License to Love by Kristen James Read Free Book Online

him.
    “Sounds like it’s a good thing this is a horse ranch.”
    They rode in silence until they reached the top of a hill,
where she could see the ocean far below, rolling in wave after white wave.
She’d never smelled the ocean before, and could only describe it as a salty
deep sea smell.
    The water jetted up where it hit giant boulders. Cold.
Dangerous. And breathtaking. Since he let her sit for several minutes to just
gaze out, she forgot that he watched her.
    The water stretched endless to the north and south while it
faded into the sky in front of them. She couldn’t distinguish the line where
ocean and sky met.
    “Now do you see why I love Oregon?” Brent’s soft voice
drifted into her thoughts like the waves moving inland below.
    Turning, she hoped her expression worked for an answer.
Something so vast, mysterious, and alive left her without words for it.
    So did Brent. He looked magnificent with the pale blue sky
behind him and his blue eyes reflecting all the color around them. He sat with
such ease, but his eyes weren’t relaxed. They were fixated on her like the wind
might steal her away.
    Well, she gawked right back, so she couldn’t sass him about
it.
    “I’ve never seen the ocean this way.” Her whisper mixed with
the singing breeze and the soft, subtle ocean music. “Just from an airplane.
This is much better.”
    “I’d have to agree.” He held her still with his gaze. Just
then the breeze brought his scent to her nose. Man, hay, and something
refreshing. Her hair whipped across her face, and she joined reality with a
jerk.
    Something was brewing . . . weather-wise.
    “Well, we got half a day of clear skies.” Brent still didn’t
look away and now she burned all over. “Guess we oughta get back before you get
soaked.” The corners of his mouth twitched.
    “Yeah, I’d need another long, hot bath.” She turned just
before she smiled.
     
    * * * *
    “Brent?”
    He heard her call from the stable entrance. His hands paused
as he filed Dancer’s hoof, but he fought the desire to look up at Missy.
    He waved instead of calling back since the horse was a bit
jumpy. Dale and Ivan had held off on taking care of Dancer until he could get
there. All three of them were wary of the horse. It missed Ben something
mighty.
    “Sounds like she’s done brushing Speckle already.” Dale
jabbed him. “You can go on with her.”
    “I started this.” Brent kept working, knowing Missy would
come over to talk to them. “Ivan, don’t let her get too close to him.”
    He glanced up to see her, but then he couldn’t get his
attention back on the job at hand.
    She stood by the corner to look for him as she gathered her
hair over one shoulder. Her petite body looked delicate, but her eyes said
right away not to mess with her. As he watched, she stuffed her hands in her
pockets and started his way.
    The horse partially hid him, so maybe she wouldn’t see him
stare. Her green sweater did something to her skin, made it richer in color. He
thought of her almond brown eyes watching him as they sat on the horses by the
ocean. Whatever was happening between them . . . well, it couldn’t be good if
it consumed his mind every second of the day.
    Dancer snorted, so he made a soothing sound as he watched
her.
    “Brent!” Dale jerked toward him.
    “Uhh!” His yell was cut short as he hit the ground. Pain shattered
through his ribs, blocking out the pain of impact with the ground. Damn horse
kicked him!
    He looked up at clouds, cursing his hormones, Missy, the
horse, and his damn wandering eyes.
    He saw Dale and Ivan lean over him. “That’s one quick
horse.”
    “Ivan, get the horse back!” Dale ordered and knelt down.
“Brent?”
    He held a hand out so Dale wouldn’t touch him. He didn’t
need fussing over, no matter how many ribs he’d broken. His side throbbed, but
he couldn’t get a breath in to say so.
    “Brent?”
    At her voice, Dale laughed. Brent tried for an evil glare
directed at Dale as Missy