Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“As long as you’re eating, that’s all that matters.”
He sets the tub aside and watches me for a long moment. Even the silent moments with him are comfortable.
I’m in an alternate universe where I’m not leery of anything with a dick.
“You’re welcome to join me at the house for dinner.”
“Oh, thank you, but I’m meeting with my family for dinner.”
“It’s a standing invitation, Duchess.” His eyes roam over my face, and it sends a little thrill down my spine. “You’re the prettiest fucking thing.”
“I thought you were going to remain professional, Hotshot.”
“Oh, I am. Doesn’t negate the fact that you’re a smoke show.” He walks to the door and glances back at me, making my lady bits do the foxtrot. “We’ll start at six tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll be ready.”
With a nod, he walks out of my cabin, shutting the door behind him.
I’m working for Tucker Hendrix, who just so happens to be the only man in the world that I’d like to climb like a tree. More than once.
This is going to be a nightmare.
CHAPTER THREE
TUCKER
The sun isn’t even starting to come up yet when I step out onto the back deck, ready to head to the barn. I want to spend some time alone with the horses before Darby joins me. Some people meditate, pray, do yoga.
I spend the morning with my horses. It grounds me. Always has. When I was a boy, my father would find me sound asleep in one of the stalls of the barn with my horse. So, before I have to suck it up and be professional with Darby all day, I want some quiet time in the barn.
I can’t believe that the woman who’s starred in all my fantasies for half a decade is my new intern.
When I told Zack about it last night, he laughed his ass off. He said it’s karma for the way I stole Britney Swanson out from under his nose when we were juniors in high school.
I called bullshit on that. I couldn’t steal her when she wasn’t interested in him in the first place.
When I slide the door open, I see that my beautiful intern is already in the barn. The lights are on, and I can hear her murmuring in the back corner. As I get closer, I see she’s in an empty stall, on her knees in the hay.
“You’re such a sweetheart,” she croons, and her early-morning raspy voice has my dick immediately entering the conversation.
Christ, it’s going to be a long fucking year.
“Look at how well you did. Five tiny babies, little mama.” Her voice is soothing and soft. So different from her usual tone, it surprises me.
“What’s going on back here?” I ask quietly as I step closer. When I squat next to her, she shifts a few inches to the side, putting more space between us, just like she did yesterday.
I don’t like that.
“Someone had babies,” she says with a soft smile.
“That’s Tom,” I reply, frowning down at the black-and-white cat who currently has five little kittens suckling his—her?—teats. “I thought he was getting fat from all the mice he was catching.”
“He’s not fat,” she says with a laugh. “She was pregnant.”
“Apparently so.” I reach out and scratch the feline behind the ears. “Good job, mama. I’m still going to call you Tom.”
“I’ll spay her after the kittens are weaned,” she says softly. “She was having trouble with that last one when I got out here. She was crying. But it looks like all is well now. I need to put her in something softer. A box with some old towels or a blanket would do.”
“We can do that. Thank you.”
She looks up at me, those blue eyes shining in the soft light, and smiles again, hitting me in the solar plexus. “This is my whole job. It’s kind of awesome.”
We get to work, assembling a more comfortable spot for Tom and her family. I have some towels in the shower room, and before long, we have all the cats resettled, looking more comfortable than before.
We’re squatting side by side, watching Tom clean her babies, making biscuits in the towel, and I look over to the woman beside me.
I want to reach out and tuck her hair behind her ear. She’s so fucking beautiful, even in simple blue jeans and a T-shirt under a black zip-up hoodie. Nothing special or fancy, but I’ve never seen anything more gorgeous in my life.
Before I can reach out, Darby stands and moves away from me, sure not to touch me as she walks out of the stall.
She did the same thing yesterday. She mentioned that she’s not a toucher when I offered my hand out to shake, but I can feel in my gut that this goes beyond that. Although she looks calm, her movements are stiff, as if she’s nervous, and I do not want this woman to be nervous around me. We have to work together for a whole fucking year. I need to get to the bottom of this.