Short description
Scarred and with a permanent limp, Morgan moved to a quiet cottage in rural Montana wanting tranquility, solitude, a place where she could heal from the brutality inflicted on her by her late husband. Ex-convict, horse trainer, Nick Evanoff didn’t need anyone, at least he never had.Then he spotted Morgan sitting in a copse of trees, technically trespassing. One glimpse of her stopped his aggression cold. In its place lust rose; powerful, primitive, demanding. There was something else there too – needBut Morgan was determined to have nothing to do with men, and to go nowhere near a relationship ever again. Could Nick work the same magic with Morgan that he worked with the abused horses he rescued? Could he teach her that it was safe to trust, that sex didn’t have to be painful or humiliating?
additional information
Scarred and with a permanent limp, Morgan moved to a quiet cottage in rural Montana wanting tranquility, solitude, a place where she could heal from the brutality inflicted on her by her late husband. Ex-convict, horse trainer, Nick Evanoff didn’t need anyone, at least he never had.Then he spotted Morgan sitting in a copse of trees, technically trespassing. One glimpse of her stopped his aggression cold. In its place lust rose; powerful, primitive, demanding. There was something else there too – needBut Morgan was determined to have nothing to do with men, and to go nowhere near a relationship ever again. Could Nick work the same magic with Morgan that he worked with the abused horses he rescued? Could he teach her that it was safe to trust, that sex didn’t have to be painful or humiliating?
excerpt
Chapter 1Keeping an eye on the sideview mirror and steady light pressure on the truck’s gas pedal Nick smoothly backed the silver two-horse trailer into the small opening of the round pen. His brother, Jake, stood next to the corral fence, frowning and staring at the trailer. Each kick from the horse inside rocked the trailer side to side. Nick shifted the truck into park but kept his foot on the brake and then waved his arm out ofthe drivers’ side window to get his brother’s attention.
“He’s not tied so when you open the door be ready to get the hell out of the way,” he shouted.
Jake nodded, then squeezed between the fence and the trailer and Nick heard the harsh clangs of numerous locks being thrown. A loud squealing of metal hinges sounded, combining with the clattering of sharp hooves. The horse let out a high-pitched scream before jolting the trailer up and down as the animal lunged out of the trailer. Nick heard the trailer door slam shut and put the truck into drive, pulling
the rig quickly away so Jake could close the corral gate. He pulled the truck and trailer around to the side of the barn, then came back to stand beside Jake, who stood with his elbows and one booted foot propped on the corral railing, watching with narrowed eyes as the horse careened around the
enclosure.
“Jesus Christ, Nick.” Jake’s usually level voice was hard. “The bastard that did this should have been shot.”
“Trust me, I was tempted.”
“There’s not an inch on him that’s not scarred. Even his ears. How the hell did you get close enough to get the halter on him?”
Nick sighed, suddenly feeling very, very tired. “I tranqed him with the dart gun. Hated to do it, but it was the only way.” He clucked and the big-boned quarter horse draft cross twitched his ears towards him. For a second Nick saw something soft flicker in the horse’s eyes, but then it was gone and the madness was back. Lowering his head the horse charged to the center of the enclosure and struck out
aggressively with both front legs.
“Looks like it’s worn off though.”
Jake snorted, watching the gelding’s dramatic display. “Ya think?” He double checked the latch on the pen gate, “You’ve got your work cut out for you with this one, Nick, maybe more than you realize. I hope he’s worth it.”
Nick looked into huge brown eyes, seeing nothing but fear and distrust, but he also saw beneath the scars and misbehavior to the proud beauty the horse had probably been before he’d been bought and misused by a cruel owner. “They’re always worth it, Jake.”
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