Baby Girl: Dare to Love by Celya Bowers Read Free Book Online

common than you think.”
    Jemma sighed.  “Well, I still need to talk to Kassie about it. What is she going to think when he shows up at the house?”
    “Nothing.  It’s apparent that she really likes him.  Why don’t we come over this weekend and then you’ll have a built-in babysitter just in case you want to get freaky and spend the night at the ranch.”
    “Not even funny.”  Jemma noticed Chutney staring at her from the office window, then waving.  “I’d better get inside the office.  I think they’re looking for me.”  She waved back at the teenager.
    “Oh, how sweet,” Janna teased.  “He probably called, since you were such a mess.  He wants to make sure you’re okay.”
    “I’m not dignifying that with an answer.  Talk to you later.”  She ended the call and went inside the office.  Janna always made her feel better.  Thank God for her sister.
     
    Kyle made it to the arena as Kassie mounted Nutmeg.  “Thanks, Bruno.” 
    The young man smiled at Kyle.  “Sure man.  You might want to wipe that lipstick off your face before you get to Kassie.”
    Kyle reached in his pocket his handkerchief, but remembered he gave it to Jemma. Bruno handed him his.  “Kassie said her mom was crying.”
    He stopped mid-wipe.  “She spoke to you?”
    “Yeah.  Is there a problem?” 
    “No man.  No problem.”  Maybe Kassie was ready to rejoin the talking world, he hoped.  “Thanks for covering for me.”
    “Anytime.  Besides, you’re the boss.”  Bruno headed back to the stables. 
    Kyle walked toward Kassie as she circled the arena on the horse.  She waved at him and guided the horse to where he stood. “Hi, Mr. Kyle.  Is Mommy okay?” 
    “Yes, Kassie.  She’s fine.”  He had to divert Kassie from thinking about her mother.  “What would you like to do today?”
    “Jump.”
    Kyle laughed.  “I don’t think you’re quite ready for the hurdles.  We have to build up to that. Let’s start with a slow gait.  A gait is how the horse moves.  Gaits can be slow, medium, or fast.  Think of it in terms of walking.”
    “Okay.”
    “Great.  Grab the reins.  Don’t hold them too tight.  You don’t want to hurt Nutmeg, you want to guide her.”
    She nodded, and did as he directed her.  Soon Kassie was guiding Nutmeg around the small arena.  She had perfect form, he thought.   As he watched Kassie, his cell phone rang.  He answered on the first ring.
    “Kyle Cosgrove.”
    “Kyle, this is Chutney.  Mrs. Patterson is sitting in her car.  It looked like she was talking on her cell phone.”
    “Thank you, Chutney.” He ended the call.  What the hell was wrong with him?  He had a nice plan to ask Jemma out in a few weeks.  This was only the second week, and they barely knew each other. What if she says yes?  Where was he going to take her?  What were his plans?
    “Mr. Kyle?”  Kassie directed the horse toward him.  “How many times?”
    He didn’t know when he became Mr. Kyle, but he’d take it.  Especially since Kassie hadn’t said two words when they first met.  He caressed Nutmeg’s face. “How about a few more times?”
    Kassie nodded, but she didn’t leave.  She stared at him. Those brown eyes seared right through to his soul.  She was going to be his downfall.  Kyle sighed, hating himself for what he was about to do.  “Kassie, can I ask you a question?”
    She stared at him. 
    “Would you mind if I took your Mom to the movies?”  He waited a beat. 
    Kassie continued gazing through him.  “Which one?”
    “I don’t know yet.”
    “Oh.” Then she move the reins guiding the horse away from him.  She continued the slow gait around the arena. 
    Kyle figured she was thinking about their conversation.  He rushed them both, damn it. He was going to have to get those hormones in check or Jemma would definitely turn him down. He turned his attention to Kassie.  “You can speed up a little bit.  Slow trot,” he called to