“You know you will, Trix. You just have to make the connections, and you said Tempe is going to help you get started with that. You’ll do great. Who could possibly resist you?”
The way he held her gaze gave her the feeling he was including himself in that comment, and that sent another thrill through her. “You really believe in me, don’t you?”
“I always have.” He paused just long enough for her to wonder if he meant something more by that. “I wouldn’t have offered to help you do this if I didn’t believe in you. You know horses and you’re great with people, which is why your old man has you working with customers. You’re determined to succeed, and your heart is in it. There’s no way you’ll fail.”
“Then you don’t think it’s a mistake to use some of the money I was going to use toward buying property on these horses instead?”
He crouched beside her. “Without the horses, there is no business for a year or two, and from what I just heard, probably closer to two.”
Alfie put his muzzle in her chest. “Hello, beautiful boy.” She loved him up. “Do you like helping people?” She looked at Nick, loving that he liked helping her, and said, “It feels like the right thing to do. I can get two trained horses from Ed and two that aren’t trained from Travis. Then I get the best of both worlds, and as Ed said, the trained horses can help lead the way for the others.”
His expression turned serious. “Then I guess the big question is, can you handle working on the ranch with your brothers’ taunting you without losing your mind?”
She loved that he was always two steps ahead and looking out for her. “I’ve survived it this long. I think I can handle it for a little longer.” She nudged him playfully. “I put up with you, don’t I?”
He smiled. “That you do.”
“Besides, I told you what my father said, and they all apologized. Hopefully, things will be different when I get back. What do you think? Can I steal a few more hours of your time to take them through the arena, watch the videos, and try to make a decision as hard as Sophie’s choice?”
He leaned in like he was going to kiss her, but stopped short, as if he’d caught himself, and said, “My day is yours, darlin’.”
Chapter Twelve
NICK NEVER IMAGINED he’d be spending a Tuesday night drinking champagne in his barn with Trixie. But there he was heading across the grass with a bottle of his best bubbly and two glasses, after an incredible day of watching her not only chase her dreams but grab hold of them with both hands and make them come true. She’d connected with so many of the horses, she’d had a hell of a time deciding which horses to bring home. In the end, Nick was pretty sure the horses had made the final decision for her. Annabelle and Alfie had taken to Trixie as if she’d raised and trained them herself. Annabelle had also taken a liking to Nick, which Trixie had claimed was a sign that the beautiful white filly was meant to be hers. He’d fucking loved that, almost as much as he’d loved the way she’d leapt into his arms and kissed him after they’d gotten the horses in the trailer. He’d never seen her so happy, and hell if that hadn’t elated him, too. But ever the whirlwind, on the way home she’d snapped into business mode and had called Dirk Boyle, her father’s business attorney, and Wylie Knoll, his insurance agent. She might have had a loose plan before, but now Trixie Jericho was plowing full speed ahead, and Nick knew she was going to take the horse therapy world by storm.
It’d been hell trying to rein in his emotions all day. But this was her big day, and she didn’t need him pawing at her. When they got home, she showered Annabelle and Alfie with love and stayed by the corral with them. They’d put the horses into a shared stall for the night to help ease the stress of leaving their friends and everything they knew behind. He and Trixie had sat in the stall with them for a couple of hours to help them settle into their new surroundings. Throughout the day, as Trixie took charge and loved on her new babies, Nick felt himself falling harder for her. He’d seen her with horses for years, and he hadn’t expected to feel anything different today. But it was getting harder to fight his feelings, and now that the lines had blurred between them, he was having a difficult time remembering why he should.
Trixie was coming out of Annabelle and Alfie’s stall with her phone pressed to her ear when Nick walked into the barn. He held up the champagne bottle, and her eyes widened, along with her smile. And just like that, he had the urge to pick her up and kiss her again. What the hell kind of spell did she have him under?
She held up one finger as she spoke into the phone. “I spent two hours with Ed’s daughter, Molly, going through commands and training techniques. I know what they’re used to.” She paused, listening. “I’ve got it under control, Dad. I called Dirk and Wylie on the way back from getting the horses. Dirk’s setting everything up this week. He’ll give Wylie the legal information, and Wylie will use your address to set up the insurance.”
They’d ordered pizza for dinner, and Nick had known they’d be out there for a while, so he’d set up camp outside the horses’ stall, piling up blankets for them to sit on. He placed the glasses and bottle on the floor beside the blankets and carried the empty pizza box to the trash. He knew her father would be supportive, but he hated the idea of Trixie starting her business on her family’s ranch, when she’d been adamant against doing so. He also knew she’d have been miserable waiting a year or two to start doing what she really wanted. She’d made the right decision with the horses. He just hoped her brothers didn’t drive her nuts.
“Okay. Thanks again, Dad. I love you, too. I will. Bye.” She shoved her phone in her pocket, her eyes glittering in the evening light. “I thought you went inside to charge your phone.”
“When’s the last time I gave a damn about my phone?”
She eyed the bottle. “Is that champagne?”
“Well, it ain’t whiskey.”
She crossed her arms and jutted out her hip, looking sexy as hell. “When did you become a champagne guy?”
Jesus. Why did her challenges make him want her even more? “When you bought your first therapy horses.” He grabbed her wrist and hauled her against him, growling against her lips, “You want to challenge me or celebrate?”
She slid her arms around his waist, rubbing against him, her eyes dark and seductive. “I guess that depends on how we’re going to celebrate.”
Man, she destroyed him. He lowered his mouth to hers, taking her ravenously, as he’d been dying to do all day. She pushed her fingers into his hair, sending his hat to the ground as he deepened the kiss. Every swipe of their tongues sent bolts of lightning to his groin. He’d never known such a passionate woman who gave as much as she took. Then again, he’d never let any woman take with him, until her. He kissed her harder, trying to outrun the emotions that sparked, but she palmed him through his jeans, and his thoughts fractured, unleashing the beast he’d fought to keep chained down. He tore off her shirt and bra and unzipped her jeans, shoving them down.
“Boots,” she panted out, tugging at his shirt. “Take this off.”