Page 16 of Captured By the Billionaire Cowboy
Frank – and everyone else – were oblivious to her turmoil. “Leigh, would you like to have lunch with us? I could fire up the grill.” The older woman’s blush was unmistakable, and even Frank’s cheeks reddened ever-so-slightly, as he addressed the others, “Anyone want to join us? There’s plenty for everyone.”
Ciara shook her head, as a thousand thoughts tumbled.A rescue center?“You go ahead. I have a delicious lunch thanks to Rowan, and then I have to photograph the horses.”
“I’ve already eaten.” Rowan stepped forward. “I’ll help Ciara prepare the adoption listings.”
Shannon’s eyes widened at the last sentence. She pointed to her new friend, but before she could say anything, Grandma Leigh put her arm around her. “Say thank you to the nice folks for letting you visit.”
The little girl’s shyness instantly reemerged. “Thank you,” she said softly, before exiting the stable with her grandmother and Frank. Thirty seconds passed…
A whoop of pure joy rang through the entire stable.
Ciara laughed. “I guess Grandma Leigh couldn’t wait until lunch. What a wonderful gift for her granddaughter.”
“A gift you made possible.” Rowan’s serious tone sobered her. He gazed at her with a searching expression, as if trying to decipher a particularly perplexing puzzle. “You gave her that joy.”
“Not me,” she brushed off the compliment, breaking his gaze. “Grandma Leigh made the decision to adopt Cinnamon.”
“A horse only available because you saved her.” His deep baritone burned into her. “You don’t even realize how you inspire people.”
He blazed solemn intensity, strong, powerful, all-encompassing. How had she never noticed how he towered over her? How massive he was, how broad-shouldered and firm? She pivoted so he wouldn’t see her flush, strode towards an empty stall. “So did you. Boarding these animals costs a fortune. You must really love horses.” Why had she said that? Of course, he did.
She knew him.
Or at least she knew who he had been before that last moment, before the day that shattered everything. Now years later, the lighthearted return didn’t come. “I did what made sense.”
Ciara looked up sharply. Grief tinted his eyes, emotion shielded yet slipping through hidden cracks. Just like all those years ago, words didn’t match truth, belying every denial, like he was uncomfortable showing any true part of himself. Yet it wasn’t her job to help him. Maybe once, but now… She cleared her throat, fighting for focus. She grabbed her purse and removed her cell phone. “Let’s get those pictures.”
“Sounds good, but I have something better.” He walked into the stable office and retuned with an expensive DSLR camera. He adjusted the dials. “I can take the photographs if you’d like. I’m familiar with the advanced settings.”
“Another hidden talent?” she teased. “Anything else I should be aware of?”
“I can usually figure out what you’re thinking.”
Uh-oh.
Current contents of her mind:
Rowen Byrne was frustrating, impossible, difficult, mysterious, stubborn, overbearing and…
Gorgeous, muscular, intelligent, powerful and inescapably tempting.
She fumbled for her notebook. She needed to concentrate on the animals, not the man who dialed a direct line into her mind. “We started with twelve horses, but Cinnamon and Jasmine don’t need pictures. Of the others, five are ready for immediate adoption and three are close, so we should photograph them today.”
“What about the other two?”
She frowned at the two horses in the back stalls, separated from the others for their comfort and protection. “They needmore intensive care, so unless they’re adopted by someone able to care for their unique needs, it will be a while. But don’t worry, I’m not planning on keeping them here indefinitely. Finding spots for two horses shouldn’t be too difficult.”
He shook his head firmly. “There’s no need to transfer them, even if just a few remain. It’s best not to change their surroundings too much.”
Did he seriously just offer to keep the horses?
“I just adopted a new horse, too.” Rowan stiffened, as if surprised by his own admission. He continued lowly, “She was also mistreated.”
Why was she not surprised? He may not reveal it, yet he always helped people, even as a child. Once he took responsibility when a ranch worker’s kid accidentally broke a window. It earned him a spanking, but he’d probably saved the oblivious man’s job. “So rescuing horses is a habit of yours, too?”
“It was nothing.” He glanced away. “Maybe I’ll have her transported here. She would benefit from socializing with others, even if I need to keep her sequestered while she recovers.”
Her shoulders dropped, but she didn’t ask for details. No doubt he rescued the horse from a dire situation. “Did you hear Grandma Leigh call us as a Horse Rescue Center? Of course, we aren’t one.”
