Round-the-Clock Temptation by Michelle Celmer Read Free Book Online Page A

girl,” Nita crooned, stroking the mare’s neck. As if answering her, the mare lowered her big head and nudged Nita’s shoulder.
    â€œIt’s all about respect,” she told him. “If you respect them, they’ll respect you.”
    â€œYou make it look so easy.”
    â€œBelieve me, it’s not always like this. I may not have bullet holes in me, but I’ve been bitten, kicked, thrown from the saddle and stomped on more times than I can count. I like the challenge.” She stroked the horse’s neck, affection in her eyes. “Not that I don’t appreciate a horse like Buttercup every now and then.”
    â€œIs she yours?”
    â€œShe belongs to a family in Fort Worth. I’m training her for their daughter. I’ll miss her, though. She’s a real sweetheart.”
    â€œHow long do you usually have a horse you’re training?”
    â€œIt could take a month, sometimes two. Sometimes even longer. It just depends on what they’ll be using the horse for, and how it takes to the training.” She looked over at him. “You sure this isn’t boring you to tears?”
    He was finding it all quite interesting. Horse farming had never been something he imagined himself enjoying. The truth was, he never much considered anything but his chosen course, first with the army, then taking his father’s place at the engineering firm, though technically speaking, that hadn’t been chosen by him. He followed in his father’s footsteps because that’s what had been expected of him. To make up where his rebellious twin brother lacked.
    Not that his father ever noticed.
    â€œI’m sure,” he told Nita.
    She shrugged. “Okay. I guess we’re about done here.”
    She called to one of the hands and instructed theyoung man to take Buttercup and set her out to pasture with the other horses, then she and Connor walked toward the stable together.
    â€œWe need to talk about security for the house and the stables,” he said.
    â€œWhat kind of security?”
    â€œAn alarm to start.”
    She frowned up at him. “You really think that’s necessary?”
    â€œI do. Clint Andover, another member of the Cattleman’s Club, is a security expert. I’d like to have him out to evaluate the property and tell you exactly what you would need.”
    She took off her hat and drew a sleeve across her forehead. “An alarm sounds expensive.”
    â€œI’m not going to lie to you. It probably will be.”
    â€œConnor, I can’t—”
    â€œDon’t worry Nita, we’ll figure something out.”
    Up went the chin. “I’m not a charity case.”
    â€œI’m not suggesting you are. I was thinking maybe you could set up some sort of deferred payment plan.”
    Meaning, he could pay Clint and when Nita made payments to Clint, he would divert the money back to Connor. It was the only way they could make it work, because he knew she would never take money from him.
    It wasn’t as if he couldn’t afford it. He lived a pretty simple life. Being in the Rangers meant active service, and missions all over the world at a moment’s notice. He could be gone for weeks, sometimes months, at a time. The less complicated his life, the better. No houseplants to water, no pets to board, no significant other left behind to wonder if he would return home in a pine box.And he’d grown so used to living that way, it was permanently ingrained in his personality. He had more money than he would ever spend sitting around gaining interest. It seemed a waste not to use it on something.
    â€œI don’t like the idea of owing anyone money,” Nita said.
    â€œAt least let me call him and see what he has to say. It’s worth the safety of the people and the animals here. And it could be good for business.”
    She looked up at him, squinting against the afternoon sun. Even with her eyes