Tempted By The Movie Star. Anna DePalo

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      Now, there was a challenging puzzle. The more they were together, the less time she’d be here. “So a trail ride with me would suit you?”

      “I’d love it, especially if I can take my phone to keep tabs on the office.”

      “Absolutely.”

      “You were right about horses being incredible animals. There’s no doubt Lexi has a lot to teach me, but I’ll bet I could sit on a gentle horse and ride down the trail without falling off.”

      “I’m sure you could. I want to put in some time cleaning cabins first thing today, but we might be able to pack a lunch and go out around noon.”

      “I’ll help with the cabins. We can brainstorm while we’re cleaning.”

      “Yeah, no.” Laughing, he shook his head. “Not happening.”

      “Why not? Scrubbing and thinking go great together.”

      “I could be wrong, but I don’t think my mom’s going to let you muck out cabins. Just a guess.”

      “I know how to clean. My nanny, Beatrice, used to let me help her. It was fun, although Beatrice made me swear I wouldn’t tell my mother.”

      “I’m sure you’re amazing with a mop, but you’re a guest.”

      “Uninvited guest.”

      “Trust me, nobody thinks of you that way now. You won’t be allowed to clean.”

      She frowned at him. “I didn’t come here to sit around like some princess while everyone else works.”

      “You feel strongly about this.”

      “Yes, I do. Your family needs us to help, not hinder.”

      “Then maybe we can work out a compromise with my mom. We’ll offer to tackle a few jobs together in the morning, and then as a reward we’ll pack a lunch and take off on a trail ride. She might go for that, especially if you tell her you like to clean.”

      “All right. We’ll try that approach.”

      “Great. Now, let’s get these critters out to the pasture.”

      “Will I get to see them run?”

      “Linus will run, for sure. Sometimes he convinces Hematite to play chase with him. But let’s start with Navarre and Isabeau. Want to help me lead ’em out?”

      “Yes!”

      So he fetched a couple of lead ropes from the tack room. She took to the process as if she’d been doing it her whole life. When all the horses had been turned out, he leaned shoulder to shoulder with her at the gate as they watched Linus and Hematite kick up their heels.

      She followed their movements, laughing as they bucked and spun, gold and ebony coats gleaming in the sunlight. “So beautiful.”

      He studied her profile—the high, intelligent forehead, deep-set eyes and determined chin. She’d chosen to wear glasses instead of contacts, and he thought that suited her straightforward personality. Her smile dimpled her cheek and a breeze coaxed strands of her hair out of her ponytail to curl at her nape. “Yes, ma’am,” he murmured. “Beautiful.”

      She glanced over at him, her green eyes filled with happiness. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”

      “It’s not flattery. It’s the truth.”

      “Thank you, Matt. I feel beautiful when you look at me like that. I also want to kiss the living daylights out of you.”

      “I’d be fine with it if I didn’t see my dad and Cade coming out of the barn.”

      “I thought they might be, which is why I didn’t lay one on you.” She pushed away from the gate. “Let’s go have some of that breakfast Lexi’s so keen on. Where is she, by the way? I can’t imagine her sleeping in.”

      Matt took her hand as they walked back to the house. “Cade said she’s updating her website. She never seems to find the time, and she’s added some new features to her riding clinics.”

      “Clinics, huh? Obviously there’s more to her job description than just riding teacher.”

      “A lot more. She gives clinics all over, even out of the state. Sure you don’t want to take a lesson from her before we go on a trail ride?”

      “Let’s do the trail ride as planned. If she’s so busy she doesn’t have time for her website, she might have trouble working me in.”

      “She’ll make the time.”

      “I know she will. She doesn’t seem like the type who reneges on a promise, but a simple trail ride sounds easy enough unless you think I can’t handle it.”

      “You can and it’ll be fun.” His body warmed with anticipation. She might be focused on discussing their PR problem on that trail ride, but he had some ideas that had nothing to do with business. Cade had brought a box of condoms down to the barn this morning. Matt had hidden it in the tack room behind some old blankets, but not before he’d pocketed a few.

      He’d planned to take her over to his ranch, but he didn’t know what he’d find there. Last night, desperate for private time, he’d thought a trip to his recently purchased ranch would be perfect. In the light of day he couldn’t picture making out in dusty, empty rooms.

      A trail ride had all kinds of things going for it, though—fresh air, wildflowers and grassy meadows. If he wanted to do a subtle sales job on Wyoming, a trail ride to a picturesque clearing he knew about and a picnic on a soft blanket should do the trick.

      “I don’t know how to explain it,” she said, “but being around horses feels very natural to me. Maybe that’s because of all the movies I watched, although somehow I never imagined that I could ride. My life was crammed with lessons aimed at making me a performer. My mom would have considered riding a hobby, like knitting or scrapbooking. I didn’t have time for hobbies.”

      “How about now?”

      “What a thought! I’ve been concentrating on building my business, but why not have some hobbies?” She glanced at him. “Do you have any?”

      “Not yet. But I figure my ranch will qualify once I get everything set up.”

      “Oh, it will. I imagine it as a place to de-stress and get back to basics.”

      “That’s exactly my vision. You just nailed it.”

      “Matt, I have the best idea.”

      “What?”

      “Your ranch is nearby, right?”

      “Yes, ma’am. I wanted to be close to my folks.”

      “That’s perfect, then! We can ride to your ranch and have lunch there. Your first meal in your new home. Can we do that? I really want to see it.”

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