“We have a contract, Kay. You want your money, you stick to the terms in which you’ve already agreed.”
A shiver travels through my body at the way he calls meKay. I like it. And not just in a it-turns-me-on type of way. I like it…more than I should. Which is really fucking annoying considering the man is denying me a trip into town that force me to buy airport gifts for the most important people in my life.
“I’m not staying in this fucking sad palace all alone today.”
“Then I hope you packed some work boots.”
“Really?” My eyes widen in surprise. I had hoped to get a tour of the ranch at some point, but I hadn’t dreamed that Elliot would actually let me get my hands dirty. If I can’t go shopping, this is definitely the next best thing. “You’ll let me work?”
“Shoveling shit isn’t exactly a glamourous job, sweetheart.”
“Actually, I was hoping you had a vet on site. Maybe someone I could shadow for the day? I’m studying to be?—”
“Doc Albertson is on vacation,” Elliot says. “We just have an on-call, and I don’t think he’s here. Why do you want to shadow a vet?”
“Oh, right. You don’t actually know anything about me.” I sift through an elaborate array of Keurig cup options—surprising for a man I pegged to drink only the blackest, most boring coffee—and select one with a caramel flavor. “I’m one semester away from being Dr. Kayleigh Kingston.”
“Doctor?”
“I have one semester left, which is why I’ll be a good girl and stay on the ranch even though it’ll mean I show up empty-handed to Christmas this year. I need to pay that tuition so I can graduate. I’ve got my eye on an internship—not too far from here, actually. And as long as I don’t fuck anything up this last semester, it’s mine.”
“Adam stole yourtuitionmoney?” Elliot’s words are a snarl that would be scary if they were directed at me.
“I tried to tell you, but you were a little too busy slamming the door in my face.”
Though an outright apology is the last thing I’d expect from Elliot Bishop, I do expect him to saysomething. Instead, he balls one fist as his side, yanks the thermos of coffee he prepared from the counter, and struts toward the back door.
“Wait, where are you going?”
“I’ll have Max pick you up and take you to the main stable. You study horses at all?”
“Equine’s my specialty.”
“Good.” He pulls on his boots with rough force. “They’ll find plenty to keep you busy down there.”
“Where will you be?”
Elliot pulls on his coat, adjusts his Stetson, and my lady bits turn to an ooey gooey wet mess in my panties. Has a man ever looked sexier that Elliot Biship does right now? It’s not just the cowboy hat. It’s the look of protective determination in his eyes. I don’t quite understand what’s happening, but there’s a sensation deep in my soul that justknowsthis is for me.
“Be ready for Max to pick you up in ten.”
With that, Elliot flies out the door, leaving me both confused andveryturned on.
CHAPTER 8
ELLIOT
It’sdark when I finally return to the ranch. The kitchen light above the stove is on, but the house is otherwise quiet. For a beat, I fear Kayleigh has run off in my absence. I check my phone for the tenth time since I drove under the Bishop Ranch arch, but there’s no new notifications. Max would’ve alerted me had Kayleigh tried to make a run for it.
Instead, I’ve been flooded all day with pictures of Kayleigh right at home withmyhorses.
She’s been a goddamn distraction all day, but I’m not even that mad about it. How long has it been since a woman got under my skin this way? I know Kayleigh’s not staying. I know there’s no future here. But all day long I’ve been thinking of ways to keep her.
MaybeIcould offer her an internship.
Meatloaf lets out a yowl as he struts up to me on the bench near the back door, weaving between my legs as I kick off my boots.
“Hey, buddy.”
