“Started writing while I was sitting at Alana’s bedside, and it turns out I’m pretty good at it,” he said with a shrug.
“Seems like you’re pretty good at a lot of things.” And why did that come out sounding suggestive when she absolutely hadn’t meant it that way? It wasn’t like she even knew if he was good atthosethings. Her lips had barely brushed his. Heat crawled over her skin at the memory of their barely-there kiss.
“Training horses is my primary focus, but I really enjoy writing too, so I’ll keep both careers going as long as I can.”
“Kind of like me managing Rosemont Castle while I grow my photography business.”
“A lot like that, actually.” Jake gave her a warm smile that made her go all gooey inside.
“Truthfully, Elle’s handling most of the property management details these days while Ruby works on her web development business and I focus on photography. We all help out with the day-to-day stuff, but this way we each get to focus on what we enjoy.”
“That’s the way to do it,” he agreed.
Bug snorted, as if to remind them they were supposed to be paying attention to her. Megan reached over and rubbed her neck as she walked. “She’s going to be okay, isn’t she?”
“She’s not out of the woods yet, but yeah, I think she’ll be okay. Doc Kaminski didn’t see anything too concerning when he examined her.”
“I don’t want to lose her,” Megan admitted quietly.
“Well, neither do I. She’s just starting her second chance here.”
“Hear that, Bug?”
The horse made no response, walking quietly between them. The truth was, Bug wasn’t the only one starting her second chance here at Rosemont Castle. The same might be said about Megan herself, and Jake too. She hoped they all found what they were looking for. They rounded the farmhouse and walked quietly back to the barn.
“Time to put her in her stall and let her rest for a while. If you don’t mind holding her for a minute, I’m going to get rid of her hay.”
“She can’t eat it?” Megan asked.
He shook his head. “She shouldn’t eat hay until the colic has passed. We can try to tempt her with some grass later, though. It’s got enough moisture in it to help get things moving again for her, but if she does have a blockage, hay could make it worse.”
“Gotcha.”
He went into her stall with a pitchfork, returning a minute later with Bug’s hay. The horse watched with idle interest, but if Megan wasn’t mistaken, her eyes were a little more alert and inquisitive than they had been earlier. Megan, pleased with the horsemanship she’d learned so far, walked Bug into her stall and removed her halter.
“Nicely done,” Jake said. “Now we wait.”
Megan rubbed Bug again before walking out to the aisle and closing her stall door.
“Just need to keep an eye on her for any further signs of distress, walk her every few hours, and offer her some grass while we’re out. I’ll probably set up a chair here by her stall for the night.”
“Could I stay too?” she asked, reluctant to leave Bug just yet, or maybe her reluctance to leave had more to do with Jake than Bug. “Or do you need to work?”
He looked over, his expression intense and heated. “I’d enjoy the company.”
* * *
Jake satin the aisle of the barn, leaning back against the rough wooden side of Bug’s stall. Megan settled herself beside him with a sigh. He’d spread several thick horse blankets on the floor for them to sit on. If he got tired later, he might lay back and nap here.
Behind them, Bug shifted restlessly in her shavings. Jake couldn’t quite shake the guilt that had nagged at him since Megan showed up at his door. If he hadn’t been so distracted by his attraction to her earlier, he would have noticed Bug’s colic himself.
What if Megan hadn’t come to check on her? Or if she hadn’t recognized Bug’s discomfort? He was responsible for these horses’ welfare while they were in his barn, and he couldn’t allow himself to get distracted like this again.
“Hungry?” Megan gestured to the basket she’d brought down from the castle while he was getting them set up here in the barn.
“Starving. What’ve you got?”
“Chicken tortilla soup,” she said.
