She looked like a Madonna, albeit one with straw in her hair. Dirt smudged her face and filled her fingernails. She had never looked more beautiful to him. But was it fair to ask her to live like this when she could have so much more?
Dancer strained, and Maddie soothed, singing to her in a low, soft voice. It had been this way since he and Maddie had scrambled into their clothes, not even granted enough time to linger in the afterglow of the most explosive lovemaking of his life.
Dancer’s belly hardened like oak. The contraction rippled through her, and the inexperienced mare grunted low. Yet again, she picked up her head as though trying to understand what was happening.
Maddie never stopped crooning and stroking. “It’s all right, sweetie. They’re brutes, all of them. Stay away from the male animal. It’s my best advice.”
Then she looked up at Boone and winked.
Damn, she was magnificent.
“I feel like I should be defending my sex,” he said.
“Don’t waste your breath. We’re not listening, are we, girl?” But her eyes twinkled with mischief.
He wanted to ask, but now was not the time. Was it as incredible for you? Did you feel what I felt?
Boone couldn’t believe himself. He’d always cared about his partner’s satisfaction, true, but never had he needed to know that he had been the best. He never left a woman wanting, but tonight that wasn’t enough. He wanted to send Maddie to the stratosphere, to be the one she couldn’t forget.
To be the one and only.
To be the last.
You’re losing it, son. You know that won’t happen. Be grateful that you had last night.
Then the mare’s eyes widened in panic, and there was no more time to think.
Maddie looked at him, worry in her eyes, but still she stayed calm. “Getting close?”
Boone smiled grimly. “Very close. You can leave if you want.”
Maddie shook her head and blew a strand of hair out of her eyes, never taking her hands off the horse. “Not on your life. We’re a team, aren’t we, girl?”
A hell of a woman. Maddie might have spent her life in cities, but she was no city girl. He should have seen it sooner.
Boone bent his head and concentrated on the task at hand.
How she wished she knew what he was thinking. Maddie schooled herself to pay attention to the mare and not dream about Boone, but it wasn’t easy. Her mind kept drifting back, wanting to remember his kiss, his touch… his powerful body filling her and sending her soaring.
It had never been like that for her, ever. Maddie watched Boone’s hands on the mare and remembered a day in the garden when she had thought she understood how they would feel on her.
She had understood less than nothing.
For as long as she lived, Maddie would never forget this night. But one night would not be enough.
What did Boone think? Had it meant anything to him beyond a meeting of bodies?
She was doing it again, measuring herself by someone else. You have to be enough for yourself, Maddie. No one else can do it. The words sounded so simple, so logical when her father had drilled them into her head. But now Maddie wondered.
Had he told her that because of all he’d lost? Had it been his way to overcome all that was missing? If he had loved Jenny half as much as Maddie—
Loved Boone?
No. She couldn’t. Shouldn’t.
But it didn’t matter what was sensible. She did.
“Okay, Maddie. You ready? It’s showtime.”
Boone’s voice scattered Maddie’s thoughts like leaves in a windstorm.
“What do I do?”
He glanced up, his concentration fierce, but his voice was gentle when he answered. “You’re doing fine just like you are. She’s new at this, and she needs someone to tell her she’s all right.”
“Will she be? All right, I mean?”
One more quick glance. One fleeting smile. “I think so.”
Maddie saw the lines of strain on his face. He’d mentioned before his concerns about the mare, his hopes for the foal. Maddie left him alone and turned her concentration on the mare. “That’s a good girl,” she cooed, stroking the mare’s head slowly. “I know it hurts, but soon you’ll have your baby and you’ll say it’s worth it.”
“I thought you said all men were pigs, or something like it.” Amusement threaded through the strain in Boone’s voice.
“This is just between us girls. You’re not supposed to be listening.”
Dancer picked up her head again, and Maddie thought she saw fear in the mare’s eyes. Once more, she murmured and stroked the fine, proud head.
“Almost there,” Boone said. “Easy, girl. Let her go now, Maddie, and get ready to move back. She’ll probably try to get up as soon as it’s out. If you want to come around and watch, just be sure you stay back.”