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She deposited her mug back on the table and flattened both palms against her thighs in a self-conscious move to conceal the blisters. She was shocked Colton hadn’t pressed home the advantage he’d gained after the disaster in the barn.
With a guilty sigh, she decided to fess up before he exposed her outright. “The thing is, I, ah...lied about having worked with horses.” She lifted her gaze at the end, determined to face her deception head on.
Britt gave her a gentle smile. “We already guessed as much.”
“You did?” Her sister-in-law’s compassionate understanding made her feel even worse.
“Last night you didn’t touch any of the horses,” Britt explained. “And your boots this morning pretty much cinched it.”
“That obvious, huh?” She ran a fingertip over one of the broken blisters on her left palm as mortification burned in her cheeks. She must’ve looked like a total fool. No wonder Colton had been laughing at her all day.
“If it’s any consolation, Colton wouldn’t say you did a good job unless he meant it. He can’t lie to save his soul.” Britt laughed. “He’d have given some lame answer, and we’d have known he was lying.”
Couldn’t lie? The man had known she didn’t have experience with horses and then he sicced that black giant on her. Of course he could lie—
Suddenly, it hit her. He’d purposely scared her in the barn with Paelo. Her back went ramrod straight in her chair. Talk about a son of a bitch!
She tried to smile, but all she could think about was how she’d screamed as the huge animal loomed over her. “I bet you all shared a laugh over my panic attack when I came nose to nose with your black horse,” she muttered.
“You mean Paelo?” Britt’s voice held a frown. “He never said a word—what happened?”
Kendra waved off the question. “Nothing, forget it.”
Britt reac
hed a hand to cover hers. “Kendra, if you’re not comfortable with the horses, you don’t have to work. We only agreed to the job because it seemed important to you.”
She swallowed her chagrin to meet Britt’s gaze without flinching. “I don’t want a handout.”
“It’s not like that at all. You’re family,” Britt insisted. “Or, if you really feel that strongly about it, you can look for something in town and pay us back when you get established.”
Kendra rose to rinse her mug. It would be easier. She could get a job in town doing something. Anything was better than shoveling shit, wasn’t it? Colton’s mocking green eyes flashed in her mind as his voice echoed. Go home, Kendra.
Why in the world would she give him the satisfaction?
She faced Britt with resolve. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m a fast learner. I can do the job if you’ll let me.”
Britt grinned and sat back in her chair. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say. In which case, we’ll have to get you some work clothes tomorrow. Some jeans and gloves, and new boots for sure.”
Kendra cast her gaze down to the tips of her stained suede boots peeking from beneath the hem of her jeans. She sank against the sink with a grimace. “I literally don’t have a penny until my first paycheck.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll give you an advance. Besides I’m not giving up the chance to go shopping with a woman for once.”
A low groan came from the doorway. Kendra swung her gaze around to see Joel toss Colton a towel.
“What would you rather do?” Joel asked. “Go shopping or shoot yourself in the foot?”
Colton chose the latter, tousling his hair before draping the towel around his neck. Man, he was good-looking. The way his hair fell over his forehead, just above his sexy—
Kendra straightened fast. “I’m going back to the guest house—it’s been a long day.”
She’d almost reached the door when she heard Britt ask, “Joel, what did you do with the spare keys for the truck after Todd left?”
“They’re in the office.”
“Great,” Britt said. “We’ll take the truck tomorrow, Kendra. You can learn your way around town. That way you can use it whenever you want.”
She cringed and slowly turned, waiting for Colton to pounce on the opportunity Britt had served up on a silver platter.
