Saturday morning Alex was lounging against the kitchen counter nursing a cup of coffee while she fixed breakfast. They were alone so she announced her plans for the hay ride and barbeque.
For a few minutes he stared into the cup, absently swirling it around. Finally he spoke.
"Maybe you should hold off awhile until your shoulder gets better."
"It doesn't even hurt any more," she said, glancing at him.
He met her gaze and his neck turned red. "I thought last night …"
Warmth flooded her face and she smiled. "It didn't hurt, but I appreciated your gentle touch."
He moved away from the counter and set his coffee cup on the table. Pulling a chair out, he sat down and put one foot across his knee. His gaze lifted to her.
"I'd feel better if you'd hire someone to help you."
"I have Felipa right now and I'll be able to do it in a few days."
He frowned. "Or months."
She sighed. "It isn't like anything I do is all that strenuous."
He shook his head and lowered his foot. "Let me rephrase that. I insist that you hire someone to help. You hire a man to trim their hooves, why is having a handler any different?"
For a moment she stared at him stupidly. He had never insisted she do anything. Sure, she brought a farrier in, but that wasn't every day. She had considered hiring someone - and tossed the idea out. Finding someone qualified and dependable would be difficult and time consuming. In any case, hiring a handler would eat up her profits. Finally she shrugged.
"Well, if it makes you feel better, but I like taking care of the horses."
He nodded, eyeing her sourly. "You're afraid no one else will do it right."
She caught her breath. "That isn't so," she denied instantly.
His smile was wry. "Isn't it?"
She frowned. "No. It's just that I can't afford it."
His brows shot up. "Then I'll hire someone."
She frowned. "That's just taking it out of one pocket and putting it into the other. I'm trying to make this a profitable business."
He groaned and rubbed his head. "Carmen, why do you have to be so difficult? If you're so concerned about losing money, why don't you just give it up?"
She wasn't the one being difficult, and her reasoning was sound. The problem was; he didn't take the business seriously. To him it was something to occupy her mind, not something important - like his work.