“Perhaps another time then,” Tanner stated with clear interest in his green gaze.
“Maybe.” She held the front door open as they filed outside.
“If you need anything, come find me at the stables. I’m happy to help with whatever you might require,” Tanner offered.
“Don’t forget, seven a.m., princess,” Maverick stated, his face impassive.
“I’ll be there,” she replied grimly, and shut the door. There was the heavy stomping of their boots over the porch, and then the truck engines igniting. She sighed. Thank goodness they were gone. Another few minutes around Maverick, and she would have made an utter fool of herself.
Bianca didn’t know what it was about Maverick that really pushed all her hot buttons, other than he accomplished it with startling ease.
6
The loud buzzing of the bedside alarm clock had Bianca glaring menacingly at the contraption. Six fifteen in the blasted morning. It was a ghastly time to be awake. And she realized how spoiled she was to be thinking that.
But it was godawful.
Whoever had begun the tradition of starting the day before sunrise should be whipped. Bianca preferred tea most mornings, but to handle being up this early, only the brash infusion of coffee would do.
As the coffee brewed, she dressed in her modified riding outfit. Instead of the beige breeches, she wore jeans and the new riding boots. Temperatures were chilly this morning, making her shiver as she dressed. She donned a light jacket to stave off the wind and keep her warm. After downing the coffee, she grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl she had set on the counter, to eat for breakfast on the way to the stables. Whatever she didn’t finish, she would give to the horse.
Or she could throw it at the cowboy’s head if he was being an ass.
Either way, she would get double uses out of the fruit.
When she stepped outside the cabin, she wasn’t prepared for the spectacular light show of dawn hitting the mountains. The profusion of golds, bright bold oranges bleeding into pink, red, and then purple as the inky indigo sky retreated, with the last star winking out as daylight overshadowed its light.
She had to paint it, see if she could capture the breathtaking array of colors as they reflected off the great gray stone monolithic peaks. On her trek to the stables, the light increased, and the world shook off the night. A hawk issued a piercing screech as it swooped overhead, and had her glancing up to watch as it flew with speed and precision after its next meal. Near the stables, the grumbled low of a cow wafted on the breeze as the animal ambled over the field.
Bianca passed a pair of hikers, their rucksacks bulging with gear stowed on their backs. They turned off onto one of the trail head entrances. Striding past the main hotel, she spied a flurry of activity inside.
Maybe after her riding lesson, she would stop by the restaurant for a proper breakfast.
Bianca arrived at the stables with a minute to spare, and tried to figure out exactly where she was supposed to go. The cowboy hadn’t told her where precisely she should meet him. Why would he want to make anything easy for her? The man seemed to get a kick out of antagonizing her to the extreme.
At the front desk, she had a clear view down the main line of walnut wooden stalls. A few horses’ heads were poking out over the gates, watching the activity. Probably waiting for the caretakers to feed them. The area was well maintained and clean. The vaulted ceiling made the building appear even larger. And she spied a few hallways that led off from the main row. The scent of hay and manure hung in the air.
Where the hell was she supposed to meet the man? If this was a prank, she thought, gritting her teeth, she would make him pay for it.
“You’re late,” a deep male voice said from behind.
“Bollocks! I am not!” She swiveled around, her heart pounding at the way he had snuck up on her, and glared at the blasted man. “I arrived on time, at a minute to seven. However, you failed to specify precisely where in the stables to meet you.”
It was a damn shame that he looked like decadent sin in his cowboy hat and boots. The forest-green plaid shirt already had the cuffs rolled up to near his elbows, giving her ample forearm porn, and stretched over his studly shoulders. Those liquid gold eyes assessed her from head to toe. And heat rushed into her cheeks as she blushed under the intensity of his gaze.
When he didn’t make a move or offer a rebuff, she asked, “Shall we get started?”
“This way, princess.” He nodded his head toward the open stable door. A man of few words, he strode toward the stall he had indicated, clearly expecting her to follow. His powerful steps had her quickening her pace to keep up with him.
He halted at Sunshine’s stall. She was a gorgeous, sweet tempered mare. At their arrival, she poked her tawny head over the door. Her dark eyes filled with recognition of Maverick. She seemed to flirt with the cowboy, nudging him playfully in the chest. And well, who could blame her? The man was sexy as hell no matter what species you were.
He rubbed his big, square hands over Sunshine’s nose. His fingers were long and thick, and the horse looked like she was in heaven at his touch.
And it was insane, but Bianca was jealous… of the damn horse.
“After the lesson, I’ll show you where the tack room is and where you will store the gear. For this first lesson, I have everything ready to put the saddle on.”
“I know how to put a saddle on a horse.” Bianca rubbed a hand over Sunshine’s neck, her belly performing somersaults at his nearness, and tried to sound calm.
“I’m sure you do, given your training on the English saddle. However, you don’t know Western. There are differences which, while small, are important. If I’m going to teach you, it will be done right. I won’t have one of my horses injured over your pride.”
Her spine straightened at the implication that he would even insinuate such a thing. “I would never hurt a horse.”
“I’m not saying you would intentionally, but maybe through ignorance with the differences in saddles. One of the main distinctions between the two is that the Western is far heavier and bulkier than its English counterpart. I want you to put the saddle pad on Sunshine’s back, and then the saddle. This way, I can watch you do it, and assist if needed.”
Lifting the latch keeping the gate locked, he slid the wooden stall door over so she could enter. Maverick had his hands on Sunshine, walking her backward.
“Hello sweet girl, remember me?” Bianca followed the rangy cowboy into the stall, withdrew the rest of the apple, and held it out for the sweet mare.
Sunshine snuffled her palm and gently nipped the treat from her hand. Bianca rubbed her nose, getting acquainted with the darling horse. When she felt satisfied that she wouldn’t spook the mare, she lifted the saddle blanket from its perch over the stall, inherently aware of Maverick in the small enclosure with her.
How could she not be, when he eclipsed the space? She ignored his intense golden stare as he followed her every move, and talked to Sunshine instead.
“We’re going for a bit of a ride this morning. I’m just going to get this blanket on you. Will you let me?”
Sunshine tossed her head up and down in excitement at the prospect of a ride. Thrilled with the horse’s inescapable joy, Bianca got a signal to proceed. She tossed the thick blanket over the animal’s dappled back then smoothed the material until it lay flat, adjusting it slightly until it was properly settled.