The Monroe Foundation was a big component of that funding. That was what mattered. Making sure he didn’t lose their support. Books and receipts sat boxed and forgotten, needing to be sorted and cataloged, every cent accounted for. He didn’t envy the job Miss Caraway was facing. But it was her job. As long as all the i’s were dotted and t’s were crossed, Miss Caraway could dress and look and smell however she wanted. Convincing Mr. Monroe and his board of trustees that the refuge needed funding was all he cared about.
“There’s coffee in the cabinet in the break room. Pot’s there.” He nodded in the general vicinity of the small room, anxious to see to the new horses.
“I’m fine.” She moved around the table, set her briefcase down and opened the paper box, peering inside.
“Need anything?” He hesitated, feeling the need to smooth things over. She hadn’t run for the hills, always a good sign. He could stay on his best behavior—something that didn’t come easily to him—if it kept her here until things were ready for Monroe. Yes, her being pretty was damn inconvenient, but there wasn’t much he could do about that. He’d keep her busy here, poring over paperwork and away from roving eyes. She’d be here a week. Ten days tops.
She glanced at him, the slightest narrowing in her eyes unnerving. “My car broke down, inside the main entrance. Past the second cattle guard.”
“You walked?” He glanced at her feet. Heels. She was in heels. And a slim-fitting skirt. Her white shirt was thin, the skin of her upper arms and chest pink from the sun. His gaze returned to her face. She’d walked all that way and she had yet to complain. And surprisingly, she knew what a cattle guard was. Maybe they’d get along fine.
“I walked. Your big black horse followed me.” Her tone was clipped.
“Fester?” Damn it. The horse was more trouble than he was worth. “Did he bite you?”
She shook her head.
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Which was a relief. But unusual. “Fester bites everyone.” Everyone.
Her expression grew more rigid. “He didn’t bite me.”
He frowned. “That’s good.” That horse was a riddle Archer couldn’t crack.
“You don’t seem pleased.” One brow rose.
He didn’t appreciate her implication. He was relieved. The last thing he needed was a lawsuit over a horse bite. “I assure you, Miss Caraway, it is a relief.” No lawsuit and no reason to further delay getting down to work. As far as he was concerned, she could make up for the lost days by working through the weekend. But they could talk about that this evening, after she’d put in a full day’s worth of work. “I’ll let you get to work.”
She nodded, glancing out the window. She froze, her features coming to life. A deep crease formed between her finely arched brows, her full lips parting in a silent gasp.
He followed her gaze to the four horses in the pen outside. “We’ll do the best we can to heal their bodies and their spirits. It never fails to amaze me how resilient animals are.” It never failed to inspire him, either.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Drought conditions in West Texas are bad. Drought meant no grass and dry water tanks.” He shook his head. “They’re all that’s left of a wild herd. We wrangled ’em up and brought ’em here before it was too late. It’s what we do here, help out when no one else will.”
Her wide hazel eyes focused on the horses. His work could be ugly, revealing the cruelty that existed in the world in a hard-to-take, in-your-face way. Her expression shifted, revealing a mix of pain, sadness and despair. It was a logical reaction. But he looked at the horses and saw hope. They were here, alive, safe, protected. He’d take care of them.
She was staring at him then. And something sparked in the depths of her eyes, something that held his attention. Her voice was low, husky, as she said, “Where will they go?”
“We find them homes. There are just as many folks willing to welcome them into their families as there are those who treat them badly or turn them out.” He didn’t mean to stare back at her, but looking away was a physical impossibility.
He didn’t like it. He didn’t like it at all.
He cleared his throat once, then again. “I’ll check in later,” he murmured, nodding in her general direction before heading outside. He turned, almost running into the door frame as he hurried from the office. He knew he had work to do, but right now, he needed to clear his head.
Heat slammed into him as he pushed through the front door. He stopped, resting his hands on the porch railing, and sucked in a deep breath. The song of the mockingbird, the whinny of the horses and the whisper of the hot wind slowly eased the off-kilter sensations agitating his stomach.
She was there for one reason and one reason only. He needed her to make him look good on paper. She was the accounting expert. He was the horse expert. And until she managed to get everything whipped into shape, until Mr. Monroe arrived and he’d acquired the extra funding, the only interesting thing about Miss Caraway was her work ethic. Because there was a lot of work to be done and not much time to do it.
Chapter Two
Eden flipped through her file on Dr. Archer Boone and the Boone Ranch Refuge. After four hours of sorting receipts—and making a slight dent—she deserved a rest. She was just as impressed as she’d been the first time she’d read his file. Renowned veterinarian and animal behaviorist. Studied internationally, devoted to environmentally friendly and ecologically minded practices. Graduated early. Went on to get several specialty certifications. But horses were his true gift. Clearly, the man was passionate about his work.
She respected that. And already well versed with his résumé, she expected that. She hadn’t expected him to be so abrupt. Intense. Or condescending. Of course, he didn’t know who she was—that would impact the way he treated her. Not yet.
The biggest surprise was how ruggedly attractive he was. Eden found him exceptionally handsome. More than once she’d found herself watching him out the window in the tiny makeshift office. He had a presence, one that made an impact. And watching him made a few things immediately clear.