Summer Days. Сьюзен Мэллери

was one thing, pity was another.

      “You really could seduce him if you wanted,” Annabelle said. Nevada and Charlie both nodded in agreement.

      Heidi clutched her margarita in both hands and laughed. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, however misplaced.” She raised her glass. “To the best friends ever.”

      * * *

      THANKS TO SEVERAL GLASSES of water, aspirin and her grandfather’s secret remedy, Heidi woke the next morning feeling perfectly fine. No headache, no upset stomach. Maybe she should forget about goat cheese and sell his formula instead.

      After working her way through her usual chores, she headed for the barn. Last night, Charlie had mentioned she wouldn’t be able to make it to the ranch for a couple of days. That meant Mason, Charlie’s big gelding, would need to be exercised. Hardly a chore, Heidi thought, anticipating a ride in the cool but sunny April day. She could take Mason out for a couple of hours and still be home in time for lunch. Later, she would take Kermit, their other boarder, on his ride.

      “Hard work but someone has to do it,” she murmured happily to herself as she pulled on riding boots. She slathered on sunscreen, picked up a cowboy hat, then headed for the front door. As she stepped onto the porch, a familiar Mercedes pulled up by the house. Instantly, her good mood vanished.

      May Stryker bounced out of the passenger seat, waving and smiling. “Hello! I hope I’m not being a bother. I just can’t stay away.”

      “You’re not a bother,” Heidi assured her. In May’s case, she was telling the truth. The older woman was lovely, and if she was the only Stryker involved, Heidi believed they could easily come to terms.

      The bigger issue—all six-plus feet of him—climbed out of the car more slowly. Rafe stared at her over the roof of his vehicle.

      “Morning.”

      The single word, spoken in a low voice, caused an odd sort of quivering in her stomach.

      This was her friends’ fault, Heidi realized. All that talk last night about sleeping with Rafe had somehow latched onto a synapse in her brain. Yesterday he’d just been an evil corporate guy bent on her destruction. Now he was someone with a great butt she should try to seduce in a pitiful effort to save her home.

      “Go away.”

      She only thought the words, rather than spoke them, but that didn’t lessen the intensity of her wish. Why him? Why couldn’t May have had a nice son who understood that people made mistakes?

      “I was, um, going for a ride,” she said. “To exercise the horses we’re boarding.”

      May walked toward her. “That sounds like fun. How many horses are there?”

      “The two you saw on the tour.”

      “Oh, perfect. Rafe, why don’t you help Heidi? If you ride one of the horses, she can be done in half the time.”

      Or they could go into town and each get a root canal. That would be fun, too.

      Heidi did her best to keep her expression neutral. “It’s not necessary. I’m fine. Besides, I doubt if Rafe would enjoy riding.” Or know how. Although, she had to admit, the thought of him flopping around in a saddle was kind of nice. Maybe he would fall off, hit his head and get amnesia. Then she could pretend he wasn’t furious with her, and her problems would be solved. If only…

      Rafe raised one eyebrow. “Think I’m not up to the challenge?”

      “I didn’t say that.”

      “You didn’t have to.” He reached into the car and pulled out a pair of sunglasses, then motioned to the barn. “After you.”

      CHAPTER FIVE

      “YOU REALLY DON’T HAVE to do this,” Heidi protested as they walked into the barn.

      “I know my way around a horse.”

      “You’re a guy who probably wears a five-thousand-dollar suit.”

      “You’re forgetting, I grew up here. Besides, I want to check out my mother’s land.”

      He walked toward the corral where Mason and Kermit were lounging in the sun. Rafe gave a piercing whistle that had both horses turning toward him.

      Heidi told herself not to be impressed. Except the horses moved toward him, as if drawn by a force she couldn’t see. Rafe stepped into the corral.

      “Where do you want them?”

      “In the barn.”

      He guided the horses easily. She let him lead the way, her gaze lingering on the butt Charlie had mentioned. She had to admit it was nice. Athletic rather than flat. Okay, sure, Rafe was a good-looking guy, but a coral snake was beautiful and still deadly.

      Once inside, they set to work. Rafe might have a job in San Francisco in a high-rise, yet he hadn’t forgotten how to saddle a horse. After using a brush to clean off Mason’s back, he set the pad in place with practiced ease. She worked on Kermit, the smaller of the two horses, huffing only a little as she gently set the saddle on Kermit’s back.

      Bridles were next. Both Mason and Kermit were calm horses, taking the bit without trying to spit it out. From the corner of her eye, she saw Rafe making one last check to make sure everything was fastened securely, but not too tight, and that there weren’t any wrinkles or spots that would rub. They led the horses outside.

      There was a mounting block on the far side of the barn. As both Mason and Kermit were good-size horses, she turned in that direction, but Rafe stopped her.

      “I’ll give you a hand up.”

      “You don’t have to.”

      “I know I don’t.”

      He draped Mason’s reins over a post, then walked toward her. He waited until she’d taken the reins in her left hand and grabbed the saddle. Then he laced his fingers together.

      She stepped onto his hand. Despite the fact that they weren’t touching anywhere, the act felt oddly intimate. She told herself he was just being polite. That his mother had trained him well. Still, she felt flustered as he counted to three, then lifted her toward the saddle.

      She swung her leg over Kermit and settled lightly into place.

      “Thanks.”

      “You’re welcome.” He continued to look at her. “You’re a little touchy.”

      “You’ve threatened me and my home more than once. I think being cautious shows wisdom.”

      “I’m protecting what’s mine.”

      “So am I.” Which meant what? That they had something in common? “This would be a lot easier if we could get along.”

      His mouth curved into a slow, sexy smile. “I don’t do easy.”

      “I’m not surprised.”

      He chuckled, then walked over to Mason. Rafe settled in the saddle, and they moved away from the barn.

      “You have a route you usually take?” he asked.

      She adjusted her hat, trying not to notice that, for a guy who drove a Mercedes, Rafe looked pretty comfortable on his horse.

      “Uh-huh. It’s a big circle that takes us over most of the land.”

      “Good.”

      Right. Because he wanted to claim what he considered his. “You’re not going to start peeing on trees to mark everything, are you?”

      He laughed. “Maybe when we know each other better.”

      He was joking. Unfortunately, his words made her remember her friends’ suggestion from the previous evening. That seducing Rafe was the answer to her problems.

      She