“That’s great.” He stared at her, momentarily distracted by the way the sun danced in the cinnamon depths of her eyes. Megan seemed to radiate energy, making everything feel lighter and brighter when she was nearby. It was more than just physical attraction—although he certainly felt plenty of that too. He’d felt a sort of instant connection with her that night at Bar None, and the intervening months had done nothing to dampen his interest.
Whatever was or wasn’t between them, though, he couldn’t afford to become distracted by it. He and Megan were linked by business now that he lived here at Rosemont Castle, and that meant she was off-limits romantically, assuming he was even ready to embark on his first relationship since Alana’s death, and he wasn’t at all sure that he was.
“Anyway, I got a call from the Towering Pines Animal Shelter this morning,” Megan told him. “They’re trying to help the local humane society place some rescued horses and were wondering if we could put them up here in the barn until they find homes.”
Jake rocked back on his heels, frowning. As much as he wanted to say yes, he needed to rent out these stalls to keep himself afloat. His new business was barely off the ground, and right now, his budget was stretched as thin as the prickly whiskers on Twister’s chin. “What do you know about their background?”
“Only that they were seized due to neglect. Priya said they’d completed a quarantine period and were ready to move. The humane society needs to clear out their livestock facility to make room for animals they’re seizing from a hoarding situation.”
“And who would care for them?” he asked.
“She said she might be able to send someone out to help. And the humane society would pay any expenses like feed and medical care.”
“Hmm.” He watched as Twister began to nibble at the hay in his stall. Neglected horses would require a lot of extra care, even if the humane society sent someone out to help.
“I hate even having to ask, and I totally understand if you say no,” Megan said. “It’s the worst timing, right? If only they’d needed a place to put a couple of foster horses anytime over the last year, we would’ve been able to take them in a heartbeat.”
“Although you wouldn’t have had anyone to care for them,” he commented, gut desire to help warring with the knowledge that doing so would put his new business at financial risk. And he’d already risked so much just to get this far.
“Very true,” Megan said. “I wish I could give you some time to think about it, but apparently these horses need to be moved today.”
“Any idea how quickly horses like that usually get placed permanently?” he asked, running numbers in his head. He might be able to get by without boarder income for a few months, depending on how many hours of business his off-site training clients generated for him.
“No,” Megan said apologetically. “I could call Priya and find out, though. Our dogs and cats are usually with us anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, so I’d imagine horses would be similar.”
“Priya Sharma?” he asked. They’d gone to high school together. Of course, he could say that about half the town, if they were anywhere near his age. He knew Priya better than most, though. She and Alana had been good friends.
As Megan nodded, a shaft of sunlight from the window in Twister’s stall caught the scar that ran down the left side of her face. “She mentioned that she knew you too.”
He’d heard peripherally about the car accident when it happened last year, although he hadn’t realized at the time that he knew her. “It’s not that I don’t want to help, but these horses are likely to need a fair amount of time and attention to get them ready for adoption, and I really was counting on boarder income.”
“I understand.”
He rubbed Twister’s neck as he realized the inevitability of what he was about to say. “But, far be it for me to turn away an animal in need, so I’ll make it work.”
Megan’s expression brightened. “I realize this is a huge imposition, and we’re more than happy to make it up to you any way we can.”
An image of her in front of the castle that morning with her camera drifted through his mind. “Actually, maybe there is something you could do for me.”
She nodded. “Just let me know what you were planning to charge to board two horses, and I’ll subtract it from your rent until they’re adopted. I already cleared it with Theo. We’ll even throw in a little extra to account for the inconvenience.”
“Oh.” He straightened. “Well, I hate to…I mean…”
She waved away his pride. “Consider it done.” Her eyes narrowed. “But wait…what were you going to ask me for?”
“It’s nothing.” He shook his head, embarrassed to put his idea into words, especially now that she’d offered financial compensation for the rescue horses.
She crossed her arms over her chest, giving him an amused smile. “Just tell me.”
His cheeks felt too warm. “Well, I was going to ask if you could take some pictures for me, you know, while I’m working with the horses. For my website.”
Her smile was wide and genuine. “I’d love to.”
“No need. Really. Compensation for boarding is more than enough.”
She placed a hand on his forearm. Her touch was light, casual, but it sent a burst of fire through his veins. “You’re doing the humane society a huge favor by taking in these horses, and anyway, I’m building my portfolio right now, so I’d be getting as much out of it as you are.”
“Well, okay then. I’d really appreciate it.”
