Bossing the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch #4) - Kennedy Fox Page 0,20
speak up for the older ones around.”
I chuckle. “I think we might need to fix some teeth real quick.”
Opening the horse's mouth, I see a few ulcers in the cheek, then notice the sharp edges on her teeth.
“Grab the speculum,” I tell Elizabeth. Once we put it on, I’m able to get a better look inside the horse’s mouth.
“See here,” I say, pointing out the problem areas. Elle’s standing so close to me, I can smell the floral scent of her shampoo as her hair flies around. I clear my throat, trying to get a grip. “This is the cause of the ulcers.”
“You’re gonna be able to fix her up, though, right?” Jeanie asks.
I walk over toward her. “Yes, ma’am. Might take us about thirty minutes or so.”
She lifts her eyebrows, then touches my arm. I’m used to my clients being flirty, but I’ve gotten good at ignoring it. “Sounds good. Want some sweet tea while you work?”
“Thank you for the offer, but I’m good,” I say.
Daisy’s a good patient and stands still for us. Some horses tend to get antsy, which means I would’ve had to sedate her to calm her down.
“Can you grab the water syringe and my rasp?” I ask Elle as I examine each tooth to make sure there aren’t any other issues.
She brings over the metal file, and I clean the inside of Daisy's mouth first. “Okay, so we’re going to start slow until she’s used to hearing the noise of the filing. The last thing we want to do is spook her in the middle of this. We’ll start at the top at a forty-five-degree angle, like this,” I explain, showing Elle the position. “The top is easier to do than the bottom.”
She hangs on to my every word, and I love the way she watches me work. After I’m finished with the top and bottom on one side, I meet her emerald eyes. “Do you wanna give it a try? I usually have a drill for this when there’s a lot of horses to do at once, but this is the old-fashioned way,” I explain.
I can tell she’s apprehensive but nods anyway. “Absolutely.”
After I hand her the tool, I guide her inside, my hand gripping hers. I think I feel her shudder, and I like that I have that effect on her even though I’m not immune. Every time my skin touches hers, my entire body burns like it’s on fire, and I know for a fact it shouldn’t.
Chapter Seven
Elizabeth
How does he make this look so easy? I watched him as he filed the top and bottom teeth down, but it’s not that simple. Daisy begins to fidget as I finish the top, and instead of sedating her, Connor decides to take over so we can get done faster. I’m just happy he let me try so I could get used to the movements of the rasp filing down the hard enamel. Teeth health is important in large animals, but I didn’t realize how much damage it can cause until I looked inside Daisy’s mouth. Poor thing is going to feel so much better once we’re finished.
Connor’s arms flex as he continues working, gently speaking to the Palomino. I’m standing so close that I’m surprised Connor hasn’t asked me to back away, but I want a front row seat.
“See what I’m doing there?” he asks, his breath brushing against my face. Hooded eyes meet mine, and I swallow hard, then force my attention back to Daisy’s mouth.
“Yes,” I barely whisper, noticing how he maneuvers the file. My focus goes from the horse to Connor, and I find myself admiring him. Even though I shouldn’t, I like watching him work because he’s mesmerizing in every sense.
I suck in a deep breath as he continues to teach me, but it can be hard to focus when everything he says and does consumes me.
“You just wanna make sure it’s smooth on the surface instead of the sharp points that tend to cause sores,” he reminds me again.
I nod, making mental notes
“You’re getting certified in dental too, right?” he asks, and I’m sure I see a smirk, but it quickly disappears.
“I plan to,” I say. I’ve only really read about the procedure and have sat through a few lectures on it, but it’s different watching someone as talented as Connor do it.
Oh God. I sound like a superfan. If my cousins or even my brother caught wind of those thoughts, they’d never let me live it down.