The Black Sheep and the Hidden Beauty Read Free

around her shoulder for a quick hug, which broke Elena’s fixed stare and gave her a merciful second or two to get a grip. Up close and personal, the final partner of the “unholy” Trinity, as she’d heard Kate jokingly refer to them, was…a lot. Of everything. Even his voice was a lot. Smooth, rich, with the barest hint of an accent. It was every bit as seductive as the rest of him, and no matter the reason for the attention, she, apparently, was far from immune to it. Horse sweat and barn muck be damned.
    She jerked her gaze off of him and, instead, found a smile for the man who had been her father’s closest friend, as she scrambled to regain her mental footing. “Thanks again for coming all the way out. I’ll call you next week to set up a checkup schedule for our girl.”
    Kenny held her gaze steadily with his own and she did her best to return it without faltering. The man didn’t miss much. Which bothered her as much as it reassured her. She needed him right now, more than he knew, but she couldn’t risk bringing him in any more than she already had. She already had too much to worry about as it was.
    â€œYou do that,” he said. “She looks good, Lenie. You’re doing a fine job.” His gaze flickered sideways to encompass their guest, then returned to her. “You want to walk me out? Anything else we need to discuss?”
    She knew he was offering her an out if she felt she needed one. Did he feel the crackling intensity in the air, too? Or was he just protecting her in that general way men of his generation did? She shook her head, though she was thankful for his sensitivity. It felt odd, but in a good way, to have someone looking out for her for a change. It had been a very long time since anyone had. “I think we’re good. Unless you need an escort out, I—”
    He smiled, shook his head, and gave her one last hug. “I can find my way. You take care of business here.”
    â€œThanks, Kenny.” She pressed a kiss to his fleshy cheek, not minding the scratch of white stubble there. It reminded her of her father.
    He nodded his good-bye to Rafe, who nodded in return, then headed out of the barn, back toward the main stable where his truck was parked. It wasn’t until he’d cleared the building, and she was left alone with all that was Rafe in the cool, dim interior of the stables, alone and away from, well, everyone, that she wished she’d considered Kenny’s escape offer a bit more thoroughly.
    Putting as professional a smile on her face as she could, even while damning herself for feeling, even for a moment, like a two-bit farmhand in the presence of all of his immaculate gorgeousness, she brazened it out. “Riding lessons. Did…Kate send you down?”
    â€œKate? No,” he said, a flash of confusion crossing his handsome face. “I managed to find my way down here all by myself.” The hint of a smile, so unexpected, as she’d never seen so much as a glimmer of one on him before, was really just too much.
    She needed a fan. Or a good, stiff breeze. Or…something. Dear Lord. It was ridiculous, the impact he was having. Awareness overload. And yet, there didn’t seem to be much she could do about it. He was probably used to it.
    â€œWell…okay, then,” she managed, hating being so flustered. She’d worked with and around men her whole life and had managed never to come across as a brainless twit. “I—I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I work more with training the horses. Not so much with people. Perhaps one of Kate’s instructors—”
    â€œYou’re very good,” he said, rather abruptly. “With the horses, I mean. I’ve watched you.”
    I know , she wanted to say. Boy, do I know . “Thank you. I love working with them, but it’s always nice to hear that from an outside source.”
    His gaze had shifted beyond