Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25883 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25883 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
But this girl was none of the above.
Her tone was the first thing that captured his attention. It was soft and sincere but without a tremor of fear. Even the way she was looking at him was different. Instead of the usual dollar signs he saw in other people's eyes, all he saw in her gaze was concern.
Was this for real? Or was she simply better at hiding her greed?
He watched her hurry away and start rummaging through a first-aid box.
"He's not sick, you idiot."
The snide comment came from one of her coworkers, but the girl acted as if she hadn't heard anything.
"Maybe she's looking for her pride."
"Or her ass, which is about to get fired."
Rowland hadn't any idea himself of what she was looking for. Didn't give a shit either way. All he cared about was how this gave him time to subject the rest of her to his scrutiny, and what he saw...was enough.
I want her.
Something about the long, caramel-colored waves of her hair made him feel feral. He could imagine himself gripping her hair as he pulled her head back and made love to her mouth.
She walked back to him with hips that didn't sway at all, but this only fed his desire for her. Everything about her, Rowland wanted to be his alone, and that included the very movement of her hips. From this moment forward, those beautiful, slender hips of hers should only sway when she was walking towards him, preferably naked and ready for fucking.
"Sir?"
The pack of antibacterial wipes she held in her hand showed quick thinking on her part and effectively silenced those who had ridiculed her earlier efforts.
But since Rowland himself was no intellectual lightweight, and this opportunity was too damn good for him to pass up...
"Everyone, out."
The silkiness of his tone seemed to have everyone confused, but the mood changed as soon as Rowland took off his sunglasses. His unsmiling facade made it clear he meant business, and so when he uttered his next word—-
"Now."
Everyone rushed towards the stable doors as if their jobs depended on it, and Rowland moved to block her path when she made a similar attempt to leave.
"Except for you."
Her body visibly stiffened at his words, and unease flickered in her gaze when she realized the stable was now empty save for them.
Rowland gestured to the pack of wipes she was still holding. "Open it."
She did so without question or any sign of nervousness.
"Now clean it up for me."
Bright green eyes widened at him, but Rowland only stared back at her, wanting to see if she would defy him.
Another moment passed before she finally stepped forward, and Rowland's lips slowly pressed together in a straight line.
Well...shit.
It was impossible for her scent not to reach him when she was this close, and it was all he could do not to fucking smile as she reached up to wipe his cheek clean.
Her scent was a unique mixture of sunshine, strawberries...and shit. Horse shit to be specific, and while that would've likely turned off most men, its effect on Rowland was the opposite.
His visit today was no secret, and this girl could've avoided or at least delayed working on the shittier aspects of her job, both figuratively and literally. She could've ensured she would look and smell her very best like the other stable girls, but she didn't.
She was completely different from the rest, and that was why...
Rowland didn't just want her now.
This time, he intended to own her—-
"All done, sir."
—-even if right now, she was stepping away from him with a frown and studying his cheek as if she were a nurse intently inspecting her handiwork.
She obviously did not see him as a man just yet, but that was fine. Her sexual innocence was easy to tell, and so were her old-fashioned morals. He had a feeling she also disapproved of him, but that wouldn't matter in the long run.
Everything - and everyone - in this world had a price.
All he needed was time to figure out hers.
Chapter One
ONE MONTH LATER
Emmy stared at her reflection in dismay. "I suck at being a girl." When she heard Charlotte laugh at this, Emmy switched to her phone's rear camera for their video call so the other woman could see the truth for herself. "I'm not joking. See?"
Charlotte's eyes widened. "Oh."
Emmy groaned. "I told you." How was it that she knew everything about keeping a horse's mane healthy and shiny but didn't have a single clue to fixing her hair? How was it that she knew all about trimming horse hooves but didn't have a single nice pair of shoes to wear? And how was it that she knew everything about the mating season for equines but didn't have a single idea on how to make the best first impression on one's husband?