Page 35 of Stable Hand

I took a tuna salad sandwich and a Coke and sat at the table after washing my hands at the sink.

“So,” Brian asked as he unwrapped his ham and cheese. “What do you think so far?”

I took a bite of my sandwich and chewed, swallowing carefully. “I think I could get used to this.”

“Better than looking after real horses?”

I shrugged. “Not better, exactly. Different, obviously. Very different. But…not unpleasant.” I glanced at Liv.

“Not unpleasant.” She grinned. “Hmm. We’ll put that on the brochure.”

I smiled.

Brian chuckled. “I can’t believe Mitchell didn’t tell you what you were in for when he recommended us.”

“He probably figured I wouldn’t be brave enough to try it.”

“But you are.”

“I thought it would be a stupid move to go home and not even see what it was all about.”

“And now you’ve seen it?”

I shrugged. “I can work with this. I could use a vacation I’m paid for.”

“It’s hardly a vacation. We work pretty hard.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Have you ever worked in a stable with real horses?”

Liv and Brian both shook their heads.

“Then don’t talk to me about work. So far, this place has been easy. And…way more fun. I could get used to it.”

Brian nodded. “I hope you do. I’m not exactly thrilled to be leaving, but it’s time for something else, and I can always come back.”

Liv nodded, throwing her arm around my shoulders. “Exactly. And in the meantime, me and Jensen will keep everyone up to snuff, right?”

I popped the last bit of sandwich into my mouth and grinned. “Absolutely.”

*

After lunch, we tidied up and prepared for the next shift.

“I’m going to give you Hunter,” Liv said. “He’s easy to manage. Luke’s a fucking handful, even in here, so Brian can deal with him.”

I blushed, recalling my interactions with Luke in the bunkhouse. “Sure.”

“Oh damn, I forgot my water bottle at the house. Back in a flash,” she said. “Brian’s gone to get more lube.” She laughed, glancing over her shoulder. “You’ll hear lube mentioned a lot around here.”

“I’m sure.”

I was alone, standing awkwardly by the table when Luke came around the partition, completely naked, and walked to the end of the showers. He hesitated when he saw me, but quickly recovered and took the space under a shower head.

I couldn’t help but stare. Luke with nothing on was transfixing. An image likely to appear in my dreams over and over again. My eager eyes devoured every inch of the blond man, examining the tight muscles of Luke’s arms and the span of his shoulders, his narrow waist, his long, powerful legs and the ever-present tension I could almost see beneath the surface.

Luke lifted his head ever so slightly, and his eyes pierced mine with affront. Heat flushed my cheeks, but I couldn’t look away. I remained pinioned by Luke’s gaze until Hunter and Ben came into the room.

Luke returned his gaze to the floor and I felt…released? I also felt challenged. What the fuck was Luke’s problem? He was naked and presenting himself to be treated like a piece of livestock, so did he not think I was going to get something out of that?