Taking the Reins(21)
He scowled at her. “Why do you always have to put it like that? I’m not living in their basement with my mom doing my laundry, thank you very much. I just live on the property. I built my own house on a corner, away from the main house,” he explained to Red.
Red nodded, though it didn’t matter much to him one way or another. Long as Morgan knew his job and Red could trust the guy with the animals, didn’t matter if he lived in a van off the highway. Though the distance was a convenience, to be sure.
“Wait, we didn’t have an appointment. What had you stopping by?” Peyton asked.
“Came over to see Trace. Bastard called me, said he’s been around for days and he just now lets me know.”
“He’s been a little busy,” Peyton said sardonically.
“Sure has. Cute kid he’s got.”
She smiled. “Yeah, I lucked out with an adorable nephew.”
Nephew. The kid wasn’t hers, but Trace’s. Interesting. Not that it mattered . . .
Oh hell, it mattered. It all mattered with Peyton. This was exactly what he’d been trying to avoid by not taking the job in the first damn place. Lusting after your boss was an easy way to kill your job, and your reputation.
Time to pull his head out and get started on work.
“If you two don’t mind, I’m going to head over to the office and get started on figuring out the filing system, getting things in order, that sort of thing.”
Peyton nodded. “Sounds good. Remember to stop by the office for your key later. If I’m not there, I’ll leave it with Emma.”
He waved good-bye and headed back for the arena and his own office. Something had to cut through the edge of this lust fast. And paperwork was a surefire way to dull his senses, inside and out.
Chapter Five
Peyton watched as Red sauntered out of the barn and toward the training arena where his office was attached. And yeah, sauntered was the only way to describe how he walked. Deceptively easy, as if he didn’t have a care in the world and no purpose. But she knew better.
“So that’s the new trainer.”
“Yup. Like you didn’t already know that. Word travels around here too fast for you not to have heard.”
“Maybe,” he hedged.
She nudged Morgan with her knee, moving the conversation from owner-vet to friend-friend. “What’s up with you?”
“Same old, same old. Mom says hi.”
She smiled. “I’m gonna have to pop on over there again soon for some more of your mom’s pie.”
He groaned. “You keep doing that and my mom is going to have worse ideas about us than she already does.”
She laughed, amused at the thought of making his life miserable. “Your mom loves you and wants you to settle down with a nice young lady.”
“So why she wants me to marry you, God only knows,” he shot back.
“I’m convenient and in her line of vision. She’ll see it eventually. I’m not for you. You’re not for me.”
“Too damn bad that never clicked, huh?” He reached out and gave her a brotherly tug on one of her braids. “Convenience factor is through the roof.”
Swatting his hand away, she rolled her eyes. “Convenience. Just what every woman is dying to hear.”
“You gonna tell me the whole story about hiring Red there?”
With a shrug, she started over toward the stables. Pausing to shut the barn door, she said, “He’s our new trainer. We need help. And he’s got the reputation to bring people running. Nothing more to it.”
After watching her struggle for a moment, Morgan sighed and reached over her shoulder to yank the door. Once started, she was able to slide it shut on her own.
“I thought he never stayed in one place long enough to be associated with one particular outfit. Just a problem fixer and a roamer.”
“Maybe I offered him a deal he couldn’t refuse.” They both knew that was a lie. She hooked an arm through his and tugged him along. “You little snake. What’s going on in that mind of yours?”
He grinned. “You don’t even wanna know.”
“True enough.”
His expression grew serious and he hugged her closer. “Just be careful. I’m sure he’s a good guy and all. Never heard a bad word about him. But, you know. I’m sorta fond of you.”
“Convenience,” she sang mockingly.
“Like a sister,” he added with a pinch to her ribs. She shrieked and jumped out of arm’s reach. “I don’t want you to get hurt. Financially, or any other way.”
“There’s no risk here. He’s got the goods.” No need to mention she’d be counting the goods he packaged in sexy denim in that mix. “He can deliver. So we’re using his name and riding it. It’s mutually beneficial. Maybe he’s ready to settle down for a while.”