Yours Completely(4)

She was finishing with the curry comb and moving to the hard brush when she noticed Captain's ears perk and his eyes shoot open. He knew that the grooming session wasn't over yet, so the only reason for him to look around was if something interesting was happening.

She looked out the stall door just in time to see someone dart into one of the empty stalls near the doorway. Ella frowned, pushing her hair out of her face with her elbow. People, especially guests, weren't supposed to be in here. Irritation rose in her chest that someone would dare disturb her special place, especially today.

She left Captain in his stall, gripping the hard brush in her hand like a weapon.

“You can't be in here,” she growled, putting her hands on her hips and staring at the man hiding in the darkened stall.

“I'm sorry, please-” the man moved slightly and she nearly lost her nerve. He was gorgeous. Perhaps the most beautiful man she'd ever seen. He had defined cheekbones, dark flowing hair, and blue-green eyes that reminded her of the ocean on a calm day. And that was just his face.

“You can't be in here, sir,” she amended, remembering that he was probably one of the billionaire's guests and that she should at least be a little polite. He was wearing a very nice, pale blue dress shirt and slacks that probably cost more than she saved in a year.

“Please, don't make me leave.” The man's beautiful eyes darted toward the open barn door and he crouched a little lower behind the stall. “I just need five minutes.”

“For what?” The words came out sharper than she intended, especially if he was one of the billionaire wedding guests. She couldn't take her frustration with Delores out on them, so she crossed her arms, hoping that the man didn't have some sort of strange horse fetish.

The man blushed slightly, somehow making him more handsome. “I just need them to not find me. Please.”

It was the please that did it. That and the eyes. Those blue eyes stared straight into her soul and spoke to her. She'd never seen such eyes as his before.

The sound of women's laughter floated on the evening air into the barn. Something about it set her teeth on edge. It wasn't cruel laughter, but it wasn't exactly friendly either. She moved from the stall door to look out, finding herself facing four extremely attractive women.

“Jace, where are you?” One of them called out with a giggle. She was blonde and wearing the tallest high-heeled shoes Ella had ever seen. The blonde looked like she had just stepped out of a high-fashion photo shoot, rather than someone walking around the lake shore at night.

“Them?” Ella mouthed, glancing back at the man. He nodded. She raised her eyebrows, unsure of why a man would be hiding from four beautiful women. The other three following the blonde were just as incredible. All of them were jaw-dropping stunning, and wearing clothes that screamed dollar signs. In her experience, a man as attractive as he was should be working his game, not hiding in a horse stall.

“Oh, hi.” The blonde noticed her and stopped, giving her a once over that left Ella feeling naked and small. “You haven't seen a handsome, soon-to-be-ineligible bachelor anywhere around here have you?”

Ella glanced back into the barn, seeing only the man's blue eyes pleading with her. She sighed, knowing that she was going to rescue him. She always was a sucker for blue eyes and a good rescue.

“Nope,” Ella answered with a shrug. “Haven't seen anyone. Besides, guests aren't allowed in here. I'd recommend checking the main gazebo or the lobby bar.”

“Damn.” The blonde moved her lips into a pout that accentuated how perfect they were. Without another glance or word to Ella, she turned and continued walking. “Okay, girls. Let's go find us a bachelor!”

The other three tittered and giggled like some sort of strange bird-creatures as they followed the blonde into the growing dark. Ella stared after them as they continued their search, teetering on their stilt-like heels down the path. She wondered just how far they were going to make it on the cobblestone pathway before they either gave up or broke their necks.

She waited until the four women were safely out of earshot before returning to the stall. “They're gone,” she told the man.

Slowly, he stood up from behind the door and Ella nearly lost her breath. In addition to having rescue-worthy blue eyes, he was tall. And built. And handsome. And so many other adjectives that her brain was having a hard time focusing on the English language.

“Thank you,” the man said, a soft smile making his features somehow even more attractive. He held out a hand. “I'm Jace.”

“Hi, Jace,” Ella replied, taking her hand in hers and hoping she didn't sound as breathless as she felt. “I'm Ella.”