Winning Ways by Toni Leland Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Toni Leland
on, Liz. I know you're attracted to me. Don't play games."
Mortified, and feeling vulnerable, she snatched her hand back. Outside, the storm unleashed its fury, and the hammering rain and her clattering pulse accompanied her brusque words.
"In your dreams! You don't know anything about me. But I can tell you this. Mixing business with "games," as you put it, doesn't work, and I won't jeopardize my business of caring for Eve's horses."
His expression showed that his boss hadn't mentioned it. An instant later, his cocksure manner returned, and a sneer colored his words.
"We'll see about that."
His boots thumped as he stormed across the loft and disappeared down the stairs.
10
Liz trembled with anger, but her skin still hummed from his touch. She closed her eyes and summoned Kurt's face, wanting to relive the sensation of his breath against her neck, the feel of his body. She'd desperately wanted to step back into his arms and let go, wanted to sink into the fragrant straw and abandon herself to her fantasies.
She opened her eyes and shook off the visions. If she ever took that step, there'd be no one to blame but herself if she got burned. Can't happen. My whole existence depends on proving myself and keeping my career on track. I can't risk my future for a roll in the hay. She laughed out loud at the pun, and her spirits lifted a little as she descended to the main part of the barn. The thunderclouds had moved on, and the late afternoon sun slanted through the dripping trees that lined the front pasture. Kurt's face wormed its way into her mind's eye again. I have to stop this. I can't afford to think about a relationship with him, no matter how sexy he is.
Contented animal sounds drifted from the stalls, a reminder of her beautiful horses. Pushing away thoughts of Kurt, she gazed around her small kingdom. This is the only love affair I need.
Kurt pulled the truck up in front of his quarters at Aliqua, and killed the engine. He stared thoughtfully across the pale green fields dappled with late afternoon sunlight. Crap! This is not going well. That colt of hers is really good. I'm gonna have to work my butt off to beat him.
Liz's image danced into his thoughts. Desire still simmered in his belly, even though her revelation had ticked him off royally. That's all I need...a hands-off policy on a woman who'll be hanging around here all the time. His irritation grew. Eve had no business leaving him in the dark about any aspect of the barn. Changing vets on a whim? Just like a woman - they all stick together. He slid out of the truck, and slammed the door. Well, these two aren't going to get in my way.
Liz listened to the steady drone of the dial tone. The call couldn't be put off any longer. Doc mustn't hear about her plans from someone else.
She flinched a little at his polite tone.
"Well, hello, Elizabeth. What can I do for you?"
"Hi, Doc. I just wanted to check in, see if anything's going on that I need to know about."
"Things are pretty quiet, now that calving and foaling season is over. It was pretty hectic there for awhile."
Her courage faded. "Yeah." Not that I had any part in the frenzy.
"Well, anything else? The wife just called me to dinner."
She hesitated, tempted to put the conversation off until later. It wouldn't be any easier. Swallowing hard, she plunged in.
"I've met with two farm owners, and they'll probably use my - er, our services. I just wanted to let you know, in case they called the office."
The old vet's gravelly voice brightened. "Really? Who'd you meet?"
"Marilyn Cook and Eve Aliqua."
"Hah! You can have Marilyn. What a pain in the neck she is! Eve Aliqua's been a client for years, but I haven't seen her horses in a long time."
Liz's brain numbed - maybe her plan wouldn't work.
The old man's tone became friendlier. "Well, good for you. You'll probably get along better with the women-folk in these parts than I do. In fact, if you want to go through the files, you could
Mortified, and feeling vulnerable, she snatched her hand back. Outside, the storm unleashed its fury, and the hammering rain and her clattering pulse accompanied her brusque words.
"In your dreams! You don't know anything about me. But I can tell you this. Mixing business with "games," as you put it, doesn't work, and I won't jeopardize my business of caring for Eve's horses."
His expression showed that his boss hadn't mentioned it. An instant later, his cocksure manner returned, and a sneer colored his words.
"We'll see about that."
His boots thumped as he stormed across the loft and disappeared down the stairs.
10
Liz trembled with anger, but her skin still hummed from his touch. She closed her eyes and summoned Kurt's face, wanting to relive the sensation of his breath against her neck, the feel of his body. She'd desperately wanted to step back into his arms and let go, wanted to sink into the fragrant straw and abandon herself to her fantasies.
She opened her eyes and shook off the visions. If she ever took that step, there'd be no one to blame but herself if she got burned. Can't happen. My whole existence depends on proving myself and keeping my career on track. I can't risk my future for a roll in the hay. She laughed out loud at the pun, and her spirits lifted a little as she descended to the main part of the barn. The thunderclouds had moved on, and the late afternoon sun slanted through the dripping trees that lined the front pasture. Kurt's face wormed its way into her mind's eye again. I have to stop this. I can't afford to think about a relationship with him, no matter how sexy he is.
Contented animal sounds drifted from the stalls, a reminder of her beautiful horses. Pushing away thoughts of Kurt, she gazed around her small kingdom. This is the only love affair I need.
Kurt pulled the truck up in front of his quarters at Aliqua, and killed the engine. He stared thoughtfully across the pale green fields dappled with late afternoon sunlight. Crap! This is not going well. That colt of hers is really good. I'm gonna have to work my butt off to beat him.
Liz's image danced into his thoughts. Desire still simmered in his belly, even though her revelation had ticked him off royally. That's all I need...a hands-off policy on a woman who'll be hanging around here all the time. His irritation grew. Eve had no business leaving him in the dark about any aspect of the barn. Changing vets on a whim? Just like a woman - they all stick together. He slid out of the truck, and slammed the door. Well, these two aren't going to get in my way.
Liz listened to the steady drone of the dial tone. The call couldn't be put off any longer. Doc mustn't hear about her plans from someone else.
She flinched a little at his polite tone.
"Well, hello, Elizabeth. What can I do for you?"
"Hi, Doc. I just wanted to check in, see if anything's going on that I need to know about."
"Things are pretty quiet, now that calving and foaling season is over. It was pretty hectic there for awhile."
Her courage faded. "Yeah." Not that I had any part in the frenzy.
"Well, anything else? The wife just called me to dinner."
She hesitated, tempted to put the conversation off until later. It wouldn't be any easier. Swallowing hard, she plunged in.
"I've met with two farm owners, and they'll probably use my - er, our services. I just wanted to let you know, in case they called the office."
The old vet's gravelly voice brightened. "Really? Who'd you meet?"
"Marilyn Cook and Eve Aliqua."
"Hah! You can have Marilyn. What a pain in the neck she is! Eve Aliqua's been a client for years, but I haven't seen her horses in a long time."
Liz's brain numbed - maybe her plan wouldn't work.
The old man's tone became friendlier. "Well, good for you. You'll probably get along better with the women-folk in these parts than I do. In fact, if you want to go through the files, you could
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