Page 14 of A Fortunes of Texas Christmas (Fortunes of Texas)

Without being derailed.

But he felt derailed around Robin.

Big-time.

She smiled and grabbed the reins of the gray mare standing quietly beside the gelding. “This is Butterfly,” she said and then quickly sprang into the saddle. “And she has been known to kick, so don’t get too close to her rear end.”

He watched as she eased the mare sideways and moved along in line with the corral. Amersen admired the way she looked in the saddle—like she’d been born to ride. After a moment, he changed into the boots, pulled on the ridiculous helmet, grabbed the reins and eased himself up and into the wide Western saddle. It wasn’t what he was used to, but once he’d adjusted the stirrups, he was on his way, directing the horse in a line behind her.

He stayed back for the first ten minutes, following Robin’s lead as they wound their way around the ranch house and down a gravel road between a couple of fenced-off pastures. There were a few head of cattle in one and several horses in another. The horses all looked up as they passed, a couple pealing out a long whinny, while one stood on point and snorted, beating the ground with a front hoof in an assertion of authority.

Blackjack whinnied in reply, and Amersen noticed that Robin’s head turned immediately.

“Everything okay?” she asked, easing up the pace a little.

“Fine,” Amersen replied and caught up, moving alongside her. “Nice day for it.”

She glanced toward the sky. “It’s chilly, but still good weather. I guess you’re used to the cold.”

“Of course,” he replied. “Although I’m not a fan of cold weather. But a Paris summer is like no other.”

She laughed. “Spoken like a proud Frenchman. Not that I’ve met one before you.”

“I am proud,” he said, shifting in the uncomfortable saddle. “One of my many charms.”

She laughed again. “You are charming,” she admitted. “Too much so. I’m not sure it’s good for me to spend too much time with you.”

“And yet,” he said and grinned, “you invited me to dinner.”

“It’s the least I could do,” she said and glanced sideways. “Considering you bought me a pair of shoes.”

“Did you try them on?”

She laughed. “Do I look like a glass-slipper kind of girl?”

“I’m sure you could be anything you wanted.”

When her laughter rang out again, an odd feeling pitched deep in Amersen’s chest. He couldn’t remember when he’d last spent time with a woman and simply enjoyed frivolous and flirtatious banter. Usually—no, always—there seemed to be an agenda. He worked and played hard. He didn’t have time to waste on getting to know someone. And yet, he wanted to get to know Robin. Sure, he also wanted to get her into bed. But he enjoyed her company. She didn’t waste time on flattery. She didn’t pander to his ego. She was spirited and beautiful and had gotten under his skin in a matter of days.

“I’m curious,” she said and glanced his way. “Where did you find a pair of glass slippers in this town?”

“I didn’t,” he replied. “I had them flown in overnight from New York. A friend did me a favor.”

“A friend?”

“An actress friend,” he supplied. “And I mean just a friend.”

“None of my business,” she said and waved a hand. “Still, didn’t she think it was an odd request?”

“Nothing’s out of the ordinary for Ortega.”

“Ortega?” she echoed after a moment’s silence. “The Ortega?”

Amersen nodded. “Yes.”

“The Ortega who is one of the most famous and glamorous actresses in the world?”

He smiled to himself. Ortega was probably as hometown as Robin, since she had been born and bred in Montana and had clawed her way to a career first in Hollywood and now on Broadway in New York. Foolishly, he wanted Robin to understand that they were only friends, since Ortega was close to two decades older than him and a close friend of his mother’s.

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