‘Maybe,’ she admitted. ‘It’s hard to forget my time in Brazil. All those top-class horses and state-of-the-art training facilities—I can’t say I’d turn down an opportunity to go back. Why? Are you offering me a job?’
Tiago remained silent, his considering stare on her face. Maybe she’d overdone it. She was supposed to be exercising Lizzie’s horse, not touting for work.
‘Shall we get back?’ she suggested, wondering if he’d had enough of her company.
‘I’m in no hurry.’
And then she understood. He was staring out at the silver river rushing to the sea, beyond which lay a dense and mysterious forest that seemed to beckon them into its hidden interior. There were standing stones that held secrets from ancient times to one side of them, while purple heather spread out like a carpet, leading them home. It was so magical. Who in their right mind would leave?
For a while they sat on their horses in companionable silence. She had loved this vantage spot since she was a little girl. She was at her most relaxed here—until she became aware of Tiago staring at her. What was he thinking? she wondered.
Closing her eyes, she turned her face to the sky and inhaled deeply. Just here, just now, in this one perfect moment, she felt strong and sure—as if things were changing for the better and anything was possible.
‘Are you ready to go back now?’ Tiago asked.
She was ready for anything. But then she remembered he was heading home to Brazil. That was life. Up one moment; down the next.
‘Last one back to the house makes the coffee?’ she suggested.
The last sound she heard as she galloped away from him was Tiago’s laughter, carried on the wind.
* * *
‘You’re shivering.’ he commented when they dismounted in the yard.
‘You must be made of iron,’ she countered. ‘Aren’t you aware that it’s a million degrees below freezing today?’ She blew on her hands to make her point.
‘Here—let me warm you.’
Before she had a chance to object Tiago had opened his arms and drawn her inside his jacket. She tensed, and then reminded herself that Latin men were demonstrative, that she shouldn’t make anything of it. All he was doing was preventing a mild case of hypothermia setting in.
‘Mmm...much better.’ Her cheeks were burning as she pulled away—which she had to do before she grew used to the addictive feeling of hard, hot man.
‘Go inside and warm up in front of the fire,’ Tiago suggested. ‘I’ll take care of the horses.’
‘I’m not leaving it all to you,’ she protested. ‘We’ll do it together. It will take half the time, and then we can both take a shower,’ she insisted when Tiago seemed about to refuse. ‘You’re wet through too,’ she reasoned.
Sleeting rain had started to fall at the end of their ride, in an unrelenting curtain. It showed no sign of easing any time soon.
When the horses were settled they ran for the house. She screamed as a clap of thunder coincided with Tiago grabbing hold of her hand to help her run faster, and was laughing and panting by the time they reached the door. Just for a moment, as they faced each other and Tiago stilled, she wondered if he was going to kiss her.
‘Come on—let’s go inside.’
She spun round before he had a chance. It was a most unlikely event that he was going to kiss her. She didn’t want to be disappointed. There was nothing worse than turning your face up for a kiss and receiving nothing.
‘Take a shower and warm up,’ he told her. ‘Then come back downstairs and we’ll talk.’
About what? she wondered. A job? Her heart thundered as she waited for Tiago to reply, but he said nothing.
Brazil.
The thought of returning to Brazil was enough to make her heart race with excitement. The thought of returning to Brazil with Tiago was off the scale. The pampas, the horses, the starry nights, the vibrant music, the warm and friendly people—what she’d give for a chance to go back...
Brazil with Tiago?
Okay. Don’t even go there. The thought was so exhilarating she wondered if she’d ever think straight again. But she was never going to make a fool of herself over a man again.
When she came downstairs she found Tiago in the library, where he was standing by the window, staring out into the darkness, seeing nothing as it was so black out there. So he was thinking. But about what? She closed the door quietly behind her, but the click made him turn around. Even now, when she was used to the sight of him again, seeing Tiago Santos here—so tall, so dark, so powerful—she felt her senses flood with heat.