Seduction, Westmoreland Style - Brenda Jackson [51]
But still she was grateful that no one, especially her family or his, was questioning the obvious—that the two of them were lovers. They ate breakfast together each morning and dinner together in the evenings. They even visited their families together often, and both his parents and Corey seemed to accept that they were adults to do as they pleased.
It was now the beginning of June and the sun was hotter today than usual, she thought a she walked Prince Charming back to his stall. Because of the heat, she’d decided to end her work day a little early. In a few weeks she and McKinnon, as well as a number of Westmorelands, would travel to Lake Tahoe to attend her cousin Ian’s wedding, and she knew anyone who hadn’t heard by now that she and McKinnon were lovers would find out since they planned to share a suite.
“Hey, beautiful. Do you want to take an evening ride with me?” McKinnon’s deep, husky voice called out to her, catching her unaware. She glanced around and saw him a few feet from the corral, sitting on Thunder’s back. The sun poured over him, catching the long, dark, silky-looking strands that flowed over his shoulders. Today, more of his Blackfoot features stood out and he looked nothing like the civilized man who had made love to her that morning. Now he appeared to be a fierce warrior ready to take her captive if she refused his request.
“I’d love to go riding with you. Just give me a few minutes to saddle Runaway Child.” A few moments later they were headed at a brisk pace across the quiet, open range.
“It’s a nice day for riding, isn’t it?” Casey said when they slowed their mounts after reaching the edge of a lake that was located on McKinnon’s property.
“Sure is, and I thought it would be kind of nice to get a way for awhile. For me it’s kind of a deserving treat. I sold six of my stallions today, which brought me and Durango a pretty nice profit.”
“Oh, McKinnon, that’s wonderful. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
As they continued to ride together, side by side, she decided to ask him something she’d been meaning to but had never got around to doing. “What made you get into the horse breeding business?” They had brought their horses to a stop and she watched as McKinnon whipped off his hat to wipe sweat from his brow before placing it back on his head.
“When I got this place I thought ranching would keep me busy enough, but it didn’t,” he said, tilting his head and looking at her. “Durango suggested starting the business because he thinks I have a gift when it comes to handling horses.”
“Do you?”
He shrugged. “Probably, but then so do you. I consider what I have as a natural instinct more than a gift. I’ve discovered that if you breed quality horses there are bound to be serious buyers in all corners of the globe who’re ready to do business with you. Which is one of the reasons the M&D is doing so well.”
McKinnon glanced over and watched how the evening breeze ruffled the ends of Casey’s hair. The urge to run his hand through and tousle it some more took hold of him and he tightened his grip on the reins. If he were to touch her, it wouldn’t stop there. He would want to kiss her, pull her off her horse onto his, carry her somewhere private and have his way with her. He ran a hand over his jaw thinking that wasn’t such a bad idea and he knew just the place. “Do you want to go play, Casey?”
His deep voice floated over to her and she tilted her head sideways to look at him. “Play?”
He smiled. “Yes. There’s a private place not far from here where we can play.”
She