The Tycoon's Tender Triumph (7 page)

He stopped and looked down at her, that wicked grin back on his face.  “Why?  Are you afraid of me?  Does my presence bother you?”

She backed up a step, but made sure to maintain her angry glare.  “Not to be rude, but yes.  You do bother me.”  She was going to leave it at that but she saw the glint in his eyes and shook her head. “Not in the way that you’re thinking though so just pretend I’m your sister, Sam.”

He let loose one of those deep, soul melting chuckles and pulled her close.  “Chloe, there is absolutely no way I could ever mistake you for my sister.”

She assumed he meant because she was so much shorter, evidenced by the length of the sleeves on the coat she’d borrowed which hung down to her fingertips.  “Well, you know what I mean.”

“I do, but it’s not going to work.” 

He continued to show her what to do until she finally stopped him.  “Sam, I think I got it.  I appreciate your help and I’ll do my best to get these guys out of your way and back to my father’s place.”

“You don’t need to do that.  They aren’t taking up any space that would be allotted to another animal so there’s no rush.”

He finally walked away and Chloe felt as if she could breathe a bit easier.  That man really was a force to be reckoned with, she thought as she hauled the food to the
horses’
bins, made sure they had enough water and then got to know them a bit better.  They were
all
beautiful horses, she thought, patting their necks and sides as they ate their oats. 

She saddled up Cinnamon, a sweet mare that nuzzled against her shoulder each time Chloe passed by.  As she climbed up on the horse, she had to smile with excitement at being back in the saddle.  It had been much too long, she thought as she trotted out of the
stable
and into the bright afternoon sunshine. 

Sam stepped up to the fence and leaned against a pole, thoroughly enjoying the view of Chloe exercising
Cinnamon
.  The horse and rider were like one, Chloe seeming to anticipate whatever
Cinnamon
was about to do and either allowing it or countering the horse’s ornery nature.  And
Cinnamon
loved it, almost falling into her commands before Chloe even gave them.  It was hard enough watching Chloe’s cute little bottom as it moved against the saddle, bouncing with the rhythm of the ride, or the desire that he was the horse instead.  But watching as Chloe rode with such perfection, it was almost painful as his lust burst into flames within his body. 

Why that woman was so stubborn about this attraction that was constantly around the two of them, he couldn’t understand.  But he wasn’t going to let it go on much longer.  He wanted her and he was going to have her, as soon as he figured out why or what this little filly needed reassurance about. 

Chloe rolled over, the air outside of her bed covers actually misting when her breath hit it.  The air was so cold, she could barely think, much less move her muscles.  But force them she would, she thought as she shoved her hair out of her eyes and pushed her legs over the side of the bed.  Groaning as the cold air hit her full on, she rushed over to the bathroom and turn on the tap for the shower, praying that the hot water would come quickly this morning. 

After a tepid shower, she grabbed an apple for breakfast and headed to the door, pulling on the thick leather coat Sam had given her that first morning.  She
had found an old
wool jacket
she’d left behind in her dad’s house several years ago
but it wasn’t very practical out here in Texas, especially as she worked on th
e
stable
that would soon house those
beautiful horses.  She had to work harder, she told herself as her numb fingers pulled open the door.  She’d thought the house was cold but she had to brace herself when the cold, Texas wind whipped past the front door.  It was barely past dawn, she told herself.  It was bound to warm up as the sun rose over the horizon.  And she should be able to get that roof finished today. 

Gloves and tools in hand, she pulled her woolen hat lower over her ears and headed to the
stable
with determination. 
Just get the roof finished, then the walls would be easier.  She’d read last night over the internet about the next step, finding tips that would make the hammering easier and faster.  If it weren’t for the internet, she’d still be working on the interiors, unsure of what she should do first, second or last.  Thank goodness for
computers
, she thought as she climbed up the ladder, steadying herself on the top before lifting her sore leg over the ledge. 

Chloe had no sense of time, just a sense of urgency so when the angry voice came up behind her, she almost slipped down the slightly slanting roof.

“What the hell are you doing up there, woman?” Sam demanded. 

Chloe started and turned too quickly, had to re-balance herself before she could find the source of her latest irritation.  Once she was well balanced again, she turned, more slowly, to look down at Sam.  Even from up above, that man looked huge, she thought grouchily. 

“I’m making toast,” she said, then turned back to pick up the next shingle, sliding it into place before picking up the hammer once again.  Her fingers ached and she could barely lift the damn thing, but she refused to let him see how much she hurt. 

“Get down, right now!”

She lifted the hammer and slammed it down, barely hitting the head of the nail but glad that she hadn’t totally missed i
t this time.  “Sam, you’re on my dad’s
property.  You can’t tell me what to do.”

“Why don’t you have an air gun?  And why are you re-building this old thing in the first place?  I told you the horses could stay with me for as long as you needed.”

