Hunter (Stud Ranch 2)

Well fuck. Way to back him into a corner, Mel.

He offered Isobel his most insincere smile. “Of course. If she wants the job, it’s hers.”

“I want the job,” Isobel said quickly. Too quickly. What was her deal? He wasn’t joking about a student from Cornell having their pick of internships. Why the hell was she out here anyway?

Melanie smiled wide but Hunter just kept looking at Isobel suspiciously. His only solace was that whatever she was here for, she wouldn’t stay long. That was for damn sure. City princesses like her never did. And anything he could do to shorten the trip, well, he’d be happy to do his part.

“Welcome aboard,” he said, smiling for the first time since Mel brought up the ridiculous idea.

“When do I start?” Isobel asked, a smile that was wide but slightly frantic on her face.

Hunter looked to Melanie. “Are all the horses ready?”

Mel nodded. “The guys spent the morning prepping them. They’re washed down and in the stable.”

Hunter’s attention turned back to Isobel. “No time like the present. If you’re up for it, that is.” He looked her up and down. He stared probably a tad longer than was appropriate but damn, she looked good in that dress. He finally pulled his eyes back up to her face. “If you’ve got a change of clothes.” He nodded down at the strappy sandals on her feet. “I don’t think those will do too well for dirty stable work.”

The bright pink blush that rose on the apples of her cheeks only made her prettier. “Of course I have work clothes. And riding boots.”

“Not work boots?” he questioned.

Hunter didn’t think her blush could get any redder but she proved him wrong. She squared her jaw and glared at him. “I thought I’d be working here with the horses.”

He waved a hand. “Better than sandals. I’ll grab the vaccination kit. You change. But hurry up about it. I have several other calls I need to make today.”

He started walking around the house toward the stables without another look back.

He could handle her working for him. She’d be no different than any other intern. He could keep entirely professional about this. Clinical even.

And he’d finally learned his lesson. Maybe the one Janine had been trying to teach him all along. Sex was just that—sex. Biological impulses seeking release. He’d been deluding himself trying to find some deeper, spiritual meaning in it.

By no means would he make the mistake of letting Isobel or any other woman anywhere near his heart again.

Chapter 6

ISOBEL

Isobel ran to the trunk of her car and popped it, grabbing some leggings and a t-shirt as quickly as she could, along with her riding boots.

God. Riding boots. She knew she’d look ridiculous wearing riding boots all day doing veterinary work. But she’d been in such a rush when she left New York, it was a miracle she’d even grabbed the boots.

She flinched, thinking of how Hunter had sneered at what she was wearing. The entire encounter had been cringeworthy.

Yeah, sneaking out this morning had been a coward move, but she hadn’t expected… God, Hunter had been so nice last night. Turned out in the light of day he was a real asshole.

Ugh, she didn’t have time to think about it. She had to get her butt in gear. She grabbed her toiletries bag with her deodorant and toothbrush and then hurried back toward the house where Mel was waiting for her on the porch. She directed Isobel upstairs to a room at the end of a long hallway.

“Once upon a time, aka, about fifteen years ago, this place was a resort,” Mel said. “Sort of a dude ranch where tourist could come stay and pretend to be cowboys. Good for us because it means every room is already set up.” She opened the door and gestured for Isobel to go first.

She immediately saw what Mel meant. It was like a hotel room, complete with its own attached bathroom. Though at the moment it looked more like a storage space.

“I’ll have one of the guys get this stuff cleared out and s

heets on the bed before tonight.” Mel gestured toward the cardboard boxes stacked up along one wall and the bare mattress.

“Oh, don’t go to any trouble,” Isobel said. “I’m happy to do it. Just leave the sheets on the bed and I can—”

“Don’t be silly,” Mel waved her away. “I’ll let you get changed.”