Winning Ways by Toni Leland Read Free Book Online

smile.
    "Consider it done."

9
     
    Not-so-distant thunder grumbled through the quiet afternoon, and the atmosphere in the barn became expectantly still. Liz set the manure rake aside, and moved to the window. An ominous sky pressed down on the landscape, and strong gusts whipped a row of graceful cedars into a frenzied dance. As Nature played out its awe-inspiring scene, Liz suddenly had the feeling she wasn't alone. Holding her breath, she turned slowly, and moved silently toward the stall door.
    Directly across the aisle, Kurt lounged against the wall, his eyes twinkling, a dimple punctuating one corner of his smile. Liz's heart banged against her ribs, a flood of anger spurring the crazy rhythm as she stormed out of the stall, and up to within a foot of his tall frame.
    "Just what the hell do you think you're doing, sneaking in here?"
    He grinned and shrugged away from the wall.
    "You look gorgeous when you're mad." He reached out, laying his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I started to say something, but you seemed so deep in thought, and you looked so pretty in there, shoveling that stuff...well, I just stood here and enjoyed the scenery."
    She stared at the man she'd been trying not to think about for the past three weeks. Her pulse slowed a little, but her knees felt weak. The warmth of his fingers seeped through her shirt, and she suddenly imagined how they would feel on her bare skin. Slipping from beneath his touch, she stepped back.
    "What are you doing here?"
    "I brought your mare over. Didn't Eve call you?"
    "Oh. Maybe she did. I've been out here most of the day."
    Her tension quickly faded, but she needed a minute to regroup. Without a word, she moved down the aisle to the wash rack. Kurt's voice followed close behind her.
    "Are you excited about your new mares?"
    She rinsed her hands, and reached past him for a towel. "Oh, yes! I can hardly believe - "
    Her breast touched his arm, sending electric shocks through her body. Embarrassed, she jumped back, chancing a quick look at his face. The fire smoldering in his dark eyes sent a river of warmth crawling between her thighs and confusion fluttering through her head.
    His voice was husky. "I'd better go get that mare before the sky opens up."
    A second later, she exhaled and leaned her back against the wall, closing her eyes and willing her pounding heart to quiet. Outside, a trailer ramp clanged heavily into the gravel, followed by the sharp tap-dance of hooves. Rousing herself from the delicious cloud that enveloped her, she crossed the aisle to join Kurt and the gray mare. He handed her the lead rope, then gazed around appreciatively. "This is a nice little barn. Just right for a one-person enterprise."
    "Yes, it's perfect. I need a streamlined operation when I'm busy with the clinic." Hah! Right now, I could have forty stalls and still have time to take care of them. "Would you like a tour?"
    His expression added subtle meaning to his response.
    "Yeah. I'd like to see what else Legacy Arabians has to offer."
    His cunning smile sent shivers of excitement across her shoulders. His effect on her body was as disconcerting as his hold on her thoughts.
    As they walked the aisle, she watched his reaction to each horse. Proud of her small herd, she delighted in showing off her horses to a professional trainer. A loud crack of thunder echoed through the barn, and lightning flashed its eerie light across the open door, just as Kurt stopped in front of Karma's stall.
    "Whoa! Who's this? Did you show him at Sacramento?"
    "Yes, indeed. He won the yearling stallion championship." She grinned mischievously. "You're telling me you don't remember?"
    A strange flicker moved across his features, then disappeared. He turned back to the stall, and leaned on the edge of the Dutch door. Karma immediately came over, and Kurt murmured something under his breath. The colt listened intently, his ears pricked forward, his eyes bright with interest.
    Liz