Love All Out - The Complete Series (A Stepbrother Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page A

she said, her voice kind and gentle. “And I know that this was your mom’s specialty. I don’t want to come between you and your father, and I’d certainly never try to replace your mom. I’ve spent years cooped up in the clinic with its florescent lights and demanding patients. I miss being outside, working with livestock. All I want is to help with the horses. And if you give me a chance, I think you’ll find I’m quite good at it.”
    Why does she have to be so patient and understanding? This would be easier if she was a bitch. Then I’d have a valid reason for this resentment I feel for her.
    I studied Renee for a moment, trying to decide whether or not I could trust her. She stared back at me with kind eyes and I resolved myself to the fact that I was stuck with her, trust or no trust. I gave Renee a silent nod and then we walked to the barn to start her training.
    ***
    “Oh my God ! I can’t believe that James Parker is coming to work here. How in the world are we going to get any work done with such a beautiful distraction around?” Matt asked.
    It was later that afternoon. I’d given Renee the keys to my farm truck and sent her to the feed store so Matt and I could have an hour or so alone together. We sat outside drinking lemonade that Mary had delivered to the barn.
    “He won’t be working with us,” I reminded him. “He’ll be on the trails. And I’m sure that he’ll get restless after a week or two and head back out on the rodeo circuit.”
    I hoped that James’s time on the ranch would be limited. I was certain that I’d make a fool of myself in front of him and I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life hiding in the thoroughbred barn out of embarrassment.
    “James may not be working with us, but Renee is,” Matt continued. “I’m sure they’ll ride here together. I bet we see him every day.”
    “Renee is doing a good job,” I said, trying to turn the conversation away from James. “I’m surprised by how much she knows.”
    Matt nodded. “It’s a shame that her family doesn’t breed anymore. It sounds like they had a wonderful program.”
    Renee had taken to the work quickly. I’d expected it to take a few days to train her, but all I really had to do was show her where we kept everything and explain our daily schedule. She mucked out the horse stalls without complaining and with the three of us working together, we’d finished the undesirable chore in record time.
    “I appreciate her help and I’m glad she trained so quickly, but I’m not sure I’m happy that she’s working here,” I confessed.
    Matt finished his first glass of lemonade and poured a refill from the thermos. “I know you’re having a hard time with this, but I really don’t think that Renee is going to try to take over. She probably could… she seems to know enough. But she also seems respectful of the fact that you’re the boss.”
    “I’m not worried about her taking over the thoroughbreds. I know that Daddy was right, that we could use the extra help. And I’m actually looking forward to having extra free time. You saw how quickly we cleaned the stalls. We may actually finish our work at a decent hour today.”
    “Then why aren’t you happy that she’s working here?”
    I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I think something’s going on between Renee and Daddy… something other than a casual, boss employee relationship,” I confessed.
    “What?” Matt asked. The excitement on his face troubled me. I hated the idea of Daddy falling in love with someone new and I needed Matt to be on my side. He was my best friend after all, and that’s what best friends are supposed to do.
    “You should have seen them together this morning. I half expected them to kiss each other goodbye when she and I left. For all I know, they did kiss. I walked out of the kitchen pretty quickly and she didn’t catch up with me until I reached the porch steps.”
    “Maybe they are dating,” Matt said.