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She rounded the corner and realized it wasn’t food but a bath that had the horse so pleased. Some horses were like that, and this one was so obviously enjoying the water it made her smile.

Belatedly, she recognized the big bay. And as the animal moved its head, with the clear intent of splashing the man holding the hose, she could see that man.

He was laughing, in a way that lit up his face, and she’d swear she could see those bright green eyes alight from here. And he was holding the hose in a way that actually made it easier for the delighted horse to deflect water right at him.

He was soaking wet already.

And shirtless. Again.

She stared at him, at the way the water made every taut muscle stand out, the way those shoulders, those abs rippled as he moved. He glistened in the pre-spring sunshine, and she suddenly envied those lucky drops of water.

She hated her own reaction. It shouldn’t be happening. She hated the guy. But she couldn’t deny the beauty of the sight before her.

Nugget tossed his head in protest, and she realized she’d unconsciously tightened the reins.

Had she really just thought Cody Rafferty couldn’t rattle her?

Chapter Twelve

What the hell was she doing here again?

Cody lowered the hose, frowning as the woman on the palomino horse approached. With a wide white blaze and four white stockings that came all the way up to the knees, it was a pretty horse. Not as flashy as Dorado, a more muted gold, but very eye-catching. Nothing to do with the rider, he assured himself.

Trey had turned his head to look at the duo as well, otherwise he’d likely be protesting the end of the fun. The actual cleaning part of the bath had been done a few minutes ago; they’d only been playing now. The part the big horse liked best. And if he was honest, the part he liked best as well. It made him smile to see the horse who looked out for him so well having so much fun.

For a moment he considered just keeping the water turned on. In case he needed a weapon of sorts. He settled for leaving it on but letting the pistol-style nozzle cut off the flow. He watched warily as the pair came to a halt just a couple of feet away. At least she wasn’t riding the crazy grullo. But he barely noticed that. Her hair was in a thick, long, loose braid that came down in front of her left shoulder. She was wearing her usual jeans, and today a long-sleeved T-shirt in a bright blue that nearly matched her eyes.

And matched that dress. That damned dress.

Britt Roth, wowgirl.

She didn’t dismount. He should be relieved, since it likely meant she wasn’t going to be here for long. Instead he felt even more wary. Especially given the way she was staring at him, as if she wasn’t quite sure what species he was.

“If you shot down another one, it wasn’t mine,” he said when time spun out and she didn’t speak.

To his surprise he thought he saw a touch of color in her cheeks. “I didn’t. But that’s what I came about.”

“What?”

“You going to cash that check, or what?”

Ah. Now he had a reason, and his wariness eased a bit. She wasn’t here on some stealth mission to make his life miserable. Well, no more than usual, anyway. Although his answer was likely to set her off.

“Nope,” he said.

She frowned. “What?”

“You asked, I answered,” he said in his most reasonable tone.

“You’re not going to cash it?”

“Nope,” he said again, barely managing not to smile, knowing it was getting to her. But it was difficult. He felt so relieved that they were back into their usual parrying, fencing with words and attitude, it was almost as if the party had never happened.

Or at least, it hadn’t changed anything.

Of course, the nights he’d spent fighting off dreams about that blue dress slipping off of her had certainly changed his sleeping habits. To nonexistent, mostly.

“What’d you do? Lose it?”