He assisted her the rest of the way up with a rough hand on her arm. She stumbled, making a sound of annoyance as she righted herself. Colton surged to his feet. He didn’t like the feelings she stirred; he needed to stay on guard so he could expose her to Joel for a thief and con artist.
Momentarily distracted watching her brush the dust from her jeans, he came up with, “You should’ve seen yourself.”
Her head jerked toward him in surprise.
He adopted a high, whiney tone. “Please, please, help me—he’s gonna smell me to death.” His forced chuckle of disdain succeeded in making her flush with embarrassment.
“He surprised me,” she defended quietly.
“If I’d had a camera, I’d be in the running for a hundred grand on America’s Funniest Videos.”
She turned to slam the stall door shut without taking Paelo out. “Fine, so I was a little scared.” A measured pivot brought them face to face again. Her gaze did not waver. “But whoever it was that gave you the idea it’s okay to make fun of someone’s fears is probably a son of a bitch…just like you.”
She stared him down, her chin tilted, her eyes full of indignant reproach. Guilt mushroomed and the only way for Colton to combat it was a full-on attack. As he advanced, her censure transformed into uneasiness. He clenched his jaw against her fear with grim determination and moved closer.
“I don’t have to be nice to you,” he stated. “You may have fooled Joel and Britt, but I’m going to figure out exactly what the hell you’re playing at.”
“I’m not playing at anything.”
“No?” He took another step, and she backed against the stall door. “You really expect me to buy your coincidence story any more than I buy your claim to be experienced with horses?”
“It’s not a story.”
“Bull,” he bit out, leaning close while
bracing a hand on either side of her. She swallowed hard before lifting her chin with that aggravating defiance again, prompting him to promise, “I’m gonna expose you, Kendra. You’ll slip up again and I’ll be watching when you do. Might as well leave now.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” she snapped.
“We’ll just see about that.”
“Your accusations are as tiresome as your Neanderthal act. Move.” She placed her palms against his chest and shoved. He took a voluntary step back, grasping her slim wrists at the same time. He applied just enough pressure to let her know he was in charge. Her eyes widened with renewed apprehension.
“Don’t push me,” he warned. “And I don’t mean physically. Your best bet right now is to go home.”
She pulled against his firm hold. “I’m trying to.”
He gave a short laugh. “I meant New York, you thieving little con artist. Pack up that brother of yours and get the hell out of here. JBM isn’t your home.”
Her nearness was affecting his pulse again so he released her with an angry flick of his wrists. She gave him one last glare before stalking from the barn. He walked after her, but stopped at the doorway.
“I mean it, Kendra. Go home.”
Chapter Four
“Ken?”
Kendra quickly swiped at her eyes before turning to face her little brother. “Hey, Noah. How was your day?”
A fierce scowl twisted his normally easy-going features. “Why did Colton tell you to go home out at the barn?”
Her stomach lurched. How much had he heard? “He was just letting me know I was done with work for the day.”
“He sounded mad.”
“He wasn’t mad.” She scrambled for an explanation. “He was hurt. One of the horses stepped on his foot.”
“Why didn’t you stay and help?”