"What would you like to do today?" Bradley asked as he sliced the pancake on his plate. "I have some work to attend to this morning, but we can do whatever you like for the rest of the day."

I looked up from my plate and into his grey eyes. I was a bit shocked that he was asking me what I wanted to do. I didn't know I had a choice in the matter. "If you're going to work, I'll spend some time in the library."

"I'll be in a meeting with my brothers for around three hours. Maybe afterwards we can take a swim in the pool or go check out the horses," he suggested.

I looked in his steel grey, contemplating what to say to him. Was it really safe for me to be in a pool with him?

I could barely control myself last night when he touched my belly. The touch wasn't even remotely intimate, but it managed to send shivers through me. I've never had anyone touched my stomach before, except my parents. Now this man touched me, and all I could think about was having his hands all over me.

Stop it, Tiffany!

This man abducted you.

To protect his family business. A voice in my head said.

Still abduction!

What's it gonna be Tiffany?

A beautiful pool with his well-toned body close to yours or the field with the horses that terrified you?

"Horses sound good."

He smiled, "Great. We'll get you a little bit more familiar with them so you can build a connection. That way they'll be comfortable enough for you to ride them and vice versa."

The thought of going on those horses freaked me out, but Brad was confident that they wouldn't hurt me and he didn't seem like the type of guy to lie about things like that.

I nodded, "Oh, okay."

"You don't sound too confident."

I shrugged, "I'm still afraid of those horses."

"Well, we can always go swimming."

My eyes widen. No. I can not go swimming with him. "I don't have a swimwear."

"You don't need a swimwear." My eyes widen at his statement, and he smirked, "I mean, swimwears are basically underwear so you can swim in your panty and bra."

He was wrong. Swimwear materials are usually spandex or lycra while underwear made up of cotton or silk. Bras were also more sturdy than swimwear. But since he's a male, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

"I'm not really in the mood for swimming." I lied. I loved swimming, but the only way I got the chance to swim was at the gym or on vacation. I hated the swim because it was always crowded and I haven't been on vacation in a while.

I would love to take a dip in that beautiful pool, but I don't think I can manage Brad's gaze on my body or mine on his.

"Maybe another time." He mumbled, sounding a little disappointed.

I shrugged, "Yes, maybe."

"Let's finish our breakfast. Heather will be disappointed if we don't."

........

"Those won't work in the stables," Brad said, looking down at my borrowed flipflops. He lifted his hands, "Hold on a minute. I'll go fetch you a boot."

He ran into the stable for about a minute. He returned with a pair of boots in his hands. He held the boots to me then threw them back, "You know what, I'll do it."

He bent on his right knee and placed the boots beside him. I didn't realize what he was doing until he asked me to lift my foot.

"What?"

"Gimme your foot so I can put the boots on."

"Hmm..hmm..." I hesitated before lifting my left foot. He gently removed the flipflop from my foot and placed the boot on.

He held my leg and shivers ran through me, "Okay. Place this foot down and stamp on it."

He released my leg, and I did what he commanded. "Great, give me your next foot." He did the same for my next foot.

When both shoes where securely on, he patted my calves and smiled up at me before standing. He brushed the dirt off his jeans and looked at me.

"Are you ready to go in?" he asked, but I only found myself nodding.

Did this man really go on his knees just to help me into a boot that I could have put on without his help?

And then he had the audacity to smile at me afterwards. His beautiful, charismatic smile.

"C'mon." he grabbed my hands and pulled me into the stable.

I looked around the big wooden stable. It was beautiful and clean, but it was way too big for just two horses.

Sensing what I was thinking, Brad spoke, "The past owner was into horse racing, and that's why there are so many stalls in here." he explained.

I nodded.

We walked over to Ebony's stall, Cloudy was in the stall directly in front of hers.

"So to build a bond with Ebony, you'll groom her."

"Groom her?" I asked with a frown.

"Don't worry. I'll show you how to do that step by step. Wait right here, let me go get the stuff." he walked farther into the stable, leaving me in front of Ebony.

I looked at the beautiful black horse and smiled, "Hey, horsy. Remember me? I'm Tiffany. We met yesterday."

The horse moved her head and caused me to jump.

Thank God for the door that separated us.

"Brad thinks I will be able to ride you if we build a bond. Frankly, I don't think I'll ever be brave enough to even go on a horse."

Ebony neighed.

I laughed, "No offence. It's not you, it's me."

"It's good to know that the bonding process is going good," Brad said as he walked back over to the stall with a bucket in his hand.

"She's a good listener."

He chuckled. He pulled the door of the stall opened and entered. "Come. I'll show you how to groom Ebony, and then I'll do deal with Cloudy."

I frowned at him, "You're gonna leave me alone with her?"

"No. I'm going to be right over there with Cloudy," he said, pointing at Cloudy's stall.

I shook my head, "No, I meant. Are you going to leave me alone with Ebony?"

"Of course. Now come in." I slowly walked into the stall and stood next to the huge animal.

Brad closed the door and glanced at me before placing his hands in the bucket. "This is the curry comb. You start brushing at the neck and work your way down each side. Do your best to avoid her face, spine, and legs because those are sensitive areas."

He placed the curry comb in my hand, "Go ahead. Try." he instructed.

I slowly lifted the rubber comb and placed it on Ebony's neck. I took a lot of courage for me to move the comb along her neck, and when I did, Brad laughed.

I glanced at him with a frown.

"Sorry. I forgot an important step." he took a step close to me, and that made him stood directly behind me. He lifted my hand, the one that held the brush and brought it back to the horse. With his hands on mine, he moved the brush in a circular motion. "You're supposed to move in a circular movement." his voice said in my ear.

It was so sexy that shivers ran through me. I swallowed and asked. "What's the next step?" He moved away from me, and suddenly my body missed his heat.

He lifted another brush from the bucket. "This is a stiff brush. It's used to remove dirt and mud. Take short, brisk strokes. Like this." He stood beside me and demonstrated on Ebony. "Remember to avoid sensitive areas."

"What's the third step?"

"The third step is the soft brush. Same pattern plus sensitive areas." he lifted the soft brush out of the bucket to show me then placed it back it.

"Fourth step?"

He reached into the bucket once again. "This is a wide-tooth comb. It's used to brush the mane and tail. Before you start, you'll have to run your fingers through her mane and tail to get rid of the large knots. When combing out the tail, stand to the side and not directly behind her or else you might get a surprise, and we don't want that. That's basically all the steps. Be gentle, and you should be fine."

I tried to take in as much instruction as possible. I didn't want to make a mistake and end up hurting myself.

"Do you understand everything?"

I nodded.

"Okay, great. Now tell me the steps in order."

I looked at him with a frown. Did he really want me to go over all of those steps? I already told him I understand.

"I just want to make sure you don't hurt yourself or Ebony."

I rolled my eyes, "Fine."

I took the bucket out of his hands and took a few steps backwards. I started explaining the rules to him just as he had told me. When I was finished, he had a smile on his face.

I jumped and clapped at my successful only to have my feet landing in wet and smushy.

I bent my head and looked at the boots then back at Brad, "Is that...? I couldn't say it aloud.

He chuckled, "It sure is. Why do you think I let you change to the boots?"

I glanced at the horse manure and sighed.

Perfect!

I haven't seen started, and I already have horse faeces all over me.