Unlucky in Love (5 page)

“Kinda rebellious not to even call us, don't you think?” Katie's laughing voice came over the line before Lexi could say
hello
. “I love it!”

Lexi smiled. “Not rebellious. Just forgetful. Sorry.”

“Because you already met a cowboy and fell deeply in lust?”

Lexi paused, picturing Gunnar as he'd stood in the fading twilight just now. Then she shook her head quickly, trying to erase the vision.

“Yes. Exactly. Because that's so me. And can we remember I haven't even been here for twelve hours? Pretty sure it'd be impolite to elope after less than a day at my new job.”

“Fine. Maybe tomorrow. So? Does the place live up to the website pics? Are you actually in Heaven-on-earth?”

“I might just be.” Lexi nodded as she parted the lace curtain to look down the hill toward the stables, now lit with soft yellow lanterns that made them glow from within. A gentle sunset was touching the tips of the trees with wispy light, and the breeze coming through the window was soft and fragrant. Country music played from somewhere, turned down low, and she could hear clanking in the kitchen of the main lodge as someone finished up the dishes.

“So give me the scoop. How's the bunkhouse? Are there cowgirls, too? Or just guys?”

“Ha.” Lexi smiled. “No bunkhouse at all. I have my own personal cabin. I've got a porch with a swing, my own little kitchen, and a fireplace.” She walked over to open the door to the bedroom, then sighed happily. “And a four-poster bed with a patchwork quilt, just like Mimi used to make.”

“Sounds fantastic.”

Lexi walked a few steps farther and pulled open another door. “Okay, I'm never leaving. Tristan's just going to have to come out here if he wants me back. I have a claw-foot tub. And there's bubble bath and big soft towels.” She leaned down to look at the shelf under the washcloths. “And books for reading
in
that bathtub!”

“You
are
in your own personal little Heaven, aren't you?” Katie laughed, then sobered. “What do you mean, Tristan's going to have to go out there? Alexis?”

Lexi cringed. Oops. “Nothing. Slip of the tongue.”

“Lex, this summer's not supposed to be about him. It's supposed to be about
you
.”

“I know, I know.”

Katie growled, clearly not believing her, but thankfully, she didn't push, so Lexi barreled on with her description of the cabin. She walked back out into the bedroom, loving how the evening light slanted over the shiny wood of the dresser and the rocker under the window.

“There's a rocking chair by the window, and it has a little table that's the perfect size for a teacup. I could sit here for hours, every night, just reading.”

Katie paused. “But…you're not going to, right?”

“Why wouldn't I? It's perfect.” Lexi stopped. “I mean, no. Absolutely not. Because that would be boring and sedate and exactly the kind of thing that sends men running.”

“Exactly. You're in a beehive of a ranch, with a whole bunch of single people who want to have a good time. It's the perfect place to
not
be the old you.”

“I know. You're right.”

Katie paused. “And just so we're clear, I
like
the old you just fine. I'm just trying to be supportive here. You're the one who wanted to shake things up and try on a different person for the summer.”

“Says the girl who filled out the traveling nurse application for me?”

“Well, you just needed a little push. I was facilitating.” Katie laughed, and Lexi could picture her shrugging innocently as she painted her nails some shade of fuchsia while she held her phone to her ear with her shoulder. “And given that you've already met hot cowboys, I think we're going to have to agree that I was right to do so.”

“Are you ever
not
right?”

“Um—”

“I know.” Lexi closed her eyes. “You were right about Tristan.”

“I didn't want to be, if that gives me any points.”

“I know. I do.” She yawned.

Katie laughed. “Okay, cowgirl. You sound exhausted. Go get some beauty sleep, but in the morning, don't you dare put your hair up in a ponytail. Embrace the power of your blow-dryer.”

“Yes, ma'am. Any other instructions?”

“Yeah.” Katie giggled. “Embrace that hot cowboy.”

