Page 56 of Captured By the Billionaire Cowboy
He found her in the paddock, perfectly at home with the bright sunshine and playful animals. She wore a sky-blue blouse that fell off her shoulders, revealing a tantalizing hint of creamy skin, and dark blue jeans that molded to her curves perfectly. She’d tied her wavy locks into a ponytail, with a few wispy tendrils framing her face. Although she wore no makeup, her cheeks were pink from the sun, and she looked like a ray of sunshine. She was currently with Mischief Maker, a horse named for his penchant for slyness.
“Hey there,” he called.
She turned, displaying a brilliant smile that nearly unarmed him. “Hey you! I thought you had a century of work to do.”
“Three centuries, actually,” he informed her in grave seriousness. “I should be done sometime after we’ve colonized Mars.”
“Really?” She adopted the same somber expression. “Don’t tell me the ever-responsible Rowan Byrne is playing hooky.”
“I would never do such a thing.”
“Never do it or never tell me?”
“I’ve already said too much.”
She laughed. “How do you joke with such a straight face?”
The answer was easy. He had a lot of practice hiding his true feelings.
Mischief Maker whinnied next to her, clearly indignant at the loss of the pretty lady’s attention. Ciara eyed Rowan speculatively. “Since you’re slacking with your work, you might as well help me with mine.”
He bowed his head. “I am at your service.”
Fed up with her diverted focus, Mischief Maker gave Ciara a gentle nudge. She laughed, attaching a long lead to the precocious horse. “This water-loving horse splashes in every pond, river and watering hole. I’m taking him to the creek for a little cool down. Care to join me?”
He should say no, give a logical yet gracious denial, yet instead he nodded. “Sure.” A rustling drew his attention. In the other paddock, Sweetheart was prancing around. “Mind if I bring my horse?”
“Not at all.”
They chatted amicably as they prepared the horses and gathered the necessary supplies. They set off on the short walk, and Mischief Maker was indeed rambunctious, exploring every inch of the natural world. When he was adopted, he would need an active owner. There was a family with three teenage daughters coming to the ranch tomorrow – he would definitely mention him to them.
They arrived at the watering hole, a small, shallow creek with crystal clear waters and a smooth rock bottom. Dappled sunlight streamed from a flawless aqua sky, casting a warm amber glow through the soft canopy of trees. Sparkling waters flowed in the tinkling creek, framed by colorful flowers that dotted the shore and flavored the air with their exotic scent. It was beautiful, breathtaking beyond compare.
But Ciara was the loveliest of all.
They tied the leads to a tree, giving the horses plenty of room to roam and enjoy the natural surroundings. Both horses seemed thrilled at the water, immediately pawing and splashing in the cool streams. Ciara perched herself on a rock, watching from a comfortable distance, but Rowan wandered close. A little too close, it seemed, as Mischief Maker happily splashed water on him.
Rowan jumped back and gaped at the horse. He shook his head, spreading water droplets all around. “Did he do it on purpose?”
Ciara laughed. “There’s a pretty good chance. If you’d like to test it, go back and see what he does.”
Rowan folded his arms across his chest. “Isn’t it your turn?”
She leaned back against the rock like it was a plush recliner. “Nope. I’m good.”
Opportunity beckoned. Like all good strategists, he never ignored a chance to pursue what he desired. “Want to make a bet on whether Mischief Maker gets me wet again?”
She sat up. “Of course, he will,” she said confidently. “He did it on purpose the first time.”
“And I think it was just a coincidence.”
“So what are the terms?”
“If I win – and if you are interested – I’d like a kiss.”
For a second, she looked startled, then a faint blush tinted her cheeks, revealing just how interested she was. “What do I get if I win?”
“What do you want?”