Chloe didn’t bother to look back at him, but wondered at why his voice was moving.  “I’m building it because I now have horses to take care of.  And I won’t be indebted to you for long.  I’ll pay you for the boarding costs too.
  Besides, I can’t imagine why my dad let this thing becomes so out of sorts if he was housing other horses throughout the months.  I don’t want him falling again once his leg repairs this time.
”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Chloe,” he growled.  A moment later, the hammer was lifted out of her hands as Sam stood next to her.  Chloe wanted to stand up and confront him, but she was just too tired.  Instead, she plopped down, pretending that it was more of a controlled fall, and looked up at Sam as he towered over her.  “I have no idea what an air gun is, or why I would need it, but while you’re taunting me with this little test of yours, give me back my hammer.  I’m on a schedule and you’re slowing me down.”

Instead of following her order, he bent down and picked up her hand which was now uncovered by the glove.  “Why aren’t you wearing gloves?” he asked, this time more softly.

Chloe wished her fingers didn’t tremble but he was just too close and too male.  She curled her fingers into her palm, embarrassed that her fingers were raw, nails broken and cuts all over her fingers, palms and the back of her hand.  “My glove fell off the roof about an hour ago.”

Looking at her eyes, Sam finished the explanation.  “And you’re too tired to climb down and get it, right?”

She couldn’t respond since he was right on target.  Instead, she pulled her hand out of his large, warm grip and looked down.  “Can I have my hammer, please?”

Sam stood up and shook his head.  “How long have you been up here?”

Chloe closed her eyes.  “What time is it?”

“Almost noon.”

Sighing, she shrugged her shoulders
, ignoring the spasms of pain that movement caused
.  “About six hours then.”

“And what have you eaten?”

Chloe shook her head.  “I had breakfast.”  With a groan, she stood up and walked towards the ladder.  “Why do you care?”

Sam watched as she struggled to lift her leg, noting that she was probably aching in every fiber of her body.  “I just do,” he grumbled and followed her down. 

Back in the
stable
, Chloe rummaged through the rusting tools and finally found an older hammer.  This one wasn’t as good, not as well balanced, but it was in her hands and therefore, she had control of it.  She knew that Sam wouldn’t give her back the other one so she protected this one with her body as she turned around. 

Unfortunately, he was too close and when she turned, he was only about an inch from her.  He easily reached over her shoulder and plucked it out of her hands.  Weak as she was from the unaccustomed physical exertion, she just couldn’t react quickly enough. 

“You’re coming with me, Chloe.  Looks like you need a good meal and a warm bed with no more repairs for today.
  You can visit with your dad while you eat something warm.
”

Rubbing her head, she closed her eyes, not wanting to look at him for fear of him seeing the need in her eyes.  The need right now wasn’t just for his strength and his touch.  The sound of a warm meal, something she didn’t have to cook, or more specifically, burn, sounded lovely.  And a warm bed was a luxury she hadn’t had in over a week as she tried to keep the expenses down by lowering the heat in the house.  All her money was going toward the materials needed to repair the
stable
so she could bring her dad’s
hors
es home as quickly as possible
. And
there was no fear of her father trying to do
the repairs
himself.

“Thank you very much for the offer, but I have a lot of work to do.
  I spoke with my fath
e
r this morning and I visit him
each
afternoon so I’m not neglecting him.
  I just don’t want him to do this kind of work and I know he will if it’s not done by the time his leg has healed.
”  Turning her back on him, she started walking towards the ladder once again but her stride was slow and laborious, despite her efforts to hide it.

“Chloe, that wasn’t an offer it was a command.  You’re dead on your feet and I suspect you haven’t eaten very much lately, have you?”

Chloe shrugged and ignored the hunger in her stomach, promising that she’d grab a sandwich as soon as Sam left.  “I told you I had breakfast.”

He stopped her with a gentle touch, turning her so that her back was against the brown wood of the
stable
wall.  “What did you have for breakfast?” 

If he’d been harsh or demanding, she could have shrugged off his question and pushed him away.  But his soft tone, a little husky with obvious concern, just did her in and she sighed heavily.  “I had an apple.  But I’ll go inside now and grab something.”

Shaking his head, he pulled her close, guiding her towards his horse.  “I don’t think so, darlin’,” he replied with a deep voice.  “You’re coming with me and
Jessy
is going to give you something warm and hardy.  I’ll also lend you an air gun as long as you promise not to kill yourself with it.  Deal?”

Chloe didn’t have the strength to fight him any longer.  She was too tired, too cold and too hungry.  Her entire body ached from the manual labor none of her muscles were conditioned for.  He climbed up on his horse and then easily lifted her up before she had any idea of what he was going to do.  Sitting in front of him, his strong arms surrounding her and the warmth of his body cradling her, Chloe sighed and leaned into his hard, muscular chest. 

In what seemed like moments later, she felt herself lifted down from the saddle and carried into a warm house.  Opening her eyes, she looked up, blinking at the comforting glow coming from
Jessy
’s kitchen and the delicious smells of something cooking.  Something warm and unburned, she thought, her mouth instantly watering. 

“Good Lord, child!  You’ve lost a good ten pounds in the last week.  What have you done to yourself?”
Jessy
said as soon as Sam carried her in, slamming the heavy wooden door behind him.