The Black Sheep and the Hidden Beauty Read Online Free PDF

experience.”
    â€œI asked you. Would you like me to ask someone else?”
    She wondered what he’d say, or do, if she said yes. She wondered why she wasn’t jumping at the offer to get out of this situation entirely. “Despite your earlier reassurances, I’m thinking turning down a personal friend of the boss isn’t going to do me any favors.”
    â€œKate has nothing to do with this. In fact, she doesn’t even know I’m asking.”
    That tidbit surprised her. Of course, he could be lying. But she didn’t think he was.
    The twinkle resurfaced, as did the eye crinkling. He was intensity personified, which she was clearly struggling to resist. She really didn’t need him to be charming, to boot.
    â€œIn fact,” he went on, “what with the double duty you’re already pulling with the new horse, she might not be all that happy with me for asking at all.”
    It was his voice, she decided, as if he was hypnotizing her or something. She was looking straight at him—like she could look anywhere else, even if she wanted to—and she could swear he was telling the truth. Maybe she was paranoid. Maybe he really just wanted lessons and to kill some down time flirting with the new girl. Hell, for all she knew, maybe he nailed every female who came to work there as a matter of course.
    But being paranoid was what had kept her and Springer safe this long. She couldn’t afford to be any other way. Which certainly didn’t explain why, every time she opened her mouth around this man, she couldn’t seem to help but continue the verbal foreplay he’d so effortlessly begun. Like, even if she didn’t have bigger things to worry about, she’d want the attentions of a guy who was more interested in racking up notches on his bedpost than caring who he notched them with. He’d all but admitted she wasn’t even his type.
    Her forehead began to throb. What she really needed was to go lie down somewhere and give this pheromone fog presently poisoning her every chance to dissipate and leave her the hell alone.
    But, instead, she smiled right back at him, and said, “So, you’re essentially trying to get both of us in trouble.”
    His lips curved. There was a flash of white teeth. “It looks that way, yes.”
    Poisoned, surely that was it . “So, now I either say yes or I say no, and you go bother one of my staff and distract them from their duties, which will just get me in trouble anyway.”
    His grin was brief, but downright lethal. “Interesting how that works.”
    So, he was even more dangerous when amused. She’d have to remember that. “When did you want to begin?”
    He looked briefly surprised. Hunh. Well, it was good to know she could get him off balance. At least she had some leverage, slender thread though it may be. Then she had another thought that had her swallowing a grin of her own.
    If it was leverage she needed, well, maybe she just needed to get him up on the back of a horse first.

Chapter 3
    â€œR iding lessons? You?” Donovan MacLeod laughed. Hard. “Don’t start. I’m actually doing this for you and your significant other.”
    â€œRight. So when you get thrown on your ass, it’s all my fault.”
    â€œYou learned to ride. How hard can it be?”
    â€œVery funny.” Mac stood at the edge of the patio, staring down the sloping back hill to where the stables were. “But why don’t you just come out and admit that what this is really about is you wanting to get her naked?” He turned and grinned. “Which, when you think about it, is also a form of riding lessons. Just without the crop.” His gray eyes gleamed. “I assume, anyway.”
    Rafe didn’t take the bait. “I’m serious about this. I think there is something else going on where she’s concerned. Or I sure as hell wouldn’t be getting on the back of