Hidden Treasure (Billionaire Bachelors #9)(26)
Author: Melody Anne

She paused in her step, but didn’t turn around. She also didn’t speak. She was waiting for his next words.

“I had family business,” he finally told her.

“Are you going to tell me about it?”

“I can’t.” The way he said it almost constituted regret. That she could accept.

“Well, then, I guess I’ll give you a break this time, and this time only, but only if you teach me what I need to do in order not to look like a birdbrain when my father gets here in two weeks.”

She turned back to him, and they stood in a face-off for several tense moments. When a smile finally appeared on his lips and he lifted a hand to tip his hat, she knew that she’d just had her first small victory where Colt was concerned.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said in a tone that had her narrowing her eyes.

Had it been a victory? Was he mocking her even now?

“You’ll teach me?” She wanted clarification.

“I’ll teach you anything you want to be taught. But you have to go along without question.”

The look in his eyes told her he had a few lesson plans on the agenda that she might not be able to afford.

“Let’s just keep this about business, Colt. And nothing more,” she said, hoping her voice came out as strong and assured as she wanted it to.

“Brielle, nothing between us is just about business.” He stepped forward so they were again too close for her comfort. When his breath rushed over her lips, a shudder ripped through her, but she managed to resist him. She hadn’t the least idea how she was doing it, though.

“I will never just follow along like some lackey, Colt. You should learn that right now. But,” she said, “if you keep to your word and help me, I will be willing to learn anything you can teach.”

They eyed each other for a little while, neither willing to back down. Neither willing to give even a single inch. This was a battle for power, and Brielle honestly didn’t know which of them had more of it right then. She’d be better off without him, but then she might never be able to make this place a success.

“I’ll teach you,” he practically purred. “Give me time to come up with a plan.” Then he edged another inch closer.

She was done with this game. She’d gotten what she wanted, and now it was time to leave. “Colt, get out of my way.” Her voice was stiff. She was too afraid that if he pushed the issue, if he leaned in again and took her lips now, she would be all too willing to surrender to him.

He looked down at her as if contemplating his next move. Finally, he took a few steps back. Brielle didn’t know whether she was relieved or disappointed. But as she got her legs to move and was able to walk away with minimal shaking, she decided it was relief.

Until she got into her house, that is, and flopped right down on the nearest couch. This night would most likely prove to be her loneliest one yet. Because now she knew that Colt was back. And now she knew that the feelings he’d inspired in her two weeks before weren’t just a fluke.

She had no idea whether she wanted to dig herself out of the mess he brought to her life…

Chapter Sixteen

You sure you’re up for this?”

“I said I wanted to learn, dammit!” She was so tired of being looked at that way. Enough was enough.

Yet two more days had passed. It was coming closer and closer to the visit her father was paying her, and Brielle was failing epically.

“All right. Just remember that you asked for it,” he warned her.

“I can handle whatever you decide to throw at me, Colt.” She was wearing the dang jeans, a T-shirt she wouldn’t be caught out in public in, and the boots. Though she wasn’t going to tell him this, they were becoming more comfortable. That was a relief.

“Here ya go, Princess.”

Brielle looked at him with suspicion when he gave her a pitchfork and a wheelbarrow. “What is this for?”

“You want to work? You get to muck out the stalls. It has to be done every single day. Since you and Joe have become chummy, he’s going to teach you what needs to be done.”

“That’s not teaching me anything,” she snapped, emphasizing every word. She knew freaking well that it was a ridiculous thing for her to be doing.

“You said you’d listen to me, that you wanted to learn.”

“I want to learn how to run the ranch, not do the chores.”

“Chores are part of running a ranch.”

She faced him, seething. He wasn’t holding his end up to the bargain, but the stubbornness in her made her decide she was going to do this. No, it didn’t give her what she needed, but maybe if she did this, he would give her what she really needed.

That thought led to the wrong place in her mind, and she quickly moved on, knowing she didn’t want to go there, not with Colt, never again!

When Colt walked away and Joe approached with a tentative smile on his face, Brielle sighed in resignation.

“Have you ever mucked a stall before?” Joe asked her.

At least he wasn’t nearly as rude as Colt.

“No, but that doesn’t mean I can’t learn,” she told him as he took hold of the wheelbarrow and moved through the horse barn.

“All you have to do is scoop out the messes and then we’ll come in and lay fresh straw.”

Brielle felt a chill go through her body. “What kind of messes?” When she looked down, she said with horror, “I’m scooping poop?”

Joe’s cheeks turned red. She wanted to run in the opposite direction, but she knew this was some sort of test. Yes, it was a waste of time, and yes, she knew Colt was putting her in this position just because he was an ass, but she was going to do this, and do it well.

When she got a good whiff of how the horse manure smelled up close and personal, however, she started thinking this wasn’t something she could do. Her stomach began heaving. Then, an hour later, her back was burning, and her eyes and nose were running. Colt had to have given her the worst possible job there was on the ranch. Joe had done three stalls to her one, and she still wasn’t finished.

Every time she managed to scoop some of the disgusting poop onto her pitchfork, half would fall back off because her arms were shaking so badly. Another half hour passed before Joe declared the stall clean and pointed to the next one.

Nope. This wasn’t happening, not even with her determination to prove Colt wrong about her. This crap was downright demeaning — did he really think he was being funny? She was through with Colt. It was time to hire someone who would listen to her, who wouldn’t make a joke of her requests for honest help.