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the stall gate.
    Would
Emma ever speak to him again? Gabe stopped and laid his arms across the top of
the handle of the pitchfork. What the fuck were you thinking? The look on her face after he
kissed her made his heart slam against his ribs. She
looked shocked and surprised at the same time. Tears glistened in her eyes.
Christ! He felt like such a dumbass. He tossed the pitchfork down and strode
out of the barn. No one said anything even though he knew they all watched him go . They knew not to if they wanted to keep their job. He
went inside to shower. He knew Emma was working with Misty again today and he
planned to be there. He didn’t care if she wanted him there or not.

 
    * * * *

 
    Emma ran
Misty around the barrels. As she ci rcled the second
barrel, Misty knocked it down. Emma shook her head, but she’d make Misty go
around again. She pulled the horse to a stop at the end, and then spurred her
again. She noticed the barrel she’d knocked down was back up. She quickly
glanced tow ard the railing and saw Jake there.
Heaving a sigh of relief, she sent a smile his way and rode Misty around the
barrels. This time horse and rider made it around all three without touching
them enough to knock them down. Emma was so proud of Misty she let out a loud cheer. Jake clapped his hands as she rode the
filly over to him with a big grin on her face.
    “I knew
she could do it,” she exclaimed. “She just needed some practice.”
    Jake
laughed. “I knew you could get her there. She won’t do that for anyone b ut you.”
    She
laughed with joy, for success had its own thrill, and dismounted. “I’m going to
wipe her down and give her an extra treat.”
    Jake
nodded at her. “ Becca wants to know if you want to
stay for dinner.”
    “I’d
love to. I’ll be right in after Misty is taken care
of.” She smiled as Jake tugged on his hat in cowboy fashion and left the arena. Becca was lucky and Emma could see how
easily she’d fallen in love with Jake. He and his brothers represented the
essential cowboy. Thinking that about Jake brought her thoughts to Gabe. Shit! She’d gone most of the day
without thinking of him. She muttered as she wiped Misty down, but just about
jumped out of her skin when Gabe spoke from behind her.
    “Did
Misty piss you off or is it me you’re still angry with?”
    Emma spun around to find him leaning against the doorjamb of
the stall. His hands tucked deep into the pockets of his jeans and his black
T-shirt emphasizing his broad chest, and muscled pecs . The sleeves were tight around
his biceps. She bit the inside of her cheek to hold
back a groan of appreciation. “I’m not angry with Misty…”
    Gabe
straightened up. “Then it must be me.”
    She
shook her head. “I’m not angry with you, either. That kiss wasn’t enough to get
angry over.”
    “You
sure seemed angry with me after that kiss,” Gabe said
in a low voice.
    Emma
turned back to the horse and continued brushing her. She just wanted Gabe to
leave. There was no way she could come on to him as Olivia had suggested. She
knew she wasn’t the type, or Gabe’s type. The thought of sex te rrified her, especially sex with Gabe. She felt him behind
her. When he ran his fingers through her ponytail, she shivered.
    “It’s as
soft as silk, just as I thought. I wonder what your hair looks like down around
your shoulders,” he murmured. “Or spread out across a
pillow.”
    Emma
turned toward him and looked up into his face. “You’ll never know.”
    His
mouth twitched, and one corner hitched up under the sexy mustache she
remembered teasing her lips. “I wouldn’t bet on that if I were you.”
    His
words made her back up so suddenly, she bumped into
Misty. The horse pushed back against her, and knocked her into Gabe. His arms
went around her waist as Emma put her hands on his shoulders with every
intention of pushing him away. She raised her gaze to his and swallo wed. His head dipped and his lips touched hers. Emma