Page 67 of Holiday Hire

"What if we make a bet?"

She dramatically gapes at me.

"What did I say?" I question.

"A bet? I think you're becoming an irresponsible gambler, Alexander Cartwright."

"Why is that?"

She turns more toward me, answering, "Because you lost our last bet. Actually, you owe me a favor."

I freeze. I had forgotten about that bet, and it was a stupid mistake. I don't lose very often when I gamble. I always take calculated risks. But I have to hand it to her. She's right. I do owe her a favor. So I cross my arms, suggesting, "Why don't we make another bet?"

She taunts, "Are you becoming an irresponsible gambler?"

"No, I can assure you I'm a very responsible gambler," I assert.

She scoffs. "I'm not sure how anyone can claim that."

"Trust me, I am."

She doesn't say anything, just stares at me.

"So here's what I propose. You can ask for anything you want, but if I win, I get two things."

"Like?"

My blood heats, rushing through my veins. I declare, "I get to see your tattoos."

Red creeps from her neck and sprawls across her cheeks.

My dick hardens. The image of her and what I think she might look like naked appears in my mind. And I should stop all this before it goes any further, but I can't seem to. She's quickly become the most intriguing person I know.

She inquires, "What's the second thing?"

"You let me teach you how to ride a horse."

Her eyes widen. "We're back to this horse craziness now?"

I chuckle. "Yep. You're on the Cartwright ranch. It's a sin not to know how to ride a horse."

"Is that so?"

"Yep. God's honest truth."

She sighs. "I don't want to ride a horse. It's scary."

"Why are you so scared? Tons of people ride horses every day," I point out.

"And people fall and die or become paralyzed."

I scoff. "Everyone around you on this ranch is riding horses. You'll never have a better teacher than me. I promise."

"Oh, I don't doubt you're a good teacher. It's the horse I don't trust."

I grin. "So you trust me, then?"

She stills, peering at me closer.

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