Emily smiled shyly when Jack introduced her to Mia. “My daddy says you were a captain. Were you apirate?”
Mia laughed. “Nope. I was in the Army like your grandpa. We don’t haveships.”
Emily lookeddisappointed.
“Miss Emily,” Jack said, “would you like to show Mia thehorses?”
Emily led the way inside the barn to the stalls where Jack and Nate housed the pregnant mares. “These are the mares that have foals insidethem.”
Joaquin had brought his camera and started shooting, his lens on Mia. Her amazement when she got her first glimpse of the palomino mares. The sweet smile on her face when one of the horses ate carrots from her hand. Her elation when Emily led her to a litter of week-old kittens in thestraw.
“Can I have all of them?” Mia held two of them up to her cheek. “Aren’t they adorable,Joaquin?”
“Yes,” Joaquinsaid.
But all he could see wasMia.
* * *
Mia pouredherself and Joaquin glasses of wine, while Joaquin built a fire. “Did you hear what Jack said about Chinook breeding three mares a day? Can you imagine having sex with three different women every day for months onend?”
She realized what she’d just asked him. “Don’t answerthat.”
He chuckled. “I can imagine having sex withyouthree times a day. How’s that,hermosa?”
Mia’s heart seemed to skip a beat. “What does that mean—hermosa?”
He closed the iron door on the wood stove and walked over to her, taking his glass of wine from her and pressing a kiss to her lips. “It meansbeautiful.”
Without thinking about it, she shook her head. “I thought it meant something like sweetheart orhoney.”
“What was that about? You just shook your head and rolled your eyes atme.”
Heat crept into Mia’s cheeks. “I’m a realist. I was always the tomboy, the girl who climbed trees and played softball. I’m much more at home in combat boots than dresses. I’m not very curvy—you know that now. My momsaid—”
“She said you have your father’s square jaw, and Powell called you the Iron Maiden.” Joaquin shook his head. “Yeah, I’ve heard that. Now, hearme.”
He leaned closer, looked into her eyes, the intensity of his gaze making her breath catch. “I know that your breasts fit perfectly in my hand. I know that your nipples are excruciatingly sensitive and pucker in my mouth. I know that your waist is narrow and your hips are round and your ass is nice and firm. I know the sweet look on your face when you come. I know the cry you make. I know how your nails feel when they dig into my skin. I know how you taste. You’re beautiful,Mia.”
Mia’s throat wenttight.
She swallowed, whatever emotion she’d been feeling instantly transformed into irritation. She had a master’s degree and a good job. She’d been a captain in the United States Army, for God’s sake, and served two deployments. She had no debts. She was strong and healthy. Why did any of thismatter?
Except that itdid.
“What are you thinking?” He reached over, tucked a strand of hair behind herear.
“I’m thinking how pathetic I am to want so desperately for what you just said to betrue.”
“Oh, Mia. I wish you could see yourself the way I see you.” He frowned, as if remembering something. “Maybe youcan.”
Mia watched as he set his wine glass aside and went to retrieve hiscamera.
He scrolled through the images, shaking his head. “The light in the barn wasn’t good. These are toodark.”
He glanced around. “Wait just aminute.”
He retrieved something from his camera bag—a light meter—and moved around the room with it. Late afternoon sunshine streamed through the sliding glass doors, making the wood floors gleam. But that apparently wasn’t goodenough.