A Very Merry Princess
Page 12

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CADE HAD TO admit so far this was shaping up to be the best November ever. First Rida, and then last night, he’d kissed Beth. He grinned as he checked his email. Sure it was just a kiss, but it had been a really good kiss.
He liked her. She could have been upset about his mother’s ridiculous behavior, but she’d handled the situation with grace and charm. She was professional with the horses, friendly with the staff and easy to be around.
He hadn’t allowed himself to get involved since the debacle with Lynette, the girl in Kentucky. Oh, there had been women, but only casually. He’d vowed to be more careful, to stick with women who were more like himself—hardworking, regular kind of people. He didn’t need a show horse—at least not the human kind.
His phone buzzed, letting him know someone was at the gate. He activated the camera and saw a delivery truck.
“Come on in,” Cade said as he pushed the button to open the gate, then went out to meet the driver.
There were a handful of deliveries, including a good-sized box for Beth. He signed for them all, then left the rest in the office and went in search of her.
He found her in the stable, cleaning out a stall. Judging by the nearly full wheelbarrow nearby, she’d been at it for a while.
“What are you doing?” he asked without thinking. “You don’t work here.”
He immediately wanted to call back the words. Not only did the statement sound hostile, this was the first time he’d seen her since last night and their kiss.
She looked good. A little sweaty and dusty but still pretty. Instead of getting upset, she grinned.
“See, questions like that make me wonder if you’re really ready to be a horse owner. News flash, horses poop about fifty pounds of manure a day. That’s per horse. Of course cows poop about three times that, so we have it easy by comparison. Still, someone has to clean it up. I’m really surprised you didn’t know that.”
“Sorry. I meant why are you cleaning out stalls?”
“One of your guys had car trouble and with the holiday weekend, I figured you were already shorthanded. I’m just helping.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I don’t mind. I’m trying to figure out a few things in my life. Nothing clears the mind like honest, manual labor.”
“You got that right. Thank you for helping.” He remembered the box he’d brought. “You got a package.”
Her mouth straightened and emotions flashed through her blue eyes. “I wasn’t expecting anything.” She sounded more wary than excited.
He handed over the box. She took it and read the label, then smiled.
“It’s from my mom. Liana Smith.” Her smile broadened. “Knowing her, it’s clothes. She told me to pack more than I did, but would I listen?”
“She sounds like a good mom.”
“She is.” She set the package outside the stall, then nodded at the rakes and shovels by the door. “You could help.”
“I could and I will.”
They made quick work of the last two stalls, then put their tools away. Cade took the manure to the composting shed before joining her in the break room. She’d already pulled out a soda for him and put it on the table.
He opened the can. “Thanks, Beth. I mean it. You aren’t expected to pitch in.”
“No big deal.” Her eyes brightened with humor. “Your barn foreman was very excited that I volunteered.”
“If you hadn’t stepped in, it would have been up to him.”
She picked up her soda. “Don’t you dare tell him it’s not okay to put me to work.”
“I wouldn’t think of it.”
“I’m not sure if I believe you, but all right.” She took a sip. “You run a very efficient barn. I’m impressed.”
“Remember that when you fill out my report card.”
“I will.”
“I’m not used to auditioning,” he admitted. “It’s not a comfortable position to be in.”
“Rida’s worth it,” she told him.
“I agree. I’m just saying you have all the power.”
She flushed, then ducked her head. “I wouldn’t say that,” she murmured.
Words that were nice to hear. “I liked it, too.”
She raised her chin and stared at him. “I wasn’t... If you’re...”
He waited until she was done sputtering. “So you liked the kissing?”
More color stained her cheeks. “We are not having this conversation.”
“All evidence to the contrary. Come on, Beth. It’s an easy question.”
She scrunched up her face, then relaxed. “Fine. Yes, I liked it.”
“Good. Me, too. But just to be clear, I have no expectations. A few wishes and dreams, but no expectations. You strike me as the kind of woman who takes things slow. I respect that.”
She cleared her throat. “Good. I mean, thank you. I do. It’s just, you know, better that way.”
She was so confident and in charge when she was with Rida, and she’d handled his family like a professional diplomat. It was nice to see her squirming a little now.
He heard the sound of crickets. Beth pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. “That’s weird. Who would be texting me? It’s night in El Bahar.” She glanced at the screen, then beamed at him.
“It’s your sister. She’s inviting me to lunch with her and her friends next week.”
“Sounds like you want to go.”
“I do. Pallas is great and I’d love to meet her friends.” She quickly typed her response, then smiled at him. “You think she’ll serve those cheese puffs?”
He laughed. “You should ask her to.”
CHAPTER FIVE
BETHANY HADN’T KNOWN what to expect when she first heard her father was selling Rida to some guy in America. She’d been devastated at the idea of losing her horse, but more than that, confused by the choice of buyers. Now that she’d met Cade, she was more comfortable with her father’s decision. Yes, she would miss Rida, but he would be happy in his new home. Cade ran his ranch the way she would—with a lot of attention to detail. He was careful and smart and a pretty great kisser.
She smiled as she drove into town in her borrowed truck. The day was sunny, the temperature warm, the scenery pleasant, and everywhere she looked she saw signs of the upcoming holidays.
At a large intersection by the river, there was a huge faux chimney sitting on the sidewalk, the bottom half of Santa spilling out of the top as if the man was stuck. As she waited at the light, she saw his mechanized boots waving oh so slowly. On the opposite corner was an equally impressive menorah. The shops all had wreaths on their doors and twinkle lights in the windows. Thanksgiving was over, and the rest of the holiday season had begun in earnest. Maybe she should take an afternoon off and do some shopping for her family. It would be fun to have gifts under the tree from Happily Inc.
But before all that, she was off to have lunch with Pallas and her friends. A “girls’ lunch” was a rarity for her and one she was looking forward to.
She followed the directions Cade had given her and found herself in front of an interesting building. From one side it looked like a castle and from the other, it seemed to be a villa. The Christmas decorations reflected the architecture—traditional on the castle side and more airy and whimsical on the villa side. The structure itself was large, with a high roofline and a cute balcony. She pulled into the huge parking lot just as a red truck drove up next to hers.