Cassandra stared at Matt’s little sister as if she’d lost her mind. Because she surely had if she expected this city girl to get her pricey Louboutins anywhere near anything with hooves.

She shuddered. “You’re kidding, right?”

Sophia took one look at her horrified expression and burst into a fit of giggles. “I… if you co…could only see your face right now.”

Cass smiled uncertainly. It wasn’t that funny. She had an ingrained fear of an animal that outweighed her by a few hundred pounds. Anyone with a lick of common sense would. She watched television. She’d seen what those monsters did to professional riders in the ring, and she was about as far from experienced as it was possible to get.

This was such a bad idea.

Then she glanced down at her spotless linen pants and grabbed on like a lifeline. “I don’t have the right clothes, maybe next time.”

Sophia seized her hand and tugged, leading her down another long hall that bisected the one her and Matt were in. “Don’t worry, I have plenty. You can borrow a pair of my denims.” She grinned over her shoulder. “And some boots.”

This wasn’t happening. She was going to wake up any minute now in her own luxury condo and put it down to a bad dream.

Sophia held Cassandra’s hand up. “That’s your ring? Was my brother too cheap to buy you a real one?” she teased.

Cass wiggled her fingers free, curiously annoyed. She had no reason to care what Matthew’s family thought. She fingered the smooth gold. Besides, it was a lovely ring.

Where the heck was he anyway?

“Um, I like this one.”

“He’s so sweet. The best brother a girl could have.” She led them into a girly room, all pink and lace and a gorgeous white pedestal canopy bed. Cass loved it.

“You and your brothers are close then?” she asked, aware of the wistful edge to her voice. She’d always wanted a sister of her own, and as the years went by, even a brother would have been nice. But any chance of that ended one rainy never-to-be-forgotten day.

“They’re great, except when I have a date. Then they’re a pain.” Sophia grimaced, before opening Cassandra’s idea of Heaven; an enormous walk-in closet filled with a wide assortment of colorful shirts and dresses.

She relaxed. No cowboy boots in here. Matt’s sister did have good taste in clothes though. She caught glimpses of some of the top New York City designers as Sophia swept row upon row aside in her quest for blue jeans.

“Yes, here they are.” She emerged triumphantly, holding a dark blue pair of pants in the air with studs glistening on the rear pockets. “These are my lucky pair. I used to wear them to gymkhana all the time. And win.” She gave an impish grin and tossed Cass the pants.

Cassandra held them up and grimaced. Shoot, they looked like they would fit. She was going to kill Matthew when she saw him. If the horse didn’t get to her first.

* * *

Matt sat atop Goliath and stared across the compound to the rolling fields beyond. God, he’d missed his home. It was hard to imagine he’d been away for the best part of eighteen months, chasing the dream. He’d come close. If not for the call warning him of his grandmother’s illness, he’d have been headed for the World Poker Series. He enjoyed the game, but he loved his family more.

Goliath’s ears twitched, his muscular black body shifting beneath Matt’s thighs. He leaned forward and rubbed the stallion’s neck, straightening his silvery mane. “What’s the matter, buddy? Did you miss me?”

The horse nodded his head, as though in agreement.

Matt smiled. “Me too, it’s been too long, my friend.” He’d had the big horse since it was a foal. They were a team. Goliath wouldn’t let anyone else on his back, which meant he was going to be frisky today, but Matt hadn’t been able to resist the horse any more than he could resist asking Cassandra to join him.

He hadn’t slept much. To be expected, what with his grandmother’s grim diagnosis. But it was the picture of outrage on his pink-cheeked, sopping wet guest that had him tossing and turning the night away. Even now, the vision of her in that tub had the power to make him want to laugh and groan at the same time.

Cleo—short for Cleopatra—neighed, and Matt looked toward the house. Sure enough, his sister stepped through the door, an apple in each hand, followed by another young woman in form-fitting jeans that lovingly hugged every curve. Cassandra.

Goliath snorted and Matt forced himself to relax, aware he’d squeezed his pet’s girth too hard.

“About time, princess. I was going to leave without you.” He hid a smile at her instant look of hope.

“You still can. I’m sure I can keep busy while you’re gone,” she said tartly, and twisted to head back indoors, giving him a heart-stopping glimpse of her perfect ass highlighted by the silver studs on the back pocket of her pants.

Sophia laughed and caught her arm—God bless her. “He’s kidding. C’mon, wait until you meet my horse. Cleo’s a sweetheart.” She dragged Cass down the stairs, arm in arm.

The horses caught the scent of the juicy, red apples and moved toward the women, necks outstretched, lips peeling back over big square teeth.

Cassandra yelped.

Goliath, not used to the noise, and skittish from being kept in the pasture, reared. It was just a second, and Matt quickly brought him under control, but Cass’s eyes rolled back in her head, and she fell to the ground in a dead faint.

Again.