“Did any of my brothers ever try to kiss you?”
“Nope, not a one.Levi and I were the closest in age, but he was always more like an older-brother type.”
Renn’s rough hand gripped her face.“If I try to kiss you, are you going to get mad at me?”
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”Her hand moved up to cover his and every inch of her leaned into him.She couldn’t resist wanting this man any more than she could avoid taking her next breath.And when his head dipped down, and his firm lips captured hers in a kiss, she was lost in the moment.It was the kind of kiss that made her crave more and tasted like a whole lot of trouble all at once.
If there was any kind of gossip in this town, she always landed right in it.What was she doing?
Pulling away with her eyes still closed, she ended the kiss.“I’m not looking for anything from you.”
“Me either.”His thumb swiped over her bottom lip.“But it looks like we found each other anyway.”
She couldn’t help but smile.Of course, this gorgeous mama’s boy with manners and a love of horses would stumble into her life.The week after she ended a doomed engagement and just when she needed to focus on her horses.But if she didn’t stay completely focused and sell some stud services, she was going to lose the family ranch.There was always a fork in the road for Miranda: do the sensible thing or the wild one.But she had to choose herself this time.
It was Renn who ended the physical contact and stepped away.“Alright, tell me your plan for this ranch and these beasts,” Renn said.Deciding for her at least for the time being, they weren’t going to keep kissing.
“What plan?”
“The stud farm.I know you’ve thought about it.You’ve got two impressive studs, a new Mustang, and six mares, two already pregnant.Seems like that’s the long game.So, what’s the immediate goal?”
She clenched her teeth, unsure how much she should say.She hadn’t told anyone her big dream.
“Beautiful Beast Thoroughbreds will produce the most agile, strong horses in the state of Georgia.”
He eyed her and smiled.“I believe you, now how are you going to convince the buyers?”
Miranda gave the short version of her business plan.She would breed her studs for the next two years while her mares produced one to two foals each per year.She would train those ponies herself and then sell them at auctions.But she would also offer breeding services with her studs if a ranch had their own mares they would like to breed.Each pony would sell at auction for a nice price until everyone in the thoroughbred horse business knew her name.
“And your studs have the pedigree to demand the high price?”
“For as reckless as my father was, he knew horses.When he acquired Beast, he said he’d finally done it, he’d obtained the most impressive thoroughbred horse in the country.He would breed him and develop a stock of thoroughbreds.Beast’s lineage is traced back to a dozen Breeders’ Cup wins.My daddy actually won him in a bet.”
Renn whistled.“Sounds like a very well thought out plan.But why do I get the feeling this wasn’t your life plan?”
“I never thought I’d inherit this ranch so soon, if ever.My daddy always said this business was too cut-throat for women.I went to undergrad for business but minored in animal husbandry.Against my father’s wishes, I’ve been obsessed with horses ever since I was old enough to read the stats at every horse race in the country.And I trained Thor myself.”
She didn’t know why it was so easy to talk to Renn.Maybe it was because he seemed genuinely interested or because she knew he wouldn’t be sticking around long.
“I don’t think it matters what your father said, it’s your land now and these are your horses.They may be born thoroughbreds but it’s the training and care that makes the difference.As my mama would’ve said, you’ve got the touch.”
Miranda nodded.“Which means if I mess it up it’s all my failure too.”
“You’re not going to fail.It may not go as smoothly as you’d like, but you’re too stubborn to fail.You’ve got too much grit.”
“I guess if you aren’t busy and want to tag along for my showing at the end of the week, that’d be okay.”
He nodded.“Sounds fun.”
“But this.”She waved her hand between them.“Isn’t going to be a thing.I need to focus on business and not be distracted by some wayward cowboy.”
Renn just nodded.“Ya, I need to figure out a few things with my brothers so I guess I shouldn’t be getting distracted by a beautiful cowgirl either.”
“So, we agree, friends?”Miranda said, holding out her hand.
Renn gripped hers and nodded.“Friends, for now.”
But the cascade of shivers that ran over her and the warmth pooling low in her belly as he held her hand a bit too long made one thing clear.There was no way they were ever going to be just friends.
