Page 81 of Crossing Every Line

“Now, I didn’t mean it like that, Kendall. I can call you Kendall, right?”

She ducked under the rail and glanced over her shoulder. “It’s very sweet of you to ask, but I’m not interested.”

“I’m not good enough for you, city girl?”

She stopped and stared. “I’m sort of with someone, Mr. Mackie.”

“Sort ofmeans you’re available. And call me Lon.”

There’d been no talk of exclusivity with Shane, and yet just the idea of him with someone else made her stomach churn. “I…”

“Come on, what could it hurt? I know how to have fun, unlike that uptight—” He shrugged and gave her a lopsided smile. “Let’s just say I’m a helluva lot more fun. We could go out after my shift is over. We may be working overtime, but I don’t have to be here all night.”

“No, thanks, really.”

“It’s not just me. You gotta be bored staying at the big house. There’s a bunch of us that go out. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m harmless.”

About as harmless as bees around a hive. He had his heels dug in, and it was easier to make him think her answer was maybe. “I’ll think about it.”

His blue eyes sparkled. “Great. That’s all I’m asking. We’ll be at Starrla’s on Main Street.”

“All right.”

“Great. Don’t forget now.”

“I won’t.” She strode along the edges of the ring to stay out of the way, waving to Evelyn to let her know she was in the paddock. “See you later, Lon.”

Fielding the attentions of the men on Shane’s crew was getting to be a full-time job. And Shane was far too busy to notice. She knew how to walk the line between friendly and showing interest. Lon might require her rude card if he got any more aggressive. She didn’t like to pull that out unless it was absolutely necessary.

Evelyn patted Porthos’s neck and grinned down at her. “Lon sniffing around?”

“Like I’m in heat, for heaven’s sake.”

“Well, as far as he’s concerned, you are. He’s persistent. Harmless but persistent.”

Porthos snuffed at Kendall’s shoulder, nibbling on her ponytail until she tucked it up on top of her head. “I keep telling you I’m not food.”

“You smell like apples.”

“Is that what it is?”

“Evidently he likes your shampoo.”

Kendall patted his nose. “I don’t mind whenyouflirt with me, big guy.”

“He’s not giving you any trouble, is he?”

“No. Lon’s one of those guys not used to a no. I can handle him. I just don’t want Shane to catch on.”

“Why?”

A flash of his possessive kiss after her first day in the stables came back to her. “Things between Shane and I are a little complicated.”

Evelyn swung her leg off the horse’s saddle and dropped to the ground. She ran a gentling hand along Porthos’s neck. “Now we’re getting interesting.”

“No, Shane and I are less than interesting.”

“So you keep telling me.” She clucked at Porthos and led him into the shade of the stable and uncinched his buckles.

---