The next morning, after a tour of the spa and the empty space next to it that she'd be turning into a little medical office, Lexi was already starting to understand why no one ever wanted to leave Whisper Creek Ranch once they'd arrived. Everyone had been super friendly at breakfast, and she'd had to practically kick herself to stop pausing in the middle of pathways to gape at the mountains in the distance. So far, she hadn't found one single spot on this ranch that didn't have a postcard-perfect view.

She stepped into the stable, finding it quieter than she'd expected. The stalls were all empty as she passed by, but she checked out the names of the horses as she walked down the center of the stable. Sky Dancer, Scooby, and Gumdrop were on the left, while Rocket, Vader, and Solo were on the right, and she felt herself smiling at the names. Someone here had a sense of humor.

The stalls were all neatly swept, and a fresh breeze circulated from one end to the other through the huge doors. Lexi found herself breathing deeply, loving the mixed scent of hay and leather and horse, and it brought her back to the one summer she'd gone to horse camp.

She wrinkled her nose, remembering how she'd been too scared to get on a horse all week, even though half of the horses at the camp were elderly ones who could barely be counted on to stay on their feet, let alone do something wild and crazy like dump a kid off.

She'd pretended to be happy doing arts and crafts and swimming, but as she'd watched Katie and the other girls take off for trail rides each day, she'd kicked herself for being such a scaredy-cat. By the time she'd mustered up enough courage to make herself get onto a horse, her mother had arrived to pick them up, and while Katie had spent the ride home practically jumping out of her seat with tales of the fun she'd had all week, Lexi had stared out the window, desperate to get home to her tree house and pile of books from the library.

As she got to the far end of the stable, she could hear rhythmic hoof beats on packed dirt, and she squinted as she peeked out the door. In a corral adjacent to the stable, she saw a deep black horse tossing his head, looking like he was none too happy about the rope attached to his bridle as he trotted in a circle. At the other end of his rope was—gulp—Gunnar, looking relaxed and commanding at the same time as he put the horse through his paces.

Lexi leaned against the doorframe, watching as Gunnar spun slowly in the center of the corral, speaking in a soft, deep voice that made the horse's ears prick as he did endless rounds in the dirt. Every once in a while, the horse would plant his front feet, then buck, but Gunnar somehow seemed to see it coming every time, and within a couple of seconds had the horse moving again in that slow, controlled circle.

When Gunnar's body was facing the barn, Lexi's eyes were drawn to his hands, in turns gentle and strong as he played out the lead line for the horse. When he turned away from her, she found herself scanning from his Stetson to his boots, then kicking herself for ogling him like just another one of the ranch's single-and-looking guests.

After about fifteen minutes, Gunnar shortened up the rope and led the horse toward the gate next to where Lexi was standing, and she straightened her posture and pulled up her best I'm-totally-good-with-horses smile, even though her stomach was a little shaky just being around them.

“Hey, Lexi. Decide to take me up on that ride?” Gunnar smiled as he unlatched the gate and led the horse through, and Lexi took a deep breath as she realized just how big it was up close. Holy moly. There was no flipping way she'd ever get on one of these things.

“That's all right. You're busy. I'm just walking around a little, finding my way around before the guests arrive.”

Lexi cringed internally as the chickening-out words came out of her mouth. She was supposed to be leaving her comfort zone behind here, but seriously. This horse's back was over her head. There was no
way
she was getting on something that huge.
She'd
be the one needing medical care if she tried it.

“You sure?” Gunnar raised his eyebrows as he opened the nearest stall door and walked the horse in, then leaned down to check his hooves, one by one. “I've got a couple of hours right now. Happy to take you out for your first Whisper Creek trail ride. Cole just showed me the updated bookings. It might be the last time either of us has a chance to do it till August.”

Lexi hated that his words made her almost happy inside. All she had to do was resist his invitation this once, and maybe there would never be time for another one. And then maybe he'd never have to find out that she was here on a dude ranch, but terrified of horses. Kyla had told her last night that she'd been mortally afraid of them on her first trip out here, but Lexi wasn't sure whether she believed her.

