A Stallion's Touch Read Online Free PDF Page A

auntie!”
    Collin shook his head. “Uh, no thanks! I don’t like going to doctors, so I know I don’t want to be one. I’m proud of you, though!”
    Tarah laughed. “Go ride, kiddo! Enjoy that horse. What did you name him, by the way?”
    Collin laughed. “Baby!”
    As Collin pulled gently on the reins to turn Baby in the other direction, Tarah laughed with him.
    â€œWhat’s so funny?” Nicholas questioned, seeming to come out of nowhere.
    His sudden appearance behind her was startling and she jumped, pulling one hand to her chest as she steadied herself with the other. “You just scared the crap out of me!” she snapped, clearly not amused.
    He held up hand. “Sorry about that. I just saw you sitting here and thought I’d come say hello.”
    Tarah took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She cut an eye in his direction as he climbed atop the fence to sit with her. He shifted side to side, trying to make himself comfortable atop the narrow ledge.
    He met the look she was giving him and smiled. The lift of his full lips dimpled his cheeks. “So, is there a trick to this that I’m not getting?” he asked, leaning his body forward for better balance.
    She chuckled. “You need a little more cushion back there. It helps.”
    He nodded. “No wonder you look so comfortable.”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    He grinned. “It was a compliment. I was just pointing out that you have a very nice rear view. Full...and round.”
    There was a moment’s pause as her gaze locked with his. Her eyes narrowed substantially. “Why are you looking at my ass?”
    â€œIn all fairness, I wouldn’t have looked at all if the girls hadn’t pointed out that you had a big butt.” He laughed. “Irene thought I needed to be aware. She also said you have a big head, big feet and teeth that look goofy.” He shot her a look. “Her words, not mine!”
    Tarah looked out to the horizon, then shifted her gaze back out to the pasture. “I swear those two are so lucky they’re short!”
    â€œIf it makes a difference,” he said smugly, “they love your hair.” He then reached out and brushed a curly strand from her eye. The gesture surprised her, causing the air to catch in her chest as she suddenly held her breath. “And you always smell really good!”
    â€œThey said I smell good?”
    â€œNo, I threw that in,” he said, grinning broadly. “Like vanilla and lavender with a hint of honey. You smell like a woman is supposed to smell. Special! I was trying to help you out.”
    Tarah laughed, amusement dancing over her face, but she didn’t bother to reply to his comment.
    â€œYou still didn’t tell me what was so funny,” he said. “What were you laughing about when I came up?”
    â€œCollin named his horse Baby.”
    Confusion pulled at Nicholas’s expression. “And that’s funny because...?”
    â€œWhen his mother was pregnant with Jacoby, he really wasn’t happy about getting a baby brother or sister. He only wanted a horse. Then when little Jake was born and he held him for the first time, he said the baby was okay but he still would rather have had a horse named Baby instead. It was all he would talk about for months!”
    â€œCute,” Nicholas said, nodding his head slightly as his stare shifted to where his cousin’s son and the horse were moving in perfect sync with each other.
    A blanket of quiet dropped over the two, the moment suddenly awkward. Nervous energy fired hot between them, feeling like a circuit board gone awry.
    Tarah allowed a good few minutes to pass before she cast a quick glance in his direction. She was surprised to find him staring at her. He chuckled softly, color tinting his cheeks at being caught.
    â€œSorry! I didn’t mean to stare, but you’re just so beautiful!”
    Tarah felt herself blush,