Unbridled Billionaire. Dani Wade
she wore a very soft-looking T-shirt tucked into a pair of jeans. Rounded hips blossomed from a tiny waist hugged by denim. When she stood to pat the horse’s back, he saw that the cotton of her shirt clung just as faithfully in all the right places.
Holy hell. He was in trouble...so why was he grinning like an idiot?
He forced his gaze upward, only to encounter a glare directed his way. Funny, it didn’t dampen his excitement. “Hello, Presley.”
“What are you doing here?” she asked, narrowing her gaze on him.
“Watching you in action,” he replied, fully understanding how much that would aggravate her. “I’m impressed.”
To his surprise, she had quite a sarcastic mouth on her. “I’m so glad you liked what you saw.”
But her bravado didn’t stop a flush spreading over her cheeks. Perhaps as a gentleman, he should clarify his previous comment. “There’s a difference between appreciating a woman and disrespecting her—my mama taught me that.”
“So you’re respectfully blackmailing me?”
“Considering the concessions I’ve made, isn’t it more of a mutual agreement than blackmail?”
“An agreement I’m forced to enter into if I don’t want my family and business reputation ruined... I think that does qualify as blackmail.”
That bossy tone should not be so arousing. And he couldn’t deny her logic. “Maybe I wanted to spend time with you.”
“A woman you didn’t know?” She scoffed. “You’d be the first.”
With just those few words, she confirmed EvaMarie’s story from this morning. Kane kept silent.
Sticking to his stance might take away his gentleman card, but he wouldn’t miss what was coming for the world.
Presley skirted around the horse’s rump, making her way to a clipboard on top of a cupboard by the door. “Most men are only hoping for one thing when they spend time with me,” she said, studying the papers with unnecessary intensity. “My expertise with horses.”
Kane nodded, even though she pretended she wasn’t watching him. But he saw the quick sideways glance, no matter how brief.
She continued, “Not frilly dresses and small talk.”
Deciding she’d had enough time to spout nonsense, he crossed the threshold of the stall. To her credit, she didn’t retreat as he neared. He didn’t box her in but got close enough that he could smell her shampoo. “There are things a lot sexier than social niceties.”
It was too soon, but he couldn’t stop himself from reaching out to sample some of the thick blond strands of hair in her ponytail. Silky—just as he’d imagined.
“Why are you touching me?” she asked.
Her tone wasn’t quite as breathless as he’d have liked. He sensed just a hint of excitement.
“You’re right,” he murmured. “I’m sorry. I’m simply fascinated by the color, texture.”
She smoothed her hands over her hair. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
That’s what her mouth said, but as soon as he looked up to catch her eyes, she glanced away. Avoidance. At least it confirmed what he suspected was happening here. Time for a different approach: honesty. “Look, Presley. I know that this might be uncomfortable. I’m simply trying to make things more natural between us.”
“I don’t think I like it.”
“But you aren’t sure?”
She stiffened, her look transforming into a glare. “That’s incredibly sexist.”
“Or incredibly honest.” He pushed on, leaving the inference of his own interest behind for the moment. There was another way to get her riled up, which he enjoyed far too much. “I told you, touching is expected. Would you rather we practice in public?”
“I’d rather not practice at all.”
“But practice makes perfect. Besides, I find I enjoy touching you. It’s okay if you like it, too. It doesn’t have to go any further than, well, public displays of affection.”
Presley opened her mouth to speak, then paused. She studied him for a moment, but he had the feeling she wasn’t really looking at him. “Why do I feel like we’ve covered this before?”
He let his amusement mold his mouth...just a little. “Guess it’s something we’ll have to keep doing until we get it right between us.”
Her perfect bow-shaped lips twitched, lush in their natural state. He could swear she was holding in laughter. “Like, practice?”
“Maybe.”
Her entire face opened up, letting her enjoyment of the moment shine through her earlier irritation. Seeing Presley give in to her amusement was sexy as hell. Her smile was wide and unself-conscious, her eyes bright and seeking his. When he laughed with her, the glow increased like a power surge.
Gorgeous.
A noise interrupted them. Kane turned to see Bennett in the doorway. Presley’s laughter shut off instantly.
“Miss Presley, Sun is ready.”
Kane watched from the corner of his eye as she nodded. Bennett left, but Presley continued to stare at the doorway. She shifted. She swallowed. Kane waited her out.
“Was there something you needed, Kane?” she finally asked.
Did she worry about him being too close to the stud? “I did want to speak with you. Iron out a few details.”
“Well, I have things I need to do right now.”
As if that would stop him. “I don’t mind tagging along.”
From the look on her face, Kane could tell she wasn’t sure what to feel. Ah, he was making progress...
* * *
Presley preceded Kane down the barn corridor, feeling flustered. Why in the world hadn’t she told him to hit the road? She should have. After all, the man was completely taking advantage of a situation she had no control over.
But she couldn’t forget the look in his eyes when she’d first spotted him in the doorway. He could have leered. He could have been indifferent. But the pure male appreciation wasn’t something she’d encountered before today. Oh, men had told her she was pretty, though it never rang true. But something about Kane’s gaze, unsullied by greed or arrogance, was special.
Maybe that was why she hadn’t fought this harebrained scheme harder. Maybe she was more than a little interested to see exactly how this would all go. There was probably something very wrong with that line of thinking, but Presley was nothing if not honest with herself.
When they got to Sun’s stall, Kane didn’t force his way in or try to take over. She’d come across a lot of men who thought they knew better than a woman in the stables...until she taught them they were wrong. It didn’t take a huge confrontation or butting of heads. She simply let them go on until they ran out of steam, then stepped in and quietly set them straight.
Unless she needed to raise her voice. Then she did.
Nodding to Bennett, who was already in the stall, Presley put her hand on Sun’s withers and whispered near the horse’s ear. He whipped his head around fast, and Presley heard Kane’s step behind her, but she didn’t flinch. They’d played this game before, her and Sun. The horse didn’t bite or hit her with his heavy head. Instead he corrected at the last minute and pressed the side of his muzzle against her shoulder, pushing hard. She stumbled, chuckling, then reached up to give him a rough rub behind his ears.
“Likes to play, does he?” Kane asked.
Bennett laughed from his position on Sun’s