Page 31 of Virgin's Stolen Nights with the Boss

She almost laughed at the irony as he pointed his finger. Possibly he saw it too, because he halted the gesture.

‘So, in future, get off your damn cell phone when you’re in the yard—especially when I’m about to bring Dom out.’

He turned on his booted heel and she turned towards Capricorn.

‘Yuck!’ she said to the mare once he’d gone. ‘Men! Why do we like them?’ Carmen asked as she put her arms around the mare’s neck. ‘I tell you now, if he was inmyyard...’ she looked into the velvet-brown eyes ‘...I’d fire him.’

She smiled at the very thought.

‘No, I would never have hired him in the first place. Too damned good-looking, too cocksure,’ she crooned, trying to calm Capricorn with her tone if not with her actual words as Dom was noisily brought out. ‘It’s fine,’ Carmen soothed.

But then, as the yard quietened down once the stallion had been led out, so too did Carmen’s indignity at being dressed down by Elias.

‘Was I rude?’ she asked Capricorn as she mucked her stable out.

After all, it was easy to get complacent around horses; he was simply looking out for the new stable hand, not realising just how expert she was.

And as for accusing her of being arrogant...?

Carmen knew very well that she was!

Should she apologise?

Only, that would mean talking to him.

Taking her lunch from her satchel, she headed over to the north field, where Domitian was running and letting off steam as Elias leant on the gate and watched.

‘I apologise if I was rude,’ Carmen mumbled as she came to stand beside him.

‘Excuse me?’

You heard, Carmen wanted to say.

‘I apologise,’ she said more clearly. ‘I appreciate that you were just looking out for me, although Iwaskeeping one eye on Winnie...’

‘Fair enough,’ he conceded. ‘Still, I’d suggest you keep both eyes—’ He halted the lecture. ‘Look, I’m not a fan of cell phones. Especially when Domitian is around.’

‘Believe me, I wouldn’t have my cell phone out if I was dealing with him.’

She smiled, and then took off her gloves and opened the lid on her lunch box, ignoring the fruit salad and pulling out a quesadilla filled with cheese and last night’s chilli.

‘I’m supposed to cook tonight,’ Carmen said conversationally. Seeing him glance at her lunch, she held it out. ‘Do you want half?’

‘No.’ He shook his head. ‘No, thank you.’

‘Where I come from, it’s rude to refuse,’ she insisted. But he ignored her, so she looked at Dom. ‘He’s showing off.’

Carmen smiled as she watched the black stallion pick up his legs and prance. Then, perhaps sensing a new audience, he started to canter around the field.

But her smile waned as she felt the discomfort between her and Elias. Perhaps she should take her lunch elsewhere. She had made her apology, after all, but just as she was about to depart, he spoke.

‘What are you making?’ he asked, and she felt a little light flare in her chest, because he had initiated conversation.

‘Paella,’ Carmen said. ‘A family recipe.’

‘Sounds good.’

‘They’re all very much looking forward to it...’ Carmen sighed, trying not to feel daunted, but brightened up as she watched Dom. ‘He’s done dressage?’

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