“Uh-huh.” The older woman nodded. “At least, that’s what Arnold in the kitchen told me but I can’t remember who told him.”
Excitement quickened inside her. Maybe she could take her horse to Mikhail and ask his advice. After all, she had to stop Barney’s new biting habit before it became a serious problem. The habit might be a lot harder to break if she waited until Emma and Cade returned from their trip.
“If you see him, tell him to come to the diner so I can have some eye candy. I’ll even give him a cup of coffee on the house.” The waitress patted her hair and winked at Amber.
***
The following Saturday afternoon, Amber managed to load Barney into the horse trailer. The boutique was closed from Saturday afternoon through to Tuesday morning, which gave her a welcome break. When she’d been promoted, she’d thought of expanding the store hours, but reluctantly dismissed the idea when she realized she’d be working seven days per week.
Hopping into her small SUV, she cast a backward glance at the cottage and adjoining few acres she rented on the edge of town. Although she loved her family, she enjoyed living on her own. And having those few acres meant she could look after Barney herself, instead of boarding him at Emma’s, or leaving him at her family’s small ranch, thirty minutes north of Coldwater Springs.
She smiled at the sight in the rearview mirror of Sooty the black-legged, white-bodied sheep munching the grass in Barney’s paddock. Since horses were social creatures, she didn’t want Barney to be lonely while she was at work all day. Sooty helped keep the grass down, and gave Barney company.
She had a vague idea that when it was time for Sooty to be shorn, she could find someone to spin his wool and when she had time, she could try knitting herself a sweater. Perhaps a simple scarf might be easier, though.
As she drove out of town, she grew a little apprehensive. Since she didn’t have Mikhail’s phone number, she hoped he wouldn’t mind her turning up unexpectedly. Another thought flashed through her mind. What if he wasn’t there? If that was the case, then she’d just have to try again tomorrow. And it wasn’t just because the man was so intriguing and sexy that she just couldn’t get him out of her mind. She definitely didn’t want Barney to bite her again.
She glanced at her hand gripping the steering wheel, the remembered momentary pain of Barney’s teeth in her flesh shuddering through her. No. She did not want her horse to bite her again. Or anybody else, for that matter.
Fifteen minutes later, she arrived at Coldwater Road. Mikhail’s ranch was further along than Cade and Emma’s, and she drove slowly, not wanting to miss the turn-off.
Spying a gate with Green Pines emblazoned on the gnarled wood, she turned into the gravel driveway and drove slowly until she reached the house.
Amber parked near the brown painted barn and turned off the ignition. She sat there for a second, trying to breathe evenly. What would she say to him? She gazed through the windscreen but couldn’t see anybody around. Taking a deep breath, she got out of the car and looked about.
There was nobody in sight.
A horse corral was on one side of the barn. Pasture filled with green grass was on the opposite side.
The freshly painted white house was a small distance from the barn. A small porch with an inviting two-seater swing beckoned her to sit down and relax while gazing at the cows and horses in the distance.
It was quiet - too quiet - except for the rapid beating of her heart.
Barney whinnied from the trailer, the sudden sound startling, reminding her why she was here.
She pushed the car keys into the pocket of her cargo pants and started walking towards the barn.
“Hello? Is anybody here?” She called out, glad that her voice sounded confident. “Hello?”
Mikhail strode out of the barn.
Her breath caught. His dark hair glinted in the sunshine. His eyes crinkled at the corners against the sunlight. He was magnificent in worn blue jeans and a black t-shirt.
“Hi.” She waved, forcing herself to put one foot in front of the other. Her mouth suddenly felt as dry as sandpaper. She hoped she wouldn’t make a fool of herself and stammer.
One thing was for sure - it had been far too long since she’d had a date.
He lifted a hand in greeting, a smile tugging up the corners of his mouth. “Hello, Amber.”
“Hi,” she repeated, her mind going blank. She stared up at him, her gaze tracing his sexy, Slavic features. He looked even better than she’d remembered.
“Did you get my message?”
“What … what message?”
“I called to see if you would like to go horseback riding. Emma gave me your phone number before she left for Hawaii.” His eyes tracked her features.