Page 19 of Christmas at Sturcombe Bay (Sturcombe Bay Romances #3)

“That was a pleasant evening.” Jess gave Paul a cool smile as he turned into the car park in front of the hotel. He drew up by the steps and smiled back.

“Pleasant?”

“Very pleasant. The food was delicious, the restaurant elegant and charming.”

“And the company?”

“Entertaining.”

“So how many points have I scored?”

“Oh . . .” She let a provocative smile play over her lips. “I think . . . eight out of ten.”

“Is that all?”

“I’m a hard marker.”

The glint in his dark eyes told her very clearly that he wasn’t abashed. She hadn’t expected him to be. Climbing out of the car, he strolled round to open her door for her. She smiled to herself at the gentlemanly gesture as he held out his hand to help her to her feet.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you for a very . . . pleasant evening.” His eyes glinted with lazy mockery as he drew her closer.

She put her hand up against his hard chest. “You haven’t earned enough points for that yet.”

“How many do I need?”

“I’ll let you know.”

He laughed in wicked amusement. “So how do I earn more?” He slid his arm around her waist and curled one finger beneath her chin, tilting her face up to his. “Like this?”

She forced herself to hold his gaze, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing the effect he had on her.

But as his head bent slowly over hers and she felt his breath warm on her cheek, the ground beneath her feet begin to shift. She closed her eyes as her lips parted softly . . .

And then abruptly he let her go. “I’m going up to London for a couple of days next week. I’ll see you when I get back.”

She opened her eyes and glared at him as he leaned past her to close the car door, then sauntered round to climb in behind the wheel again.

“Goodnight.”

She was still standing there struggling to get her head straight as he executed an efficient three-point turn and drove out of the car park and back down the lane.

* * *

Jess lay awake, staring at the ceiling. She really ought to get up. Sounds around the hotel told her that everyone else was way ahead of her, but she didn’t feel able to move just yet. Fortunately, she didn’t have to as she was on a late shift today.

Last night . . . Paul. She had really enjoyed the evening, far more than she was willing to admit. But then when she had thought he was going to kiss her . . . he hadn’t. The bastard.

How contrary was that? She hadn’t wanted him to kiss her, so why was she so annoyed that he had just walked away?

Dammit, maybe she should just use him as a rebound fling to get over Glenn.

Although she really didn’t need to get over Glenn.

She was over him already, apart from a lingering annoyance with herself that she hadn’t dumped him the first time she’d caught him cheating.

Or at least the second. At least then she’d have been spared the cost and complications of cancelling the wedding.

A clatter of horses’ hoofs on the lane below her window drew her out of bed. She crossed to the window and drew the curtain aside. Liam and Cassie were riding up from the beach, side by side, Cassie laughing at something he’d said.

Love. It seemed to work out for some people, but not for her.

She stood watching for a few moments as the couple turned in through their front gate and rode across the yard. Then, giving herself a mental shake, she shrugged into her dressing gown, picked up her towel and washbag, and hurried over to the bathroom.

Half an hour later, refreshed from her shower and having scoffed a bowl of cornflakes in the kitchen, she was strolling down the lane to the Ellis’s pretty cottage.

The gate into the stable yard was latched, and she remembered the importance of latching it again behind her.

Cassie was walking a horse in a wide circle round the yard.

She wasn’t holding the bridle, the horse was just following her, peering over her shoulder as if curious about what she was doing.

Jess waited quietly and as Cassie turned, she smiled a greeting.

“Hi, Jools . . .” A quick frown, then she laughed. “Oops, sorry. Hello, Jess.”

“Hi.” Jess laughed, dismissing the mistake. “I hope I’m not in the way. I saw you through the window, coming up from the beach. I’ve got the morning off, and I thought I’d just come down to say hello to the horses.”

Cassie’s smile widened. “You’re more than welcome. They all like saying hello to people. Well, maybe not Sykes at the end there. He can be a bit grumpy.”

Jess glanced around the yard. There were a dozen sturdy brick-built stables in one block, and three more in a separate wing, with a corrugated iron roof and wooden split doors. Only a couple of them appeared to be occupied, the horses peering out like nosy neighbours looking for gossip.

Beyond the yard she could see a long grassy paddock, shaded by trees, where horses, ponies and a few donkeys were contentedly grazing.

“Julia said you’re taking on the care of the horses from the rescue society,” she remarked.

