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“No way. Of all the ‘pretty-boy’ rangers, that guy is the most down to earth I’ve met.”
“Put on a dress and you’ll see.”
Gina grinned as Billy straightened and swiped a rag across the bar to wipe up stray drops of alcohol.
“Ha! I don’t think he’d be attracted to my hairy legs.” He leaned to the side to listen to a drink order, then started pouring and talking again. His voice rose as the band began a new song. “He seems like a nice guy to me. You know how small Estes gets in the winter, without the tourists? News of his arrival spread like wildfire, and not only because of his job. I’ve seen him here at the bar a few times, and he doesn’t strike me as a conceited womanizer.”
She slapped her palm on the gleaming surface in front of her. Grimacing at the sting, she said, “My point is, because of his looks, he doesn’t have to chase them—they come to him. Jerk thinks he’s God’s gift to women.”
In the dim light, Gina rose up on her stool, craning her neck in the direction Britt knew Joel was. “He is really good-looking.”
She reached over and yanked on her friend’s arm to sit her back down. “Stop it.”
Billy cocked his head. “That what the kiss was about?”
“He was trying to prove I wanted him to kiss me.”
“Did you?” they asked in unison.
She opened her mouth to deny it, then sighed. “You guys don’t get it.”
Gina smiled, Billy grinned down at his busy hands.
“It doesn’t matter anyway. I’m going back to Chicago at the end of the summer, and it’s only been a few weeks since Daniel. I’m not willing to be used again.”
Their humor softened to sympathy, making her teeth clench in annoyance as she straightened on her barstool. “You know what? Maybe I will just have a fling, like everyone else does out here.”
Before she could turn and pretend to survey the eligible men around her, Billy stated, “No you won’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Because that’s not the Britt we all know and love.”
He was right, damn it. Her shoulders slumped. “Well, it’s not fair that everyone else has all the fun.”
Her pout made them laugh, but she was only half-joking.
Chapter 10
Mark’s mustang, Gypsy, arrived Monday morning, the effects of the tranquilizer still evident. Britt slipped through the gate and Casey latched it behind her. She tuned out the audience of co-workers along the fence and focused on the mare.
She was on the smaller side, but even beneath her unkempt coat and matted mane, Britt could see the strong lines of good conformation. She’d have stamina to carry a rider all day long and then some.
“I can understand why you bought her,” she said over her shoulder to her boss. “She’s gonna be gorgeous.” With some love and a couple good groomings, her dark brown coat would gleam in the sunlight.
Mark didn’t reply, and she kept her gaze trained front and center. The horse watched her, but its head hung low, its eyelids and bottom lip droopy. Satisfied the mare wouldn’t make any sudden moves, Britt clasped her hands behind her back and eased closer.
“Careful,” Casey warned softly.
At about fifteen feet away, she halted and leaned forward, blowing softly toward the animal so the mare could catch her scent. Britt extended one hand. Black-tipped ears flicked back in distrust.
“That’s okay, sweetie. Soon we’ll be friends.”
She stood there a couple more minutes, talking softly all the while, then backed off again. Rejoining Mark and Casey at the fence, she leaned against the rails. The challenge of training the mare sent a little shiver of excitement along her spine. Still, she let her boss wonder a full minute more before shrugging.
“All right, you’ve got me.”
He allowed a slight grin and a soft, “Thank you, ma’am,” before ordering everyone back to work.
