Page 2 of Ethan

“What was I supposed to do?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Wait for the owner?”

“He’s running late.”

“And that gives you the right to ride one of his horses? How would you know which horse to take? Just close your eyes and pick one?”

Ethan watched as she dismounted and walked toward him.

“Are you his manager or something?”

“Or something.” He turned from her to walk from the barn. “Make sure you put the horse up. You ride; you put the horse up.” He glanced over his shoulder at her.

“Yes, sir,” she said with a salute, making him bite his lip to hold back a grin, then headed for the door again. “Hey, what is your name? In case I need to make some kind of complaint about you in the future. I have a feeling we’re going to butt heads because you obviously are never wrong.”

“I can’t afford to be wrong.” He shook his head. “Get that horse cooled down, put her back into her stall and give her fresh oats.”

“Jerk,” she muttered but he heard her and faced her again.

“If you want a job here, you’d better learn to get along with everyone.”

“Including you?” She placed her hands on her hips.

“Especially me.”

“Why especially you?”

He touched the brim of his hat and nodded. “I’m Ethan Harrison, Ms. Austin.”

Then he walked out the door.

****

Naomi watched him leave, jaw tight. She waited until the door swung shut before she let herself react.

“Shit. Shit. Shit.” She stamped her foot. “Naomi Lee Austin, you’re an absolute idiot.”

But even as she said it, she was already thinking how to make it right. She wanted this job too badly to let one argument derailit. Ethan Harrison was going to see exactly what she was capable of, whether he liked it or not.

Naomi huffed out a breath, entered the corral, and led the mare into the barn to cool it down. Once she had her settled in her stall and the gate latched, the horse immediately stretched her head over the door. Naomi rubbed her velvety nose.

“I had a feeling you were doing way too well to be a beginner,” she murmured, glancing toward the house across the yard. “I suppose I should find Mr. Harrison and hope I still have a job. I’ll see you later, girl.”

She strode out of the barn into the sunlight and crossed the yard. At the side door she knocked, then stepped back and let herself actually look at the place for the first time. It was beautiful, a sprawling log house with a wraparound porch, white swings hanging from the ceiling on iron hooks, and azaleas crowding the steps in full bloom.

The door opened and she turned. All thought left her head.

She hadn’t been able to see him clearly in the dim barn, but out here in the sunlight there was nowhere to hide from it; the man was devastating. Handsome didn’t come close. She couldn’t decide if she liked him better with or without his hat.

“Ms. Austin.” The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “What can I do for you?” He folded his arms across his broad chest and leaned against the doorjamb like he had all the time in the world.

“You could let me have this job.”

His eyebrows shot up. “You haven’t proved anything to me other than showing you could ride an already trained horse.”

She stared at him. He was baiting her. She cleared her throat.

“Look, Mr. Harrison, I’m good at what I do, and we got off on the wrong foot.”