Denim & Diamonds by Lori Robinett Read Free Book Online Page B

tensed as Beau walked around the rear of the horse and grasped her foot to guide it into the stirrup. His touch was so sure and confident. Nothing halfway about him, Beth thought as she watched him mount his own horse in one fluid motion.  
    He looked at her and smiled, which was disarming and distracting. She reminded herself that he was an employee – and her competition - not a date.

Katie reached up and patted Beau on the knee, "Y'all have fun."
    Beau looked down at her and said, "Why don't you saddle up Raisin and come with us?"
    The girl glanced at Beth, then winked at Beau, "You go on ahead. I'll catch up with you later."
    She walked back into the barn, ponytail swinging. Beau watched her go, then shook his head and turned to Beth.
    “Haven’t ever ridden before, have you?” Beau asked. Before Beth could answer, he continued, “You don’t know what you've been missing.”
    He pulled his horse beside hers and gave her a quick lesson in riding, dropping his own reins to do so. Beth held her breath as he leaned next to her, his strong, tanned hands over her pale, trembling ones, as he showed her how to hold the reins. He smiled at her with his lop-sided smile. His leg brushed against hers. They were so close, she felt his muscles tense as he used his legs to control his mount. His shoulder touched hers, and she could feel him, smell him. He sat straight in his saddle, and looked at Beth. Their eyes met and neither spoke, until Beau broke the spell and urged his horse forward.
    “Just follow me.” He tossed over his shoulder, “We’ll go slow. And don’t worry about Dingo there. You’ll be fine on him. Just do what I told you.”
    A black and white dog appeared from around the corner of the barn and fell into step with the horses. His long, silky fur looked like the dog in the portrait in the living room.
    Beth nodded towards the dog, “Is that one of my father’s dogs?”
    “Yup. That there’s Shep. He’s a Border Collie, which is a real smart breed anyway, but he’s even smarter than most. Shep didn’t let your daddy get too far out of his sight. He’s sort of taken up with me since the old man died.”
    The dog looked up, one ear cocked, at the sound of his name, but never broke stride. He looked more intelligent than the little teacup

dogs that some of her neighbors in the city owned, particularly the ones with little bows in their hair who were carried around in little doggie purses.
    They rode past the big house and turned right just past the smaller cabin. Beau kept up a running, if brief, description of the ranch. Beth tried to listen as he told her what was kept in each pasture, but she couldn’t keep her mind off of him . He was way too dangerous for her to get involved with. She preferred accountants, lawyers – professionals with a future. This guy was just a cowboy, a ranch hand, with no future.
    Unless she failed.
    Beth frowned, irritated with herself for even thinking that way. He was her employee. She was the boss. And if she had any intention whatsoever of winning her father’s challenge, she’d better focus on the job at hand and quash the lust.
    “What’s wrong?” Beau asked. He turned in the saddle and stared at her, his brow furrowed.
    “Nothing.” Beth answered as she glanced down to check her grip on the reins.
    “You sure do frown a lot for nothing bein’ wrong,” Beau drawled, slowing his horse to allow Dingo to draw even. Only two or three inches separated her legs from his. A chill ran down her spine.
    “You shiverin'? It’s got to be at least 80 degrees out here today.” Beau said, his crystal blue eyes focused on Beth.
    “Not cold. Just nervous I guess,” Beth said, as she met his gaze. She held it for a few seconds, then broke it, afraid she might give something away with her eyes.
    “You never visited the ranch before. Why not?” Beau asked as the horses continued to walk along at an easy pace.
    “My parents separated when I was a kid. He moved down