Page 47 of Hold a Candle

He wiped his forehead in mock relief. “Whew. Ye had me worried there for a minute. Thought I was going to have to wear a disguise over my face when I took ye out.”

Pauley couldn’t help giggling at the thought of Jamie in a gorilla face mask turning her over his lap at the fountain in the square like some old John Wayne movie. “Ye wouldn’t actually do that.”

One of his eyebrows shot up and that evil grinch grin lifted the sides of his face once again. “Are ye sure about that?”

Suddenly, she realized she wasn’t sure about anything at all. Shivering with delight, she realized that getting to know this unpredictable man was becoming a high priority on her priority list. There was bound to be something she didn’t like about him, but she’d be darned if she’d seen anything yet. Suspiciously, she eyed him.

“Why are ye looking at me like that?” he asked, eyeing her back.

“Just looking for the faults. Everyone has them ye know. I wonder what yers are?”

“Would ye like me to strip so ye can inspect the merchandise?” he drawled.

“I’ve felt the merchandise, and it doesn’t appear to be faulty.”

“In that case, I guess ye’ll just have to keep seeing me to figure me out,” he responded, his hand closing over one warm breast. “I know I like everything I’m discovering.” He gently pinched her nipple through the soft bra, making it stand up and beg for more attention. “Like these greedy little fruits,” he added, moving to the other side and giving it the same attention. “Ye appear to be quite the handful, sweet firebrand.” He nipped her earlobe and then lathed it with his tongue. “Delicious. Ye even smell like peaches.”

“Ye like peaches?” Pauley gasped.

“I love peaches.”

She decided then and there that the expensive shampoo and body works set was well worth the price she’d paid. Peaches were something she liked a lot. Especially the hot wax peach scents, as well as scented candles, and anything else she could find with the fruity odor.

They were so involved in exploring each other that neither noticed the fine Palomino gelding that came up behind Pauley until he pushed into her back with his nose.

Pauley gasped and whirled around, then relaxed when she saw the beautiful animal. “Hiya, gorgeous,” she whispered, lifting her palm to the side of the horse’s jaw and stroking softly. “Where did ye come from?”

Jamie stood as still as a rock, holding his breath as Pauley laid her face on the nose of the horse as it nuzzled her chin, neck and ear. He held onto her waist when she tried to reach both arms up and around the horse’s neck. “Don’t get any closer,” he murmured behind her.

The horse immediately snorted and pranced backwards. Dancing from side to side, he whinnied at Jamie, his dark eyes fearful and angry before he suddenly whirled and galloped away.

Pauley turned around to see Jamie staring after the horse, his eyebrows drawn together in a frown. “What’s wrong?”

“Lucerne told me that the palomino hasn’t let anyone touch it since it’s been here. It was abused by its previous owner and it hates people. It only comes near the house when there’s grain to be had, and only after the lads back off. They had to lasso and confine it before the vet could even give it shots.”

“Has he ever hurt anyone?” she asked, gazing at the horse in the pasture where it stood watching her. “He seemed friendly and curious to me. It’s such a shame that he’s been abused.”

“He put his previous owner in the hospital.”

“Mayhap he deserved it?” Pauley mused, leaning her forearms on the fence.

Jamie nodded. “Mayhap. Darro was with the vet at the Crabtree farm when the horse reared up and came down on the old man. Old Crabtree yelled to have it shot as the ambulance was preparing to take him away, and Darro bought it on the spot. He has a soft spot for horses,” he added with a chuckle.

“But Darro is such a practical man,” Pauley murmured. “I can’t see him letting his feelings interfere if he thinks the horse would be a danger to anyone on Neamh.”

“True enough,” Jamie agreed. “He’s been giving it a chance to respond, but the only reason it’s still here is because Delilah fell in love with it when they took him out of the trailer. She immediately named him Sunshine and was hysterical at the thought of having it put down. Darro relented and kept it for her sake, but Lucerne doesn’t know for how much longer if they can’t do anything with it.”

“It didn’t have a problem with me.” Pauley turned around in the moonlight to face him. “I love horses, always have. I still have one at my cousin’s place in Abbotshire, but it’s too far to visit often. She’s getting pretty old now.”

“Aye. I’d say it’s pretty unusual that it came right up to ye. Mayhap it only likes females. Lucerne likes horses, but in her condition, Darro won’t let her around the stock at all except for Dancer when he’s in the barn.”

“Is Dancer her horse?”

Jamie nodded. “Aye, a fine bay. We kept him at the family farm until she married Darro, and then they moved him here for her.”

“Well, I don’t blame Darro, animals can be unpredictable,” she agreed, allowing Jamie to take her hand and walk with her back to the house. She glanced back at Sunshine, who appeared to be following along inside the pasture. “I like the name Delilah picked, Sunshine even glows in the moonlight. He’s a real beauty. Has Darro ever let Delilah near him?”

“I can’t answer that, but I doubt it. He is very protective of Lucerne and the bairns. The kids are nae allowed to run around without a watchful eye on them at all times.”

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