Rocky Mountain Proposal by Pamela Nissen

Author:Pamela Nissen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-07-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“How did you escape?” Aaron looped a rope around the prized stallion’s massive neck, gleaming with sweat. He set his back teeth, irritated that Paul’s costly horse had gotten loose. “I’m afraid your fun is over, buddy. I’m going to have to take you back home.”

Aaron’s mare had come into heat just a few days ago, and he’d been diligent about keeping her confined.

But from the triumphant satisfied look in the black stallion’s eye, and the tamed docile stance of his mare as they grazed side by side, not diligent enough.

He led the horse through the gate when a movement from the meadow caught his attention. Turning, he spotted Hope running through the ankle-high grass, waving frantically. Even from a good forty yards away he could see the way worry had etched her brow. He could also see the way her hair had tumbled down in soft chocolate waves around her porcelain face, dotted pink from exertion—the way her feminine form strained against the bodice of her dress with every single breath.

His pulse kicked up a notch—or two. The core of his stomach grew tight as she neared. Sweat beaded his brow.

“Oh, thank goodness, you found Edmund.” She slowed to a jog as she approached the corral. “I was looking all over—”

“I found him, all right.” Aaron ran a hand over the stallion’s massive shoulder, feeling the horse’s power bunch beneath his touch. Knowing how this could mess up his mare’s bloodlines. “And believe me, he couldn’t be happier than he is right now.”

Bending at the waist, she rested her hands on her knees and sucked in several deep breaths. “I was so worried.”

“You should’ve been. Paul saved long and hard to purchase such a fine horse from Callen Lockhart’s brood.”

“Lockhart?” She popped back up and inhaled a lungful of air, tempting the strength of the pearl buttons trailing down her blue-green dress. “Is he any relation to Maclean?”

Aaron studied her face for a moment, looking for the hint of hopefulness at the mention of Maclean. “He’s Maclean’s brother and a well-known horse trainer in the region. His stock brings in some of the highest prices in all of Colorado.”

“I’m so grateful that you found Edmund and that he’s unhurt. Thank you so very much.” When she pulled pins from her hair, the remainder of her silken strands fell down around her shoulders, distracting his thoughts all the more. “I tell you…I don’t know how he escaped. I tuck him in every—”

“Tuck him in?” Aaron swallowed hard, grasping for patience and control over his rebellious thoughts.

She nodded, then held the pins between her teeth and threaded her fingers through her hair. “I check his gate every night before I go to bed. Just like you said,” she said, enunciating around the pins. Twirling her hair around, she fastened it at the back of her head again in no time flat.

But it was not fast enough. With the way his chest was pounding so hard watching her, a person would think that he was the one who’d just run two miles.

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