Shadow dips her head, and I take it as a good sign. On a shaky breath, I place my hand on the bridge of her nose. The contact slows my racing pulse, as if she’s giving me some of her calm, letting me know I’m okay.
“Can I help you with something, beautiful?”
Off to my left, a man leans on his shoulder against the barrier of the next horse stall over. I don’t know how long he’s been standing there, and I don’t like that fact.
He looks in my direction with his coffee-colored eyes. The sleeves of his red flannel are rolled to his elbows, and his boots appear to be soaked with a mix of melted snow and mud.
Definitely a ranch hand.
“I’m good,” I respond dismissively and return to stroking Shadow’s coat, moving to her neck.
Shadow lets out a puff of air from her nose.
The man pushes off the wall, strolling toward me. “It’s no trouble. A pretty woman like you shouldn’t have to get her hands dirty.”
“A little dirt never hurt anybody. So, I’ll say it again, I’m good.” I turn, giving him my back.
“I like a woman who knows how to work.”
“Good for you,” I respond curtly over my shoulder.
Shadow moves her head, hovering above my shoulder, then lets out a short chuff in the guy’s direction. I may not be a skilled equestrian, but I get the feeling that Shadow isn’t a fan.
“How about I take you out for a drink tomorrow?” he pushes.
I feel him standing less than a foot away. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Some men are good at taking hints, and unfortunately, this guy seems to be in the other group. He acts like any woman is blessed to get his attention, which means there’s no way she doesn’t want him.
This guy is in for a rude awakening.
“No thanks. I don’t date cowboys,” I quip.
“I saw you walk out of Santiago’s house.”
He went there. Nope.
Whipping around, I cross my arms. “So?” Shadow’s attention remains on the man.
Okay, I admit to being wrong about horses. Shadow is clearly a girl’s girl.
I don’t like that I gave him what he wants—my attention. But the moment he said Santiago’s name, he landed on my shit list, and I’m okay with letting him know it.
A small smirk lights the guy’s face. “So if you don’t date cowboys, then what are you doing with him?”
“Fucking,” I bark with a strong tone of reproach.
“Manny!” A man with a body full of lean muscle storms toward us. The snarl on his face looks like there’s hell to pay, and the debtor is the persistent man in front of me. “Te dije que checaras el pastizal del sur. Mueve tu trasero para allá.”
I told you to check the south pasture. Get your ass over there.
Someone’s in trouble.
“I was just—” Manny starts, his bravado nowhere in sight.
The lean man stops between Manny and me and shouts, “Get!” After Manny scurries off like a bat out of hell, the man turns to me and apologizes in a much softer voice. “Sorry if he was bothering you.”
Dropping my arms, I no longer feel the need to defend myself. While I’m perfectly capable of getting rid of a pushy man on my own, I’m always grateful for the help.
I wave off the apology. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