She felt for her phone in her back pocket. Was there a way to take a selfie that made it
look
like she was up on a horse, having a grand old time? So she could send it to Tristan with a
Wish you were here
message?

Gunnar came back out of the stall, latching the door behind him. “In case it's a concern—which it might be if you're thinking all Whisper Creek horses are this huge—we do have ones that would be just right for you.”

“Oh, of course.” She waved his words off like she hadn't even given that a second thought.

He stopped in the middle of pulling a hose from a rack on the wall. “Have you ever ridden, Lexi?”

She frowned. “Why do you ask?”

“Because.” He smiled, glancing at her hand, which she realized was wrapped so tightly around the metal bar to her left that her knuckles were white. “It's just something I ask the first time I take somebody out. Want to make sure I put you on the right horse.”

Oh. Crap.
He wasn't going to let her out of this.

“Gotcha.” She pulled her hand back to her body, trying to hide her nerves. “And usually I'd be up for anything, but—you know—since it's been awhile, I'd be totally fine with giving your oldest, most decrepit horse a little exercise.”

Gunnar laughed. “You think we have those here?”

“I'm kinda hoping.”

“No problem. I can set you up with the perfect one. Goldie hasn't been ridden in a few days. We might be able to get an hour out of her, if you bribe her appropriately.”

“How would I do that?”

He pointed toward the tack room, motioning for her to follow him. “Carrots.”

Fifteen minutes later, Lexi stood beside Goldie, whose coloring was the obvious reason for her name. Her coat was honey gold, and her mane and tail were creamy white. As Gunnar led her out of the stable into the sunlit corral, her hooves barely left the ground. Instead, they dragged, and Lexi felt a measure of relief, realizing that she might actually stand a chance of staying atop this horse if she managed to get her tacked up correctly first.

“Know how to saddle her up?” Gunnar lifted his eyebrows.

Lexi looked at the various straps and buckles and tried not to let her expression reveal that she had absolutely no idea. But seriously, how hard could it be? Lexi 2.0 would totally own this.

“I'm good.” She infused her voice with confidence. “Go ahead and get your horse.”

“All right.” He turned to head back into the stable, and she fought not to watch him walk away. He had the build of a man who never stepped foot in a gym because he already worked his body all day long. His broad shoulders tapered to a slim waist, and—gulp—perfect arse, and the way his shirt was tucked into his jeans just made her want to slowly pull it out. Maybe while kissing him. Maybe while pushed up against a stall door in the stable.

Ahem.

She turned toward Goldie, approaching her with one hand out, like she would a dog. The horse wasn't nearly as big as the one Gunnar had been working with before, but still. Dodging those sharp hooves while figuring out where in the world all the straps hooked to each other might actually be more of a challenge than she'd originally thought.

But she needed that selfie. Needed to show Tristan she wasn't shriveled up in a corner with a pile of tissues and a bag of chocolate. She needed to get on this horse, smile like she was the happiest ex-fiancée around, and send him a pic that would make him start regretting their breakup. She
could too
be the kind of woman he wished she would be.

So yes. In order to do
that,
she needed to saddle this horse before Gunnar got back, or he'd know she was faking the whole
I-got-this
thing.

She was totally faking the whole
I-got-this
thing. Gunnar crossed his arms as he watched from the shadows of the barn, smiling to himself as Lexi walked toward Goldie like she was afraid she might lose her outstretched hand if she moved too fast. Goldie watched her approach, and he could only imagine what the horse was thinking.

Finally, Lexi touched Goldie's nose, and he saw her jump back when Goldie snorted. Ha.
Now
he knew what the horse was thinking. She was playing with Lexi, letting her know who was boss before they got started.

Gunnar backed up when Lexi glanced his way, but he knew she couldn't see him in the shadows. Why she was pretending to have a clue about riding was beyond him, but he wasn't going to call her on it unless she did something that risked her safety. For now, he'd just pretend it was taking him a really long time to tack up his own horse, while she figured out how to deal with hers.

