman, do you?”

  “Yeah. You know her?”

  “Hell, yeah, I know her, and you’re right, she’s something special. Her dad used to be on site at the shows in Palm Springs, and she was always with him, but he’s retired now. Sure do miss him. She’s got quite a reputation. You’re one lucky S.O.B! How the heck did you end up hirin’ her?”

  “She was recommended to me by Doug Haskell over at Furlong Farms.”

  “No shit. Damn, that’s a break. If anyone can look in a crystal ball and tell me what’s goin’ on with Dandy, it’s her. This is great news. I’m gonna tell Wendy, then bring Soldier out while you set up.”

  Slightly taken aback that both Carrie and Luke knew Megan and her father, Brad opened up the back of his truck to unload his tools and equipment. Carrying them into the barn, he could see Luke in the distance talking to Dandy’s attractive owner. With everything in place, and no horse in the cross ties, he returned to his truck and checked the cameras around his property. He smiled. Megan had finished feeding and was sweeping the barn aisle. Though she looked happy enough, and had the horses for company, he didn’t like seeing her by herself. Then, to his amazement, she slowly turned and grinned up at the camera.

  “Damn,” he breathed. “Are you just plain psychic? That’s just weird.”

  “Ready when you are!”

  Luke’s voice caught his attention. He was standing at the barn entrance with Soldier in the cross ties behind him.

  Still confounded, he placed the phone in its cradle and went to work.

  * * *

  When Megan had stirred from a deep, tranquil sleep, she’d languidly rolled on her side and reached across the bed to hug her cowboy. Finding him gone, she’d sighed in disappointment, but spying the folded piece of paper on the nightstand she broken into a grin and eagerly snatched it up.

  Hey, sleeping beauty. I’ll call you when I get a second.

  L&K,

  B.

  “L and K,” she’d whispered. “Love and kisses. I can’t ask for more than that.”

  Buoyed by the romantic note, she’d climbed from the bed, showered and ate a quick breakfast, then trotted down the stairs. Welcomed by a chorus of whinnies, she’d fed the hungry group, and was sweeping the barn aisle when she’d felt eyes on her. Turning around, she’d smiled up at the camera.

  With the horses busy eating, she walked out to her Jeep and opened the glove compartment. Retrieving a small red zippered bag, she carried it back into the barn, and picking out three thin carrots from the treat container in the feed room, she snapped them into small pieces and stuffed them in her pockets.

  “Okay, Bonny girl,” she murmured, unzipping the pouch. “Which of these will work the best? We’ll be outside in a large area, so probably this one, but I’ll take the smaller one as well.”

  Placing the items in her shirt breast pocket, she zipped the bag and carried it to her tack trunk. Bonny and Poet had their heads hanging over their doors, their hay finished and ready to go to their paddocks. Taking Bonny first, then Poet, by the time she returned, Pepper and Leo were anxiously waiting. Leading them together, she found Pepper calmer than the day before, and he hung around after she removed his halter.

  “You can smell the carrots,” she teased, pulling one of the chunks from her pocket and giving it to him. “There you go.”

  Buckling his halter to the fence, she closed the gate and headed back to the barn to clean the stalls, but passing Bonny, she paused and broke into a grin.

  “Debbie Chandler, you’re going to have a wasted trip.” Then giggling, she added, “Sorry about that. Not!”

  * * *

  Brad had finished shoeing Soldier, and Luke had taken him back to his paddock. Though he’d soon return with the next horse, Brad had enough time to call Megan, but stepping outside he stopped to watch one of the stable hands playing with Catch.

  “He’s amazin’, Brad,” the young man yelled as Catch leapt in the air and snatched up the ball. “You should enter him in a Frisbee contest.”

  “He hates Frisbees or I would,” Brad called back.

  Hearing his master’s voice, Catch turned and barked, but the young man threw the ball. Catch immediately raced across the large dirt parking area to fetch it. Brad chuckled.

  “You’d trade me in for a ball in a heartbeat.”

  Climbing into his truck, he decided to quickly scan the cameras before calling Megan, but when Bonny’s paddock came into view he began to watch. Sitting in the middle of the field, Megan was admiring Bonny galloping along the fence line, kicking up her heels and tossing her head.

  “That’s one happy horse,” he said with a grin. “Man, she can run.”

  But just as the words left his lips, the mare came to a screeching halt, and with her head held high and snorting loudly, she turned and trotted toward Megan. For a moment he was worried, but as Bonny approached, Megan raised her hand and Bonny stopped. Rising to her feet, Megan reached into her pocket and pulled out a chunk of carrot. As the mare gratefully accepted it, Megan stepped forward and hugged her.

  “We’re ready.”

  Looking up, Brad saw Luke calling from the barn entrance. The call to Megan would have to wait, but as he stepped from the truck, a thought struck him. He’d never seen Bonny race around her paddock with such exuberance. Was she blasting across the ground because something had excited her, or because Megan had asked her to?

  “What am I thinkin? Megan was just relaxin’ on the ground. Damn, I’m really lettin’ my imagination get the better of me. She’s good, but even she can’t make a horse tear around a field like that just sittin’ in the grass.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Throughout the morning Brad continued to check the cameras. Megan remained in the paddock. Though much of the time they frolicked and played together, there were moments when Megan sat quietly as Bonny grazed beside her. It wasn’t until he’d packed up and was driving from Luke Cameron’s barn to his next appointment he was finally able to call.

  “Hey, Brad, how’s it going?” Megan asked cheerily. “Miss me yet?”

  “Dammit, girl, I sure as heck do. Everything takes longer. You need to clone yourself. I need you there with the horses and on the road with me.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” she said with a giggle. “I loved working with you, but I’ve had such a wonderful day.”

  “Yeah, I’ve noticed. Whenever I checked the property you two were havin’ a blast.”

  “We’ve had a great time. She’s such a smart horse. Thanks for letting me stay here.”

  “Megan, at one point I saw Bonny chargin’ around her paddock,” he remarked, unable to shake the feeling the mare hadn’t taken off at a full gallop simply for the sake of it. “I haven’t seen her do that before.”

  “I know. Isn’t she amazing? She’s so athletic, I swear she could do anything. Barrel racing, jumping—”

  “Did you see what set her off?” he asked, waiting to see if there was any hesitation in Megan’s reply.

  “I encouraged her.”

  Though she hadn’t tried to hide her involvement, he pressed further.

  “You did? Any special reason?”

  “I’ve had the sense she was wound up tight and needed to break free. You know what I mean. Be a horse! Have a gallop and let loose.”