Melody Anne's Billionaire Universe: Against the Billionaire's Will (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Love Against Odds Book 3) Read Online Free

the years, too. He was man enough to acknowledge their beauty privately, but also smart enough not to allow anything sexual—whether mental or physical—get in the way of business. It was second nature to turn that part of him off.
    Until he saw Brindle in Henry’s office. He’d figured he’d just been intrigued by her, by the woman his grandfather never talked about but had one way or another set up financially for the rest of her life after his death. But it went beyond that. Any lie he’d told himself that night flew out the window after he saw her get out of her old truck yesterday. His attraction to her was strong, and not something he was used to.
    Taking a sip, he walked to the window overlooking the plains. In the distance, he saw someone on a horse with blonde hair flying behind her. He knew instantly it was Brindle. Jesus, she was ethereal as she rode. What he wouldn’t give to be out there with her right now.
    He found his feet moving before he realized his brain had ordered them to do so. That or she was a siren, calling him to his death. He wasn’t ready to talk to her just yet, but he didn’t have the power to command his body to stop.
    I’ll just join her for a ride. Maybe getting up on a horse would help distract him from his musings.
    He didn’t buy it, but he also didn’t care.
    After walking outside, he hopped in the all-terrain vehicle and made his way to the closest barn. The one nearest his grandfather’s house—Brindle’s house—was one where she kept Autumn, the stud who mounted her, and a couple of other mares. When he’d asked why they weren’t in a larger group, Brindle had told him it was Autumn’s first foal and that the stud, although broken, was a spitfire. He did better with a smaller herd.
    Dawson pulled up next to the barn and killed the engine. When he looked up, he saw Brindle heading toward him. Within seconds, she slowed and he walked towards her.
    “Saw you driving this way,” she said as her leg swung over and she dismounted, the movement fluid, like a flag slicing in the wind.
    “Figured after meeting the staff, checking out the stalls and buildings, and doing a cursory overview of monthly expenses, I figured I should start this day with the animals. Are any of the others already saddled?”
    “You mean you want to ride?”
    “Yes.”
    “A horse?”
    He almost chuckled. “Unless you can think of something else?” Where the hell had that come from? He quickly cleared his throat and silently cursed himself. “Yes, a horse,” he added quickly.
    “Yes, I saddled Annabelle before taking Nellie out, but maybe we should find you a nice pony to start out with.”
    He ignored the pony comment and asked “Nellie?” instead, unable to stop the chuckle this time. “As in, ‘Whoa Nellie’?”
    She snorted. “I wasn’t the one who named her.” Brindle led Nellie toward the stalls, and Dawson followed on the other side of the horse. Once inside and Nellie was secured to the post, Brindle began brushing her. To keep from watching, he looked over at Annabelle, and immediately felt drawn to the horse. She was beautiful. Big, and brown, with white socks.
    “Hey, girl,” he said as he ran his hand along her mane.
    “Do I need to show you how to work the saddle?” Brindle called out with a chuckle.
    He shut his eyes, fighting a smile at the sound of her laughter. “No, I can manage.” And the for fun, he added, “Where are the pedals?”
    “Ha. Ha.”
    “You know it was funny,” he said as he grabbed ahold, and swung his leg over the horse. He hadn’t done this in years, but when he was a kid, he always loved being around horses. “You know my grandfather is the one who taught me to ride,” he said, gazing at the roof, not sure where that had come from.
    “Really?” her voice came from beside him, and he looked down, surprised he hadn’t heard her approach. “That’s great. You know he rode with me sometimes when he came out here.”
    “He always