“That’s right. It’ll take some of the weight off everyone else.

I worked with horses in Montana, on a dude ranch.

Great fun.” She laughed. “The guests all loved my English accent. They thought it was ‘real cute’. And they did some rehabilitation work with horses that had been traumatised by bad treatment or accidents.”

“Is that what you’re doing now?”

“Uh-huh.” She was still walking slowly around the yard, the horse following her closely.

Even to Jess’s inexperienced eye the animal looked thin and badly out of condition.

“This is Cody. He came to us a month ago. He’d been really badly neglected, but he’s coming along nicely now, learning to trust me. Aren’t you, my luvver?”

The horse nodded his head as if agreeing with her.

“How many horses do you have here?”

“We’ve got fifteen rescues in at the moment, as well as our own.

Plus the ponies and donkeys. The society has another couple of dozen living out in foster homes.

We usually keep them here for a while to begin with, so Liam can assess them and we can build up their health if they need it.

Then some of them can be loaned to people we know are reliable.

But some are retired and will be with us long-term. ”

“It must cost a fortune.”

“Not really. They’re mostly out to grass. And Tom Cullen supplies us with organic feed. Plus we have a group of regular donors and some support from a couple of charities, and a regular GoFundMe page attached to our website. Do you ride?”

“Horses? No.”

“Would you like to?”

“Could I?”

“Of course. Jools said you ride motorbikes.”

“I used to.”

“Well, you should get the hang of horses dead easy then.” She patted the nose of the horse that was following her. “Good boy, Cody. Want to go back to your field?” She glanced back at Jess. “Come on, let’s choose a ride for you.”

Jess followed Cassie over to the five-barred gate which led into the paddock where the horses were grazing. As she climbed nimbly onto the gate, several of the horses lifted their heads and ambled over to greet her.

“You could try Bella,” Cassie suggested. “She used to be with a riding school, so she’s used to novices and she’s very sweet natured.” She singled out a russet-coloured mare with a white streak down her nose. “Come on then, Bella. Do you fancy a little outing?”

The horse nuzzled against her shoulder as she stroked her neck. Cassie skipped down from the gate and opened it, and the horse walked through. She put her hand in her pocket, produced a Polo mint, and gave it to Jess.

“Here, give her this and she’ll be your friend for life.”

Jess smiled. “Thanks.” She laid the mint on the palm of her hand and held it out to the horse. With a lap of a soft pink tongue and lips, it disappeared. She stroked her hand down the long muscular neck. “She’s a beauty.”

“She’s a three-quarter bred Irish Draught. She’s twenty-four years old so she’s come here to retire, but she still likes a nice steady walk now and then. I’ll saddle her up for you while you find yourself a helmet that fits. There’s plenty to choose from in the tack room.”

“Thank you.”

She followed Cassie to the room at the end of the row of stables, the horse ambling along behind them. A rich smell of wood, leather and liniment hit her nostrils. It was like an equestrian Aladdin’s cave with every kind of horse-riding equipment stored neatly on hooks and shelves.

“I’ll saddle up Missie and come out with you,” Cassie said. “She likes a steady walk too.”

“Can I help?” Jess asked, eager to learn.

Cassie smiled. “Of course. I’ll show you what to do. You can be my first pupil.”

“Oh?”

“I’m going to set up my own training school.” Cassie’s voice lilted with enthusiasm. “Working with horses and owners, teaching the natural horsemanship methods I learned in Montana.”

“That sounds great!”

“My nanna left me some money and I’ve found the ideal place for it, just up by the main road. There was an old farmer called Harry Ellicot, and when he died Tom Cullen bought his land. But there’s a good-sized paddock and a big barn which will be ideal for what I want.”

She selected a bit and bridle from the hooks along the wall, and walked back out to where Bella was waiting patiently. “Okay now, you always approach them from the left.”

“Why’s that?”

“It’s standard practice, so they expect it. It’s supposed to date back to when soldiers wore their swords on the left, so mounting from the left kept the swords out of the way. Speak softly to them, to let them know you’re there.”

Jess nodded as Cassie murmured sweet nothings to Bella, stroking gently down her sleek neck.

“You need to be smooth and easy with them. They’re big, but they evolved as a prey animal so they startle easily, and they have a helluva kick.”

Jess smiled. “Thanks for the warning.”