Page 43

“I’ll wash your feet as soon as I toss a pizza in the oven,” he offered, crossing to the freezer.

“Oh, it’s fine. I’ll take a shower, and then we can cover the sores with bandages.” Without waiting for him to respond, she disappeared down the hallway to the main bedroom.

After turning on the oven to preheat, he decided to change out of his khaki slacks and button-down shirt as well. He donned his black T-shirt and black jeans, then holstered his weapon on his belt.

Back in the kitchen, he used the computer to pull up Fiona’s father’s farm. Something he should have considered doing earlier. Maybe if he’d done that first, they wouldn’t have had to risk going to the race.

And from there, being found on the highway where they’d nearly been killed.

The Murphy’s Estates farm wasn’t difficult to find online. There was a website that even offered directions on how to reach the property. He wasn’t sure why that was necessary. Did tourists come to visit horse-racing farms?

His knowledge of the horse-racing world that Fiona lived within was minuscule. Obviously, the location of the farm was hardly a secret. Did Liam Murphy keep his prized racehorse, Fiona’s Folly, there?

Maybe there was more security around the farm than he could glean from the website. Still, if he were in charge of her father’s security team, the first thing he’d do was eliminate the website including the directions on how to get to the property.

Shaking his head, he rose to slide the pizza in the oven. He’d just finished when Fiona entered the kitchen. She wore blue jeans and a blue V-neck sweater that matched her eyes. In one hand, she carried her running shoes and socks. She dropped into the closest kitchen chair with a sigh. “Much better.”

“You look great.” Better than great, she looked even more beautiful now than she had wearing the dress. Or maybe he just liked this version of her better. He forced himself to cross over to kneel at her feet. “How badly do those blisters hurt?”

“They sting, but I didn’t let that stop me from washing them with soap and water.” She managed a smile. “I don’t want another infection.”

“Your wounds look clean to me.” He reached up for the gauze, antibiotic ointment, and tape, carefully applying the ointment, then dressing the open and raw-looking blisters. “The socks should help.”

“I’m counting on it,” she said in a wry voice.

When finished with the basic first aid, he glanced up to find her watching him. He tried not to squirm under her intense scrutiny. “What’s wrong? Was I too rough?”

“No, far from it.” She tipped her head to the side. “You’re absolutely the nicest man I’ve ever met.”

Under different circumstances that would have been a compliment. He kept his tone light. “Yeah, well, since your only memory is of slapping some guy who probably deserved it, that’s not saying much.” He rose to his feet, suddenly desperate to put some distance between them.

He liked Fiona far more than he should. Having done literally dozens of jobs for Rex Grayson, he couldn’t figure out why being here with Fiona felt different. She wasn’t the first woman he’d been assigned to protect and probably wouldn’t be the last.

Although she was the first to collapse in a heap on his doorstep.

“Dinner will be ready soon.” He returned to the relative safety of his seat in front of the laptop computer. “I have some images of your father’s farm up on the screen. Maybe seeing them will bring back some memories.”

“I sure hope so.” She took a moment to slip her socks and shoes on, then scooted her chair over so she could see the screen. She was close enough that he could smell the soap on her skin. He fought the urge to lean forward to inhale more of her warm scent.

Man, he was losing it.

With a concerted effort, he leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. Again, he strove for a casual tone. “Take your time.”

“I am.” Pursing her lips, she scrolled through each of the five pictures, then returned to the second photo. “This looks familiar.”

“The corral?” He was surprised at the choice. He’d have thought she’d have spent more time in the massive white house or the barn compared to a fenced-in pasture. “What do you remember about being in the corral?”

“I remember leading a horse in a circle with a young girl riding on the back.” She spoke almost absently, her gaze seemingly locked on the screen. “Riding lessons. Yes, that’s it. I must give young riders horseback riding lessons.”

“That makes sense.” He wondered whether children’s riding lessons earned enough to pay the bills, then decided that was none of his business. It didn’t matter what Fiona did for a living. Or even if she worked for a living. Her bills were probably paid by her father, especially since she used his farm to offer riding lessons.

Enough already. His apparent fixation on Fiona’s wealthy background was foolish. It wasn’t as if they were going to see each other again once this was over, regardless of his growing feelings for her.

And once her memory returned, he suspected she’d look at him differently. Most likely as a hired hand. One look at the large barn and rolling acres of grassland made him think there were several employees working at Murphy’s Estates.

There was no way Liam Murphy took care of the horses and the property all by himself. Even with Fiona’s help, there were likely other staff members on the payroll. Those people could be a problem when they showed up to check the place out.

He pushed away from the table to peer at the pizza. It was almost ready, so he busied himself with pulling plates, glasses, and silverware from the cupboards.