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“Stefan, walk with me.” She crooks a finger and heads in the opposite direction without even looking back, like she just knows I’ll follow.
I tip my chin up and keep walking after the woman who has piqued my interest since the first time I laid eyes on her. Dr. Mira Thorne. My favorite equine veterinarian in the area for more than one reason. The woman is beautiful. But more than that, she’s smart. Cunning. Thinks quickly on her feet. She’s impressive in so many ways. She’s a challenge. And I love a challenge.
Dr. Thorne is an alluring woman, and I’m still human enough to admit that. There’s an arrogant edge to her cool exterior, hawkish intelligence in her eyes. A spark that, with the right fuel, just might combust.
She just spat my words right back at me with a pretty smile. She knows she’s got me by the balls, and she’s absolutely delighted about it.
Could I run him into the ground for another season and make some cash? Probably. But I refuse to do that to an animal who has run his heart out for me and my business. He deserves better.
My stomach flips at the sight of her, like it always does. I must be a glutton for punishment because getting turned down by her has become one of my favorite pastimes.
All is not fair in love and war
“What’s in it for me?” “Stefan.” Her tone is so scolding. I pin her with my gaze. “Let me take you on a date, and I’ll leave like you want me to.” She shakes her head, and this time she can’t contain the smile that touches her mouth. “You’re insane, you know that?” Can’t blame a guy for trying. I wink at her before I turn away and call back over my shoulder. “Yeah, but that’s what you love about me.” She groans, and I chuckle under my breath as I leave. Yep. Just insane enough to keep trying.
There’s a special place reserved in hell for men who hurt women, and I plan to ensure he gets there.
Mira Thorne is alluring, and I’m not immune to it.
Leave it to the woman who saves lives for a living to be all morally superior when I’m so clearly morally gray.
at least there’s coffee. Sweet, sweet bribe coffee.
“Is it poisoned?” His green eyes go bright as they dance with dry humor. And I find myself laughing and joking back, like a total traitor. Like when he asks me out and I brush him off with a stupid giggle. “Nope. Just black. Like your soul.”
Stefan snorts, hitting me with a smirk of his own. “Don’t use that look on me, Mira. Just spit it out.” For crying out loud. This guy really is the worst.
“Whatever you say,” he replies smoothly. “I just can’t fall in love with you, right?” I chuckle as I twist the doorknob to leave. “Oh, Stefan. I think you already are.”
I figure if I’m going to be forced to go on fake dates with the man, I might as well enjoy the view. I’m only human.
He huffs out a quiet laugh and starts walking again with a subtle shake of his head. “You are something else, Dr. Thorne.” I take a few long strides to catch up with him. “I’m going to take that as a compliment.” “You should,” he replies with complete sincerity
She doesn’t use a high-pitched baby voice. It’s almost like she could hypnotize the horses into acceptance with a tone like that. Or me. I’m a sucker for her sultry voice.
I don’t know why the woman intoxicates me the way she does. Her eyes, her lips, her cool exterior, the sensual hum of her voice—it’s all driven me to distraction since the first time I met her down at the track. Her no-nonsense way of handling me while being perpetually gentle and sweet with the horses was a contradiction that fascinated me then and still does now. She’s an equation I’d love to solve. Or maybe the broken little boy in me just wants her to treat me the way she does a horse. With love.
The thought of her softening up for me is the ultimate carrot she could dangle. I want nothing more than to watch her melt. I don’t love Dr. Mira Thorne. I barely even know her. I’m just fascinated though—inexplicably drawn to her. And I’m too damn accustomed to getting what I want to let it go.
The sight of it stirs some instinctual part of me, and all I want to do is take care of her. Make sure she’s comfortable. That she rests for a while.
I should try harder to keep things professional and not let my curiosity about Dr. Mira Thorne take over my brain. I shouldn’t think with the wrong head. But the more time I spend with her, the more of a challenge that feels like. I like a challenge… but keeping my hands off Mira isn’t one I’m sure I want to take on. The woman is not my biggest fan, this much I know. But then, I’ve got three dates to make her want my hands on her body.
“Billie is meeting me here. I’m going to drive her to Stefan’s. Consider me her… bodyguard? Or Dalca’s, considering my job is probably to hold her back from killing him. I’m also her getaway car if she does.”
One of my hands flattens over my sternum, where I can feel my heart thumping. “You scared the shit out of me,” I pant. It’s after dinner and the barn had been quiet and empty. “What the hell kind of stalking skills are you practicing?” I spin, feeling the chill of the air against every spot that had been warm pressed up against him. It almost makes me want to spin back around and sink into his embrace. Almost. “I didn’t even hear you at all!”
She’s the most fascinating dichotomy. Confident and cool, while being shy and awkward all at once. She keeps me on my toes. I just never quite know how she’s going to react.
“Excuse me?” Mira leans forward, her eyes flaring with rage that is reflected in my own. “Did you flatten him?” I chuckle darkly. I wish. “I’ll admit I went nuclear. I don’t know how I’ll send her back. Or if it’s even my place to. She’s smart—too smart—but she’s also proud and this was a real blow to her pride.” The memory of her tear-stained face still has the power to set me off. “No shit.” Her words come out with a bite. “Stefan, you can’t send her back to that school. There are other options, and she won’t be missing out on the experience of being at school at this point in her life.
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His eyes are beautiful, and throughout the meal, I remind myself not to get lost in them. In him.
I break the spell when I say, “I’ll help clean up.” “You absolutely will not. You’re the guest,” he replies smoothly, leaning back in his chair.
The man has me completely off-balance. My pulse beats in my stomach. Nice Stefan threw me for a loop, but Doting Stefan, who cooks and cleans and loves his little sister, is straight crushing my ovaries.
The man wears an expensive suit like he was born in it. Like whoever came up with suits as a thing was looking at Stefan when the idea struck them. It’s borderline criminal.
It’s not borderline, it is criminal. And me looking at him like this, dragging my tongue around on the barn floor, is even worse.
“Where are you off to looking so dapper?” “The police station and then the city,” his voice dances with amusement as his eyes home in on mine.
“Hey, Mira?” he calls out right as I reach for the door handle. “Yeah?” I toss back into the echoey barn, continuing my forward motion. “You owe me a carton of eggs.” Well, shit.
A better man would. But I’m greedy. I want to prove to her I’m not the evil dick they’ve made me out to be. I just didn’t predict craving her the way that I am. I want her back in my house, laughing and smiling. All soft and warm.
Her heart is so damn pure. Far more pure than someone like me deserves. Within twenty minutes, she arrives, bursting through the door looking like some sort of country goddess.
“You’re gonna be fine, little dude. I’m sticking with you. And did you know Mira is the best vet I’ve ever known?” His eyes flutter and his head bobs. “It’s true. She’s very impressive.” My voice cracks.
