“Not hungry,” she answered, still looking at him.
And the way she was looking at him... He placed his hand on the counter, close to hers. Almost touching her. He wanted to, though. Damn it. He wanted to touch her. He wanted to chase away her sadness. Make her smile. Because her smile was powerful.
“You ever go horseback riding?” he asked.
She nodded. “When I was young.”
Which surprised him.
“My mother loved horses. She grew up around them.” She broke off suddenly.
My mother loved horses. Past tense. The
y had that in common. “How about I take you and Ivy for a ride tomorrow?”
She frowned and turned away to wash her plate in the sink. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she murmured. “I have too much work to do. And I think it’s best if my family eats with the other guests from now on, in the main dining room. I am, after all, an employee. Not family.”
Archer stared down at her. “If that’s what you’d prefer.”
“It is, Dr. Boone.” She nodded. “But I appreciate your family’s hospitality.”
She was doing the right thing, putting up boundaries and distance. But he’d enjoyed having her at the table tonight. Sitting beside her, watching her with Lily, and Ivy’s sunny laugh and chatter felt right. And damn good. “Eden, Renata shouldn’t have pried—”
Eden shook her head, her hazel eyes locking with his. “I pride myself on being a professional, Dr. Boone. That is what we are. Professionals. Working together for a common goal. I’ll see you in the morning.”
She left him standing in the kitchen, his sister’s words replaying.
When you want something, you are unstoppable.
Did he want Eden? He swallowed, leaning back against the kitchen counter. Yes. He did. In a way that was neither professional nor rational. A realization he was still struggling with. He’d known her only a few days, for crying out loud. What he was considering was rash and careless. He was neither.
But...in a few more days she’d be gone. And if the sense of panic that fact caused was any indication, he needed to decide just what he was going to do about Eden Caraway.
Chapter Six
“Mr. Boone says there will be a parade and pony rides and a carnival on Monday.” Clara was braiding Ivy’s long ringlets.
“I have to work, Clara.” Eden sighed. “I have to get Dr. Boone’s finances in order and the board presentation in order by next Friday.”
“Pony rides, Momma,” Ivy said. “Real ponies.”
“I’ll ask Dr. Boone. Considering it’ll be our last day here, I’m not very optimistic.” She hoped working through the weekend would allow her to finish the spreadsheets and scanning. And help her find something useful. In the time she’d been here, she had yet to find a single suspicious purchase or expense. Archer’s filing system, or lack thereof, was the only flaw. What she had learned had only increased her respect for Archer Boone and the work he did. The refuge was self-sustaining at this level. They sold horses, held clinics and riding camps, and participated in a large annual fund-raiser. Riders and horse lovers from all over came to participate in an annual scavenger hunt on the several thousand acres that made up Boone Ranch.
Archer wanted to expand the refuge, but his request was modest. A large therapy pool, a more updated barn, a bunkhouse for expanded overnight camps and three new exercise walking wheels. To Eden, it was more maintenance than expansion.
“Ask him, pretty please, Momma,” Ivy said, crawling across the bed.
“I’ll ask him,” Eden promised, kissing her nose. “Silly goose.”
Ivy smiled.
“What are you going to do today?” she asked Clara.
“Mr. Boone said he’d take us into town. There’s a dollhouse museum and an old-fashioned soda shop.” Clara smiled, picking up Lily.
Eden sighed. “You’re spending a lot of time with Mr. Boone.”
Clara’s cheeks colored prettily. “He’s being a good ambassador, that’s all.”