Wilde Horses. Jannine Gallant

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СКАЧАТЬ she neared the barn, a large gray gelding galloped up, and their ranch foreman swung down from his back to walk beside her.

      “Nice outfit. What, no feather in your hair?”

      Eden rolled her eyes. “Funny, Zane. Did you catch my performance?”

      “From a distance. I saw you bail off Apollo.” His brown eyes held concern as he surveyed her slowly. “Looked like it hurt.”

      “I’ll have a few new bruises.” She paused at the side door. “Did you need something?”

      “Huh? Oh, no. I have some paperwork to do. I left Roman and Jack looking for stragglers out near the foothills. We’re moving the herd further north tomorrow.” He scowled. “The production company is trampling all the grass in the area where they’re filming. By the time they finish, the cattle won’t be able to graze there for months.”

      Eden met his irritated gaze. “Then moving them is probably smart. Is that where Cookie and Cracker disappeared to?”

      “Yeah, I took the dogs with me early this morning.” He resettled his Stetson on dark hair threaded with a few strands of gray. “I looked for you, but…”

      “I was probably meeting with John Stafford, the director, or maybe the woman in charge of costumes.” She ran a hand down the soft rawhide dress. “This is pretty much all I get to wear for filming. I tore off a couple pieces of fringe in that fall, but at least I didn’t rip a hole in the skirt.”

      “I still can’t believe you agreed to be in the movie.” He snorted. “Those people are nothing but a bunch of prima donnas, and they don’t give a crap about the land.”

      “Probably not. Kara Fox is definitely the needy sort, and the director has an ego that won’t quit, but most of the crew seem pretty nice.”

      “I saw you talking to Blake Benedict. Are you going to do his stunts for him, too?” Zane’s tone dripped sarcasm.

      She grinned. “He told me he can ride.”

      “Doubtful. The dude looks like a sissy to me.”

      Eden couldn’t help wondering what Zane had been looking at—Blake’s rock-hard shoulders and impressive biceps or his truly fine ass. Maybe he’d earned his abs in a gym instead of working out the old-fashioned way, but he was still eye candy with a capital C.

      “I bet him he can’t stay up on Apollo for ten seconds, so we’ll find out if he has any skill.”

      “Good God, I’m certain he won’t last five.” Zane cleared his throat, his gaze holding steady on hers. “Uh, a buddy of mine scored tickets to see Kent McCord up in Billings this weekend, and now he can’t go. He said I can have his seats if I want them. I don’t suppose you’d like to go with me?”

      “Kent McCord?” Eden pressed a hand to her chest. “Seriously?”

      “Yep. Are you interested?”

      She’d kill to see Kent McCord, her all-time favorite country performer, but Billings was a good two-hour drive…

      Zane stepped closer. “It’d be a long trip home after the concert. I was thinking we could stay over and come back Sunday morning.”

      Her love of country music in general and Kent McCord in particular battled with the awkwardness of an overnight date with Zane. If they could go as friends, she’d say yes in a heartbeat, but common sense told her he’d expect more. Dating their foreman had been a colossal mistake, but he’d been so damn persistent…

      She let out a sigh. Now, he refused to believe they didn’t have a future together. The whole situation was beyond uncomfortable, and she couldn’t afford to jeopardize what little balance she’d managed to establish with him—no matter how badly she wanted to go to the concert.

      “As much as I’d love to, I can’t. The movie crew is filming over the weekend, and I told the director I’d be available. I appreciate the invite, though.”

      “You’re kidding?” He planted his hands on his hips. “That sucks.”

      She pushed open the barn door and took a step inside. “I signed a contract.”

      “Damn.” He blew out a breath. “I guess I’d better get busy on that paperwork.”

      Eden nodded. “See you later, Zane.”

      She left him to head through the row of stalls. A smile formed as she pictured Blake shoveling manure. When she reached her work area in the back, she changed into the jeans and T-shirt she’d left in the bathroom off the small living quarters Sawyer had occupied before moving to Colorado with his fiancée. Glancing around the spartan room at the single bed and dresser, she spent about five seconds contemplating moving out of her room in the house before rejecting the idea.

      It’s not like I need the privacy. She tried to remember the last time she’d shared any intimacy with a man…and failed. Well over a year ago, for sure. She let out a sigh as she shut the door. She was in an all-work-and-no-play rut. Not that she didn’t love her work, but still…

      When a vision of Blake Benedict’s sky blue eyes as he bent over her flitted through her mind, she gave herself a mental shake. She’d join a nunnery before becoming some kind of pathetic groupie. No way. No how. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to admire his gorgeousness from a safe distance, but that was as far as she intended to take it.

      Strolling over to her work table, she sorted through the pieces of leather stacked in a pile and chose one the right size to make a handbag. As fast as orders were coming in lately, between working with her horses and the damn movie taking up valuable time, she’d need help to keep everything on track. Or a few extra hours in each day. When her cell rang, she pulled it from her pocket and glanced at the display before a smile spread. She’d always make time for her best friend.

      “Hannah, I haven’t heard from you in a week. How’s everything?”

      “Really great. I finished my final out-of-town physical therapy case last week, and my next client arrives in Tahoe in a couple of days.” Her voice bubbled with excitement. “I really think this new plan of Tripp’s to make injured sports stars come to me instead of vice-versa is going to work.”

      “Who’s the jock this time?”

      “An outfielder for the Oakland A’s with a pulled hamstring. He’s determined to get back in the lineup before mid-season.”

      “If anyone can help him do it, you can.”

      “Let’s hope.” Her friend’s voice softened. “I’m just happy to be able to spend more time at home with Tripp.”

      “I’m glad everything is working out.” Eden dropped into her chair and propped one boot-clad foot on her knee. “My brother isn’t driving you crazy yet?”

      “Only now and then. But I’m not going to kick him out of…uh…the house for it.”

      Eden winced. Getting used to the idea of her best friend and youngest brother dating had taken an effort. Now Hannah and Tripp were living together, and she could only wonder when they’d make the arrangement permanent. Jealousy pricked. Everyone СКАЧАТЬ