Anne Fraser - Doctor on the Red Carpet

He let himself into his trailer and peeled off his shirt, feeling restless and on edge. He needed to be doing something. A workout would help. And after that? An image of blue eyes and a soft mouth jumped into his head. After his workout, he knew just what he needed to keep his head from going places he didn’t want to go.

Elizabeth stroked the horse’s mane and he whinnied with pleasure. After lunch she had walked around the perimeter of the camp until she had come across the stables.

‘You like horses?’

She started as a deep voice came from behind her. She whirled around to find Kendrick standing there. Earlier she had passed him lying on a bench, dressed only in his army pants, concentrating as he lifted weights above his head. Happily he had been too preoccupied to notice her stealing surreptitious glances at him as each muscle in his abdomen and shoulders bunched every time he lifted the weights above his head.

The horse nuzzled its soft mouth into her hand and she pulled her hand away as its whiskers tickled her palm.

‘Hey, it’s okay. Buster won’t bite,’ Kendrick said, misreading her action.

‘I know. I have ridden before.’ Okay, so it was years ago and was only once, but he didn’t need to know that.

Kendrick raised an eyebrow at her and his mouth turned up at the corners. Elizabeth’s heart thumped against her ribs. It would be much better if he wasn’t so sexy.

‘Have you got anything planned for this afternoon?’ Kendrick continued.

Why was he so damned determined to seek her out at every opportunity? Hadn’t she made it crystal clear she wasn’t interested?

‘Just work. I’m employed here for a reason, you know,’ she said testily, trying to ignore the uncomfortable racing of her heart.

He grinned down at her. ‘Not this afternoon you’re not. Philip is shooting a close-up that involves Jack and Tara in a love scene. Unless something happens there, like she bites his tongue when he tries to put it down her throat, which I wouldn’t put past her—they have a bit of history—I think you’ll be all right.’

‘Why do you want to know?’ Elizabeth asked. ‘Do you need to see me again? Is your shoulder causing you more discomfort?’

‘The shoulder’s fine. I thought you might like to come with me to the desert for a ride. We could take the horses we’ve been using for the stunts. You’ve already met Buster here.’

Would he ever give up? On the other hand, she hated having time on her own, despite what she’d told him earlier. Without something to occupy her mind there was too much time for thinking, and thinking meant remembering….

‘I don’t know. It’s a long time since I’ve been on a horse,’ she admitted ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if it had me off in seconds.’

‘No, he won’t. The horses we use are like lambs—really well trained. Besides, we use western saddles. It’s like sitting in an armchair.’

It wasn’t just the horses that was making her hesitate. Although she wanted to see what was out there beyond the confines of the set, she wasn’t sure why Kendrick was asking her. If he thought she was up for some brief romance with him, he was very much mistaken. Couldn’t he see he was wasting his time pursuing her?

‘It’s only a horse ride—I’m not proposing marriage,’ he said, as if reading her mind. ‘Of course, if you’re too chicken …’ He shrugged, leaving the challenge hanging in the air.

Elizabeth made up her mind. Why not? It was unlikely that she’d ever be back here, so she should make the most of every opportunity that came her way.

‘Who do you think you’re calling chicken? I’ve a clinic to do first, but I can be ready about three.’

She turned away, knowing and having to admit liking it that he was staring after her. Was she nuts? Didn’t she know that Kendrick spelt danger? On the other hand, Kendrick was no more looking for a long-term relationship than she was. In that respect they were two of a kind, even if for completely different reasons. And she could handle someone like Kendrick.

The clinic produced no more than the usual sore throats, sniffles and sore muscles, a sprained ankle and a paper cut. Despite the work being a little boring at times, Elizabeth was content that the cast and crew were keeping well. Especially after Sunny becoming ill. Although Philip’s assistant was very much better, she remained in hospital.

Elizabeth was ready and waiting when Kendrick turned up with a riding hat.

She eyed the hat warily.

‘I thought you said it was perfectly safe,’ she said. ‘I’m not intending to go any faster than a walk. You do know that?’

‘Just a precaution,’ he said. ‘Anyone can fall off a horse. We need to make sure the set doc stays in one piece.’

‘Where’s yours, then?’

He looked aghast. ‘When I said anyone, I didn’t mean me. I’ve been riding all my life and only fall off when I mean to.’

Feeling less certain about the proposed adventure, Elizabeth waited while he fastened the helmet on for her. As his fingertips brushed against her throat, she felt goose-bumps pop up all over her body.

Now that she was committed to riding him, Buster looked bigger somehow and Elizabeth eyed him nervously. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. But before she could do or say anything, Kendrick had taken hold of her leg and swung her into the saddle. He was right about that at least. It was like sitting in an armchair.

Kendrick adjusted the stirrups for her, lifting each of her legs in turn while he did so. Elizabeth felt a jolt of electricity each time his hands brushed her calves. Why did her hormones seem to have suddenly come back to life? And why with this man?

Once her stirrups were adjusted to Kendrick’s satisfaction, he showed her how to hold the reins in one hand and the pommel of the saddle with another.

‘It will make you feel more secure. If you want to go right, just pull the reins to the right and ditto for the opposite direction. You don’t have to use your legs—he’ll respond to your voice.’

Kendrick swung himself into his own saddle and wheeled his horse round.

‘Just follow me.’

As they left the compound behind Elizabeth began to relax, especially when Buster responded to her voice and the slightest pull on his reins. She looked around. The desert seemed to stretch on for as far as the eye could see, with the mountains in the distance. She hoped Kendrick had water in his saddlebags. Of course he would have water. He wasn’t the kind of man who would go into the desert unprepared. Risktaker he may be, but idiot he clearly wasn’t.

He brought his horse next to hers. ‘There’s a canyon about five miles from here. I thought we could stop there.’

‘Sounds good.’

‘How does it feel? Do you think you could manage to post—I mean trot? Or a short canter?’

‘I could try.’

‘Don’t try and rise or anything fancy. Just relax and stay with the horse’s movements. I’ll go in front. Buster likes to stay behind. If you feel yourself slipping, hold onto the pommel, say whoa and he will. Okay?’

Elizabeth’s mouth had gone dry so she simply nodded. Kendrick kicked his horse on to a slow trot and Buster followed immediately. Elizabeth clenched her teeth before remembering what Kendrick had said about relaxing. She forced her body to go with Buster’s rhythm and soon she found that it was okay. She could do this. All she had to do was concentrate.

Kendrick was riding with one hand on the rear of his saddle, looking back at her and watching to see how she was doing. If she’d dared let go of the saddle or the reins, she would have given him a thumbs-up. As it was, she managed a smile.