‘‘You’ll never guess her name,’’ he said, studying the mare rather than her.
She was too caught up in her reaction to him to come up with even one creative response. ‘‘What is it?’’
He shot her a grin. ‘‘Princess.’’ Then he held up his hands. ‘‘Before you say anything, I swear I didn’t make that up or change it because of you. I can show you her papers if you’d like.’’
‘‘No. I believe you.’’ She pushed up the sleeves of her light jacket and studied the mare. ‘‘She’s very beautiful.’’
‘‘I thought maybe you’d like to try working with her.’’
She glanced at Mitch in surprise. ‘‘Me?’’
‘‘Sure.’’ He smiled. ‘‘You’re patient and gentle, not to mention female. Most of her abuse came from high-handed males. You’re good with horses, and I trust you, Alex.’’
A thrill of pleasure zipped through her, but this wasn’t the passionate kind. This warmth came from his praise and the fact that he’d noticed her work. ‘‘I’d like that,’’ she told him sincerely. She gestured to the large barn. ‘‘I know that I’ve been an intrusion on your life, but I want to thank you again for putting up with me. I’m really enjoying my time here.’’
‘‘Not too quiet?’’
‘‘Not at all. I love the peace and the silence.’’ She leaned against the stall door. ‘‘It’s not that I mind the visitors who are always touring the castle. I understand that their interest is important to the continuation of the monarchy. On a practical level, the money they bring in helps defray the cost of upkeep on a very old building.’’ She paused. ‘‘But sometimes I wish home could just be home.’’
Mitch folded his arms over his chest. ‘‘Tourists? In the castle?’’
‘‘We do tours. Similar to what is offered at your White House.’’ She smiled. ‘‘I confess I also don’t miss the servants.’’
‘‘You don’t mind turning down your own bed?’’
She made a show of glancing over her shoulder. ‘‘Don’t tell anyone, but just yesterday Betty showed me how to use the washer. I actually did my own laundry.’’
He grinned. ‘‘Hey, that’s more than I do.’’
‘‘So she said.’’ She looked at him, at his handsome face and the way his smile made his eyes scrunch up at the corners. ‘‘My point is, I appreciate the opportunity to be here, even for a short period of time. It’s been very restful.’’
Mitch nodded thoughtfully. ‘‘I know what you mean. When I was on the rodeo circuit, I used to get homesick. I didn’t like going to a different town every weekend. All the crowds, the strange beds.’’
‘‘I’ve seen rodeos on television. It’s a difficult sport. Did you get hurt?’’
He shrugged. ‘‘I broke a few bones, but that’s it. I was young and I thought I wanted the adventure.’’ His smile returned. ‘‘And the women.’’
‘‘Rodeo groupies? Like the rock stars have?’’
‘‘Similar. We call ’em buckle bunnies.’’
She frowned and tried to remember where she’d heard that expression before. ‘‘Oh. You called me that when I first arrived. You thought that was why I was here. Because I wanted to, well…’’ Her voice trailed off. She felt the heat on her cheeks and had to turn away to study the quiet bay mare standing in the center of her stall.
‘‘Speaking of which.’’
Mitch’s voice came from much closer than it had, just a moment before. When she turned back to him, she found that he’d moved next to her. He wore jeans and a faded blue shirt, but she didn’t care about that. He had a strength about him. Being with Mitch made her feel more safe than any number of royal bodyguards.
‘‘About that kiss,’’ he said.
Alex had to swallow before she could speak. ‘‘Oh, that.’’ She wanted to look away, but she didn’t want him to know how much she’d been affected by their embrace. She kept her gaze on his face. ‘‘What did you want to say?’’
‘‘I’m not sorry it happened.’’ He reached out his hand as if he was going to touch her face, then he lowered his arm to his side. ‘‘But it would never work out between us. Sex, I mean. It would be great. But it would complicate things. Neither of us wants that.’’
‘‘You’re right. Neither of us does.’’ Her voice was steady, despite the trembling of her legs and the rapid flutter of her heart. He thought the sex would be great? It was all she could do to keep herself from grinning or asking how he could be so sure. Not that she doubted him or wanted him to believe otherwise.
‘‘So my suggestion is that we pretend it never happened.’’
She nodded sagely. ‘‘Of course. It’s already forgotten.’’
