Private 09 - Paradise Lost by Kate Brian

Author:Kate Brian [Brian, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781416958840
Published: 2009-02-23T13:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20 FLING FLUNG

"Um, what are we doing on Paige's estate?" I asked, sitting on a bale of hay inside the Ryans'

state-of-the-art stable as Upton hoisted up a saddle on a beautiful gray mare. At least I assumed it was state-of-the-art. I'd never actually been in a stable before. But with automated doors on the dozen stalls; a stainless steel scrubbing area; and shelves of gleaming saddles, bridles, and brushes, it sure seemed well appointed. None of it had held my attention for very long, however, because Upton was fairly mesmerizing. He had shed the shirt soon after our arrival and was now wearing nothing but a tight white tank top over his jeans. Watching him move around the stable, all self-assured and half-dressed, was making my head fuzzy and my skin tingly and warm.

"They're the only ones on the island with enough property to keep horses, so we board our animals here," he said, reaching under the horse's belly for one of the straps. He buckled it tightly, then came around to my side and slapped the horse's back. "This one's Misty. I've had her since I was fourteen, and I promise she'll treat you well."

"Unlike all your other women," I joked, pushing myself up and dusting my hands off on the butt of my jeans.

"Haven't we gone over this? I have no other women," Upton said fondly, handing me a bucket full of carrots. "Here. Feed her a couple of these. She'll be your best friend for life." He moved on to the second horse, a black stallion named Bolt that was so muscular it was almost surreal, and started to saddle him up as well. I took the bucket and walked around to face Misty. She was chewing on some hay, and yellow shoots were sticking out of her mouth on both sides. She eyed me warily.

"Hey," I said, offering my hand for her to sniff, like I would with a dog. She snorted and turned her head. I felt a blush creeping up my neck. I didn't want Upton to think I was totally inept with horses, even though I had never been this close to one in my life, no matter how many times Gage called me Farmer Brennan. "Here. Want one of these?" I asked, holding out a carrot.

Misty gently took the entire carrot right out of my hand and crunched into it. Now we were getting somewhere.

"So, do you really think Poppy is okay? " I asked as Upton grabbed a wide black-bristled brush off a shelf.

"She's fine. The girl lives to be the center of attention, and after what happened last night, she probably felt the need to change the subject," he said as he brushed his horse's coat.

"She just ran off so that everyone would be talking about this instead of about the fact that I broke up with her."

"She was really upset," I said, stating the obvious.

"As Sienna quite loudly informed me," he joked.

I smirked in response, and then wondered what to say next.

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