Page 47 of Once Removed (Blackhawk Security)

Hiding a grin, her eyes twinkling, Lainey said, “She’s a great horse,” as she scratched the mare’s nose.

Oh, God. His comment had been innocent, but Lainey’d turned it into a double entendre. Clearing his throat, Brody said, “Let’s get them cooled down and brushed.”

He showed her the equipment in the tack room, and Lainey collected what she’d need. Over the next fifteen minutes, Lainey removed the mare’s saddle and bridle, brushed her down and gave her fresh water. Then, with a final pat on the neck she stepped out of Candy’s stall and latched the door.

“Thanks, Brody,” she said, leaning against Thunder’s stall as he finished with his horse. “I really enjoyed that.”

“You’re really good at it, too,” he said.

She shrugged. “Most people are good at things they love to do.”

The barn was quiet, the only sounds the snuffling of the horses and the swishing of straw as the animals moved around in the stalls. Everyone was still in town, leaving her and Brody alone on the ranch. The air was heavy with anticipation. Expectancy.

Their lunch conversation had been uncomfortable. Strained. But as angry as she’d been, she was glad they’d had it. They’d learned more about each other. And it proved they could talk about problems without running away from them. She’d never felt that way about Ron. She’d gone out of her way to avoid conversations with him.

As Brody slipped out of Thunder’s stall with a final pat on his horse’s rump, Lainey straightened. They’d navigated the treacherous shoals of her marriage’s failure, and she felt free. Freer than she’d felt in a long time.

Brody’s doing.

A lot of men would have fled from the awkward, angry conversation they’d had. Brody hadn’t just not fled. He’d steered them through the conversation with grace, and now a tsunami of desire rose inside her.

Being around Brody had awakened the desire she’d thought had died. His care with her, his concern about her, had set it free.

So she stepped toward him. Tossed her borrowed hat toward the stall door, not caring when it fell to the floor. Locking her gaze with his, she watched the realization blossom in his blue eyes. He sucked in a deep breath and reached for her.

She flung herself into his arms, gripping his shirt. Yanked him toward her. She went up on her toes, searching his gaze. Saw nothing but desire, overlaid with concern for her.

She couldn’t remember the last time a man had been concerned about her. Worried for her. The realization that Brody had been worried about her, that he cared about her, smashed every barrier she’d erected around her heart. Cupping his face in her hands, she pulled his head down and kissed him with every joyous cell in her body.

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