His question snapped her out of her trance. Spending time with him like this meant she risked falling beneath JT’s spell. Eventually, reality would intrude and she’d be in too deep. She just had to decide if getting hurt was worth the ride.
“Here you go.”
The horse stood patiently while JT slipped off the halter and replaced it with the bridle. His actions were smooth and efficient. Remembering Scarlett’s opinion about JT’s hands, Violet watched as he fastened buckles, double-checked the fit of the cinch and soothed the horse with a stroke along his shoulder. By the time JT turned the horse toward the door that led into the arena, Violet was experiencing waves of heat that had nothing to do with the air temperature.
“You can watch me work Milo from there.” JT pointed to the far corner where several chairs sat on a raised platform. He handed her a small towel. “We use crumb rubber as a footing to keep down the dust, but you’ll probably want to wipe off the chair.”
She glanced down at her flat sandals and pale blue skirt. “I guess I’m not really dressed for the barn, am I? If I’m going to visit in the future, I’d better wear jeans.”
“And boots as well. Not everyone is as careful where they put their feet as Milo. I wouldn’t want your pretty toes crushed.”
“You think I have pretty toes?” His offhanded compliment made her grin.
His eyes glowed as he gave her a quick once-over. “I think you have pretty everything.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to shoot back that he hadn’t seen her everything, but then she recalled how he’d caught her skinny-dipping. At the time, he’d been so annoyed, it hadn’t occurred to her to wonder how much he’d seen. Now, she suspected he’d glimpsed more than he let on.
“JT...” She had no idea how to convey what she wanted without giving away too much.
“Don’t read too much into that,” he told her. “You’re beautiful. I find you attractive. It doesn’t mean I can’t control myself around you.”
His words acted like an ice bath. “I’m not sure whether to be insulted or relieved.”
Teeth flashing in a wry grin, JT led Milo to the center of the arena, leaving her standing in an emotional stew of her own making. When she’d set out to discover JT’s true identity, the one a painful childhood had forced into hiding, she’d done so thinking that it would do him good to connect with people.
But after seeing the way he related to his barn staff and the joy he received from working with the horses, she realized he wasn’t the damaged train wreck she’d assumed. He had a healthy outlet for his passion. A place of peace that benefited others. He wasn’t exactly the loner she perceived him as—and felt sorry for. What else had she gotten wrong?
As Violet watched JT swing his long lean form into the saddle, she felt her perceptions shift. Her ego had fooled her into believing JT needed her when it was so obvious that he had things all figured out. He didn’t need her to run to his rescue with a marriage of convenience or to draw him out of his shell for his own good. He’d been doing just fine on his own. Yet he’d accepted her help. It wasn’t as if anyone could force JT to do something he didn’t want to do.
Milo moved through a series of maneuvers that looked complex, but which the horse executed with ease. JT sat quietly in the saddle, appearing on first glance to be more passenger than active participant. But his concentration told a different story. Violet paid closer attention to his hands and legs. Still she couldn’t discern what JT was doing to make the horse side-pass one direction for a few steps and then abruptly switch and go the other way.
JT was asking the horse to dance for him. His control over the animal was amazing. And sexy as hell.
After fifteen minutes he dropped the reins onto Milo’s neck and patted the horse on both shoulders. His broad grin made Violet catch her breath. So this was what it felt like to swoon over a guy. She’d never experienced anything like it and wasn’t sure how to behave now that her body had a mind of its own.
“That was amazing,” Violet called, stepping off the platform.
JT dismounted and led Milo toward her. He stroked the horse’s neck. “He did all the work.” A slight sheen had developed on JT’s forehead, contradicting his assertion.
“I don’t believe that.”
Their eyes connected and locked. JT’s smile faded. What had been warm flesh a moment earlier became solid granite, and Violet’s heart sank as she watched the doors slam shut over his thoughts. After several heartbeats, JT sucked in a deep lungful of air.
“I lied to you earlier,” he said, his gaze probing hers, searching for answers, but giving nothing away.
The disappointment she’d felt seconds earlier faded slightly as her heartbeat accelerated beneath his intent expression. “About what?”
“About—”
“If you’re all done with Milo, Boss, I can take him.” A groom stepped into the arena. “Bonnie is in with Bullet and wonders if you can come look at the foal. She’s wondering if we should call the vet.”
“You’re busy,” Violet said, taking a half step back. “And I promised Harper I’d come in early today so we could discuss a joint promotion.” As excuses went, it wasn’t the best, but she needed time to regroup and figure out what she really wanted from JT before things started to happen. “We can talk after work tonight.”
He caught her arm and kept her from moving away. The groom was fast approaching. Violet’s heart thumped hard against her ribs as JT lowered his lips toward her ear.
“Your sister was right,” he murmured, his warm breath sliding seductively over her skin. “I am hungry for you.”
And then he was handing Milo off to the groom and striding away from her. Violet stared after him, her knees pressed together for stability because the strength had gone out of her muscles.