Page 15 of Roping Her In

“I love this ranch, and I think I could learn a lot here. I’ve always thought that, which is why I fought so hard to be here.” Her voice broke, but hopefully Jake hadn’t noticed. Maybe he’d think she was just enunciating some words more than others.

She took a moment to box up her emotions, as they’d spilled out again. “I’m excited about working here for the next sixteen weeks, and I’m going to give you the best I’ve got, whether you like me or not.”

“Hailey—”

She held up one hand, and he immediately silenced. “I’ve let men, and rumors, and even myself sometimes stand in my way in the past, but I refuse to do that here. I’ve finally found something I’m good at, that I’m passionate about, and I’m not going to let anything—or anyone—stand in my way of finishing this program and becoming an amazing veterinary technician.”

His eyes blazed with the same energy Hailey felt coursing through her. She nodded once and backed up. “Now, if you’ll please excuse me, I need to get Tempest to walk so I can properly finish her assessment.”

She turned her back on him and walked the length of the horse again. “After all, we can’t all stand around at the end of the stall and watch someone else do the hard work.” As she unclipped the rope from the wall in front of Tempest, Jake did the most surprising thing yet.

Well, besides that kiss in his office, weeks ago now.

He laughed.

7

Jake schooled his features into the tightest scowl he could manage, though watching Hailey work with Tempest and dictate into that phone clipped to her collar was about the sexiest thing he’d ever witnessed.

The horse definitely didn’t pick her foot up properly and had a shorter gait than normal. All of which Jake knew would be detailed in Hailey’s notes.

She returned Tempest to her makeshift stall and clipped the rope to the wall again. Then she rummaged around in something positioned on the table on the other side of the rope before ducking under it again.

She had a comb, and she murmured softly to the horse as she quickly brushed out her mane and started on her shoulders.

Jake growled low in his throat. “You’re not a groomer,” he said. “No wonder you’ve only assessed twelve horses.”

She turned toward him, her blue eyes flashing with dangerous fire. “If you can establish a connection with your animals, you’ll get much better results when you need to examine them.” Her voice ripped through him like icicles, piercing him as if they’d fallen from a roof.

Good. She didn’t like him at all, and Jake needed that more than anything.

He rolled his eyes as she added, “Besides, I’m not going to do her whole body.”

As if summoned by her words, Val arrived. “You ready for me to take this one over, ma’am?” He shot a glance at Jake, his smile widening. “Heyo-howdy, Jake. We didn’t expect to see you out in the arena today.”

Nobody expected to see Jake anywhere. He could be here, there, or anywhere around the ranch, and he certainly didn’t have to report to Val Holden.

“Leia had to go work with Brynn,” he said, and he flashed a tight smile as he shook Val’s hand. “Let me tell you, it’s a heck of a lot better in here than outside.”

Val laughed as he stepped back. “I’m sure it is. Pete runs a real nice facility.” In fact, Val worked for Courage Reins and not Three Rivers Ranch, as there were three distinct operations out here, all sharing the land.

Hailey handed him the comb and slid her hand all the way to Tempest’s rump before she squeezed past Jake.

“Thank you, Val,” she said. “She did a real nice job.” She patted Tempest and moved to the next horse.

Jake stood there, not quite sure why he couldn’t follow her or come up with anything to say to Val. Pure foolishness ran through him as the seconds ticked by. He finally looked at Hailey and found her swiping through something on her phone. Instant irritation shot through Jake, and then she looked over to him with a hint of vulnerability in her eyes.

“Leia logged in for me,” she said. “But apparently it’s reset.” She lifted her phone a couple of inches. “Could you get me back in so I can read the notes on Going Postal?”

Jake felt like going postal, but he stepped over to Hailey and took her phone, being extra careful not to allow his fingers to touch hers. “You have your own login,” he said.

“It’s not working.” She crowded in close to him and pointed. “See? That’s the username and password you gave me, but it won’t go through.”

Jake could absolutely not stand this close to her, and he huffed out a sigh and took a deliberate step away, giving her a glare to boot.

“Oh, give me a break,” she muttered, and she turned her back on him and walked down the length of Postal, where she ran her hands down the sides of his face and looked directly into his eyes.

She had a way with animals, and that only made Jake’s attraction spark harder. But he couldn’t acknowledge that. He also couldn’t log in as himself on Hailey’s phone, as he had much more access to the notes app, as well as his private diagnoses and reminders for himself. The last thing he needed was for Hailey to see anything personal about him.