“You might want to rummage up some boots and a pair of jeans. Unless you think that getup will do,” he added, that partial grin peeking through once more.
She gulped, feeling all the more flustered by the man’s way too attractive face, and glanced down at her outfit. Fitted slacks, a button-up blouse, and designer boots. The leather, ankle-high pair had managed to get her from the cabin to the inn while keeping most of the snow out. But they weren’t exactly barn material. “I don’t…I have a pair of Levi’s, but I don’t have boots. Not the right kind, anyway.”
“That’s surprising to hear,” he said wryly.
“I have some boots you can borrow, darlin’,” Betty chimed in. “In fact, I keep a few pairs in the utility closet. Come with me and take your pick.”
“She needs her jeans, too,” the cowboy hollered.
Betty extended one hand toward Andie in invitation, then shot a heated glare in the man’s direction. “Then I suggest you take her to her cabin and let her change into them,Trenton McGrath.”
The way she’d used his full name made Andie wonder if the woman was his mother. Seemed the difference in age fit. She followed Betty around the corner, through a spacious kitchen area where staff bustled about, and into what must be the utility closet she’d mentioned. The savory scent of bacon lingered in the air, along with the tangy aroma of marinated tomatoes and spices.
“Is he your son?” Andie asked as Betty creaked open a tall cupboard.
She pulled out a pair of flashy red boots, followed by a turquoise pair with brass embellishments. “No, but I’m the closest thing to a mother he’s ever had. And today, I have a mind to bend that boy over my knee and give him the smacked bottom he deserves.” She tugged yet another pair of boots from the cupboard. The brown leather pair with cream colored banding had less bling than the others. Less color too.
“I’ll wear these ones if you don’t mind. I’m a size six and a half. Will that work?”
“I’m a seven and a half,” Betty said, “but those will work just fine. Just put a thick pair of socks on beneath. It’ll help them fit and keep your toes warm too.”
Andie pictured the fuzzy, Sherpa lined slipper socks she wore around her penthouse. Maybe those would do. But her mind quickly darted back to her purpose. “They really are good to the horses here?” Andie asked, her tone turning apologetic already.
“Oh, yes. Katie and Joe, the couple who cares for them, are horse lovers through and through. Just like Trenton. No one’s more pampered around here than those horses. Not even the guests.”
Another dose of embarrassment pushed through her as she considered her other objection. “That’s good. And the riding thing? Was that true too?”
“Horses like to please their owners,” Betty assured. “As long as the owners take precautions to assure the animals are comfortable, it can be a positive experience for both the horse and the rider.”
The kind woman stated it so plainly that Andie had a hard time doubting it. “Ugh.” Knots of regret tightened in her gut. Couldn’t she have kept quiet until she saw the conditions for herself? And the cowboy was right. A bit of simple research could have answered her question about riding too.
The burning in her throat intensified as she spun in place, wondering if there was some sort of back exit in sight. “Hey,” she said, turning back to Betty. “What if…instead of going to the stables, I snuck out of here, went back to my cabin, and buried my head beneath the blankets for a few days?”
Betty let out a hearty laugh. “Oh, Ilikeyou,” she said, a broad smile filling her pretty face. “I can tell you and I are going to get along fabulously.”
Andie tucked the cowgirl boots beneath her arm and watched as Betty set the other pairs back in the cupboard.
“I’ve had plenty of times where I’ve made such a fuss about things before I got a proper picture. But here’s what you and I have in common.” She lifted a finger, her sparkly, pink nail turned toward Andie. “First, you’re passionate, and I like that. Second, you recognize when you might have jumped the gun, and you’re willing to admit it. And, by the way you joked about tucking your tail and making a run for it, I’d say you’re witty too.”
Andie had been told she was passionate by several people in her life, but no one had ever accused her of being funny. She followed Betty back through the kitchen.
“I think you might have mistaken what I said. I can admit toyouthat I’m wrong. But that’s only because I don’t want to face…” A list of options flicked through her mind:Mr. McGrath, Trenton, the other owner.“The cowboy,” she said. “I’d rather just duck out of here and…” And do anythingbutspend time with the infuriating man she’d made a fool of herself in front of.
“If you ducked out now, you’d miss the pleasure of his company,” Betty countered as they rounded the corner and stepped through a swinging door. “And you’d definitely hit the sheets with a warped perception of what your new business partner is really like.” They were at another door now. Betty pressed this one with her hip as she glanced back at Andie. “After all, heisa very good man if you take the time to know him.”
Andie followed her through the doorway and realized they were back in the dining area once more. There stood the tall, muscled cowboy. A rush of heat pushed its way from her belly to her chest.
“You ready?” Rather than wait for her reply, the man walked to the nearby door, pulled it open, and looked back at her as he stepped aside.
“Well, go ahead, darlin’,” Betty encouraged.
Andie took one hesitant step after the next until awareness kicked in.Confidence—it had been drilled into her all of her life. Keep your chin high.
Yes, this was a new and unfamiliar place, but she was…well, she was Andie freaking Duran now, that’s who, but she was stillher.And she refused to lose her confidence or poise.
“Thank you.” She gave him a curt nod and stepped onto the wide, spacious porch. A bitter chill spread over every exposed part of her skin. A mean breeze had picked up, making it much colder than it’d been during her short walk to the inn.
She glanced up at the sunny sky, willing it to warm her despite the breeze. While she was at it, she prayed for a way out of the embarrassing situation she’d made for herself.