He watched her move to Goldie's side and shuffle the saddle forward a bit, then laughed quietly when she ducked under the horse's stomach to grab hold of the strap. Goldie looked back at one point and nudged her shoulder, which made Lexi jump and drop the leather straps altogether. Gunnar could almost hear her swear as she once again ducked under the horse to retrieve them.

He shook his head and turned to get Smoky tacked up. If she was still struggling when he was done, he'd head out and give her a hand.

“Who's the cutie torturing Goldie out there?” Cole came through the stable door carrying a saddle. Though he and Decker owned Whisper Creek with Ma, you'd never find either of them sitting in an office letting other people do the work of running the operation. It was one of the things Gunnar respected most about the brothers. At this point, they could certainly afford to back off and hand over the hard labor to their employees, but neither of them had any intention of doing so.

“That's the new nurse, Lexi Maguire. She got in yesterday. You missed her last night at dinner.”

Cole nodded, tipping his head as he watched the corral. “I'll never understand women. I swear, half the ones we get out here are perfectly fine on horseback, but they pretend they're useless so the guys will have to give them extra help. The other half are afraid to admit they don't have a clue.”

“Yep.”

Cole shook his head as he lifted the saddle onto an empty saddle horse. “Poor Goldie.”

“Don't worry. She's holding her own. Lexi practically leaps out of her own skin if the horse even moves.”

Cole laughed. “You're not actually letting her out of the corral, are you?”

“Well, I thought I was. Had visions of showing her Shadow Falls.” He shook his head as Goldie dodged her again. “But clearly, it's going to be a while before she's ready for that.”

“Well, we've got a long summer ahead. Plenty of time.” Cole glanced out the door toward the corral. “Though I applaud you for staking a claim early in the game. Once the guys all realize she's here, you're gonna have some competition for her attention.”

Gunnar raised his eyebrows. “I'm not staking any claims. Just trying to be hospitable to our new employee.”

“Uh-huh.” Cole snorted, and Gunnar felt his eyes narrow.

“I'm not kidding. She doesn't know a soul out here. I'm just trying to be a friendly face.”

“Of course you are.” Cole smiled. “What color are her eyes?”

“Scotch on the rocks.”

Cole laughed out loud. “So, brown, then?”

“No. Definitely not just brown.”

“Oh, buddy.” Cole clapped him on the back. “Less than twenty-four hours, and you're already a goner.”

“I'm the human, Goldie,” Lexi muttered as she reached once again for the leather strap hanging under Goldie's belly. And once again, Goldie swung her body just enough to the right that the strap swung out of Lexi's reach.

Goldie snorted in response, then stood stock-still as if daring Lexi to go for the strap again…for the eighth time. Lexi eyed her, then fake-lunged, ready for Goldie to swing right again. She could outsmart this old codger of a horse. She totally could.

But Goldie was clearly the boss here, and she wanted to be sure Lexi knew it. Instead of swinging to the right, she stepped to the left just hard enough to knock Lexi right on her butt in the dirt.

“Not funny, missy.” Lexi jumped up, glancing at the stable to be sure Gunnar hadn't seen her go flying. “Are you always this bratty? Or do I bring it out in you?”

Goldie stomped a foot, but her effort was half-hearted. Maybe she'd tired herself out already in her efforts to be a pain. Lexi could only hope.

Just then, she spotted Gunnar leading a dark-gray horse out of the stable, and she couldn't rip her eyes away from the sight. The horse carried himself with a haughty step, tossing his head left and right as if to say the bridle wasn't his choice, but he'd put up with it for Gunnar's sake. Maybe he and Goldie were related.

“Goldie in a mood?” he asked as he looped his horse's reins over a fence rail.

“Do horses have moods?” Lexi honestly didn't know.

“Oh, definitely.”

“Then yes. I think she missed her morning coffee.”

Gunnar reached for Goldie's bridle and brought her face close to his. “Behave.” He spoke gently, but with an authority that she apparently responded to, because she finally held still. He nodded at Lexi, indicating the hanging strap with his chin. “Go ahead and finish up. I've got her.”