love horses.” Shrugging at the same time that she self-consciously wrinkled her nose and tilted her head to the side, she just kept right on going. “And they love me. I can feel it.” His bear grumbled and Beau had to bite back a laugh. No one would love her like they would, especially an animal that couldn’t even shift.
Hand going to her chest, drawing his eyes to her voluptuous breasts, she gained speed. “I’ve taken some of the wildest stallions, the ones my dad said would never be ridden, and turned them into the sweetest mounts this side of the Pacific Coast.” Her words brought the images of her riding him, and it was all he could do to not drag her back into his arms.
Nervous energy instantly changing to excitement, Lucy bounced on her toes. “And, I admit, I’ve been watching you and your crew forever. Your love for animals, not just horses, all animals is so amazing. I just know this is the place I want to be. But if it won’t work for you, I totally…”
“Whoa.” It was Beau’s turn to put up his hands, only for him, it was in surrender. His mind was spinning, and his heart was racing. “Hold on.” Instantly unable to breathe as Lucy’s face fell and tears filled her eyes, he damn near shouted. “No, not like that. Not, ‘whoa, get outta here.’ That’s not what I mean. Stop. Don’t do that. Don’t you dare cry. I wasn’t… I mean, I meant… I… Aww, shit.”
Running his hands through this hair, he blew out an exasperated breath then began again. “You’re hired. You will be paid. I know you’re the best, and I would be honored to have you train my horses.”
That was two years ago, and still, he watched her from afar like a lovesick teenager with a stupid crush.
“Dammit, Beau, are you even listening?” Amelia’s frustrated roar yanked the grizzly bear from his daydreams a split-second before something hit him in the back of the head.
Spinning and bending at the waist in one fluid motion, Beau scooped his sister’s shoe off the ground and tossed it back so it would fly right by her ear. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he damn sure wanted her attention. “Never, ever, throw your shoe at me again.”
Hands on her hips, green eyes blazing, one of the younger females of their clan, and by far the sassiest, took a feisty step forward. “Then listen to me. I know you’re so important. And have so much to think about, but I need your help.”
Barely holding his temper, as Amelia rolled her eyes and made a show of pretending to be put out, Beau bit his tongue. He’d never snapped at his baby sister before, not even when she’d been young and reckless or acting like she was a teenager again.
Raising her after the sudden death of their parents, he saw to her every need, even braiding her long dark curls that were just a touch lighter than his own unruly locks. Overnight, tea parties and playing Barbies had become a way of life, and he’d loved every minute.
Amelia was the apple of Beau’s eye. She was an amazing woman with a great head on her shoulders and a grizzly female he was very proud of. Best of all, she and Lucy were already as close as sisters.
So why, after all these years, was he losing his cool over one of her typical pranks?
‘Cause you’re in love, bro. And it’s with the Big Bad Wolf’s little girl…
Chapter Three
“It’s okay, Goldie,” Lucy cooed, stroking the mare’s neck. “Sounds like they’re at it again. Wish I was at it with that big, hunky grizzly,” she said under her breath with a chuckle.
No truer words were ever spoken. No man had ever made her feel the way Beau Sampson did. Defying her father was easy compared to being close to the man she loved and doing nothing about it.
“Two years,” she groaned. “Can you believe it, Goldie? Two years and I still haven’t gotten up the nerve to…”
“I am so mad,” Amelia, Beau’s outspoken and very sweet sister spat. Throwing her hands into the air as she stomped across the paddock, her boots kicking up clouds of dust with every step, she growled through gritted teeth, “He never listens to me.”
Hands still over her head, they suddenly shifted directions, taking the short, thin, wisp of a woman right along with them in a wild spin. Pointing