Free Racetrack Romance BOX SET (Books 1-3) by Bev Pettersen Page A

could also be attributed to the upcoming gate work. There was an element of danger when a horse was confined to a tiny stall, and it always provided an adrenaline rush. She’d been squashed between a flipping horse and steel bars before, but helping with a young horse did earn extra points with the trainer.
    Besides, Ace didn't look like he’d be much trouble. His eye was calm and steady, and he stood rock still as Kurt turned and adjusted his bridle, lowering the snaffle several buckle holes. She stepped closer. “Isn’t that snaffle a bit low? I mean…it looks low.”
    He glanced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. “Are you a trainer too?” he asked.
    He probably wasn’t used to being questioned but at least he wasn’t frowning, and she edged a step closer. It was risky when equipment malfunctioned, and she’d learned to check the tack. “If the bit's too low, it's useless,” she said.
    “Remember what you said earlier?” His lean fingers moved deftly over the buckles. “When you said trainers don’t appreciate advice from their riders?”
    It might have been a warning, but she guessed he was much too confident to be thin skinned. “But I'm the one on Ace's back,” she said stubbornly, “so it’s important his steering works.”
    He raised his head and looked at her, and his eyes seemed to darken. “I’m not going to let you get hurt,” he said. And then he slanted her a deep smile, the kind that made her insides soften, although that probably wasn’t a good thing to happen when she was about to gallop a thousand-pound horse. “Let’s go.” He surprised her with a gentle rap of his knuckles on the side of her helmet and led Ace from the stall.
    She followed, disarmed by his gesture. But she still wasn’t certain about the bit. Sandra considered all trainers idiots until they proved otherwise, although Kurt certainly was no idiot.
    He was also damn attractive. His broad shoulders and lean hips looked good from the back, and it was obvious he worked out by the way his shirt tightened over his arms. It had been a long time since she’d really looked at a man, other than how they rode or trained. Since her mother’s death, she hadn’t dated; Sandra thought it was because of the accident, but she didn’t understand.
    Still, there was no reason not to check out Kurt’s tight butt, the way he walked, with a slight hint of a swagger. Everything on him looked hard. She had the crazy impulse to slide her hand along his jeans and find out for herself—
    She jammed her hands in her pockets and yanked her gaze to Ace, to the sweep of his silky tail and the way it swished over his hocks. Not nearly as stimulating, but definitely safer.
    Besides, Kurt received enough attention. Girls were always ogling him. One of the grooms from Harrison’s barn had even asked for his motel number, and Julie refused to join the gaggle of admirers.
    Kurt stopped Ace in the center of the aisle. “Don’t scowl,” he said, looking back at her. “The bit’s okay. No wrinkles because I don't want pressure on his mouth, not unless you put it there. You have a nice touch, and I want to take advantage of it.”
    “The bit?” She swallowed. “Oh, yes, of course.”
    “Come on. Mount up.” He splayed a firm hand over the small of her back, guiding her closer to the saddle. His fingers felt oddly intimate as they slid along her hip to her boot, his touch so warm the leather over her ankle seemed paper thin.
    She perched in the saddle, staring straight ahead, dismayed at her reaction. She wasn’t going to be much of a jockey if she turned all fuzzy every time a good-looking trainer boosted her into the saddle. Of course, it wasn’t just any trainer; it was Kurt.
    She adjusted her toes in the stirrups, suddenly impatient. She was just relieved Kurt had a relaxed side. It made him easier to work with. When they’d first met, his watchful smile never touched his eyes, but now he was different, more open. He was