Free Wild for the Girl by Starr Ambrose Page B

flat plain between here and Tappit’s Peak.” She glanced at him over Jack’s back, a rush of pleasure zipping through her at his expectant look. “You’re welcome to come see it.”
    “I’d like that. I’m free the rest of today, as it happens.”
    Today? Damn, now she really needed a shower if she was taking him home with her. She finished running conditioner through Jack’s tail, then reached for her shirt front. “Don’t turn that hose off,” she told him, and began unbuttoning.
    Reese lifted his eyebrows. “I hope you don’t expect me to turn around.”
    “Actually, I expect you to help.” She stripped off the limp shirt, telling herself the modest sports bra was the exact same thing most women wore to exercise at the resort’s gym. Besides, there was no way she was risking getting close to Reese again in her current condition. Hanging her head, she pushed her hair forward to fall in a curtain around her face. “Hold that hose over my head so I can wash my hair.”
    “My pleasure.”
    She couldn’t see his face, but heard the humor in his voice. Cold water hit the back of her head, drenching her hair and trickling over her shoulders. She shivered with pleasure, and started lathering with Jack’s shampoo.
    “This is a new experience for me,” Reese said. “Hosing down a horse and a horse trainer.”
    “I take it the women in Boston don’t shower in horse stalls.”
    He laughed. “Not the ones I know.”
    “Well, sorry to say this is not a first for me.” She peeked at him around soapy strands of hair, but couldn’t tell from his bemused smile if he thought that made her a freak. “Barns aren’t known for their deluxe accommodations. Rinse, please.”
    He moved the hose over the back of her head until it ran clean. She wrung out as much as she could, then added conditioner and finger-combed her hair back into place. It couldn’t possibly look good, but it wasn’t any limper than it had been, and smelled a good deal better.
    Which left the rest of her. Even without the possibility of Reese holding her close, she couldn’t stand the thought that her horse smelled better than she did.
    Squirting shampoo into her palms, she began rubbing it over her shoulders, underarms, and stomach. Reese’s smile grew broader as he watched, and she returned it. “Too country girl for you?”
    “No, it’s just that I think I saw this in a movie. It was X-rated.”
    She finished rubbing lather around and took the hose from him. “I think I’d better do this part myself.”
    He snatched it back. “Not on your life.” He took aim at her chest and grinned. “Ready?”
    His mischievous look tickled something deep inside her. “Can I trust you with that thing?”
    “What can I possibly hurt? You’re already a mess.”
    “Thanks for the reminder, Mr. Suave. I was thinking more of the force of that spray.”
    “Sissy pants.”
    She narrowed her eyes. “If you try something funny, I’ll hurt you.”
    His smile took on an evil glint. “Shut up and brace yourself.”
    She squeezed her eyes closed. Cold water hit her chest in a fine spray and she sucked in a breath, waiting for something worse. When it didn’t happen, she opened her eyes. Reese directed the spray over her shoulders, then down, turning her gently as he rinsed off the suds. She made two full circles, spinning slowly in front of him until the water ran clean down her stomach, soaking her jeans.
    “I think we’re done,” she told him.
    “I like to be thorough.” He aimed the spray at her breasts, where her nipples were already hard from the cold and poking at the stretchy material.
    She grabbed the hose, turning the nozzle off.
    “Spoilsport.” His gaze took in her drenched jeans. “Whoops, looks like you need to get out of those.”
    “I have a clean pair in the office.”
    “Damn. There goes a perfectly good fantasy.”
    She didn’t believe it. From the look on his face, some private scenario was still playing out in his head,