Austin (New Horizon Ranch Book 8) Read Free Page B

well-worn chaps the soft, buttery tone of the golden edges of George’s biscuits. The combination was mouthwatering. Darn it, she had thought about that lawman all night and it hadn’t made her a happy camper. And now, here he was, looking better than breakfast.
    His green eyes caught hold of hers the moment he walked in, almost as if drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Or was that how she felt toward him ? It was ridiculous.
    “What are you doing here?” she asked after he’d nodded at a few fellas and came straight to her. As if she wanted to see him. Ha.
    “Good morning to you too.”
    His voice was husky just like she remembered it, just like she’d heard it in her dreams all stinkin’ night long. “Mornin’,” she managed, not wanting to lie now that she wasn’t sure whether it was a good morning or a bad one. “Well, why are you here? I haven’t broken any laws, I can assure you.” He chuckled and her insides curled up like kittens ready to cuddle.
    “I work here on my days off when they need extra help.”
    She frowned. “You didn’t tell me that yesterday.”
    “Didn’t know I was supposed to.”
    That had her snapping her lips shut.
    He grinned. “You always this testy or do I just bring out the best in you?”
    “I’m not testy.”
    He hitched a brow. “Thought you told me yesterday you didn’t lie.”
    “Okay, okay, maybe I’m a little testy. I just wasn’t expecting to see the law walk in.”
    “You got a problem with the law then, not me per se.”
    Oh, she wanted to tell him to take a hike with all his comebacks but Ty and Dalton walked up.
    “See you’ve met Jolene.” Dalton shook Austin’s hand. Ty did the same and greeted Austin warmly.
    It was easy to see he fit here. Easy to see she was going to have to deal with the fact that he would be working here and she would be running into him on a regular basis. “If you fellas will excuse me, I’m going to make sure my gear’s ready.” She didn’t wait around but headed out as she tried to figure out why the man bothered her so.
    Other than the fact that he was gorgeous and quick-witted and had kept her up during the night, he should have been lumped into the category of all the men she worked with—purely business.
     
     
    Riding in the back of the roundup, Austin pulled his bandana up over his nose and mouth as he trailed in the dust of the large herd they’d gathered. It was the dirtiest part of the job but it afforded him a view of Jolene as she rode straight and graceful in her saddle, and yet was aggressive when she needed to be. When a runaway bolted and headed for the trees, Jolene wheeled her horse on its back legs and charged to block the cow’s path, and turned it back in to the herd and warded off a potential group that might have followed the runaway. Austin smiled as she loped her horse back to the edge of the herd and went back to work. By lunch, he was ready for a bath—which he wouldn’t get till that night—but would settle for a cold drink. As they moved the herd to the edge of the river, where they could drink their fill of water, the crew dismounted and headed to the chow area that George and his crew had set up under some shade trees.
    After dusting himself off as best he could, Austin went to the water canisters and pulled a clean bandana from his back pocket and wet it. He was wiping his face when Jolene walked up to get a cup of water.
    “You did a good job out there today,” he said, hoping he’d gotten most of the dirt off his face.
    “Thanks, I guess. Did you think I might not?” She filled her cup and took a long swig as she held his gaze. The air was thick with tension as they stared at each other.
    “You’ve got some chip on your shoulder,” he said at last. He ran the rag over the back of his neck, letting the coolness try to disperse the new wave of heat that hit him the minute those piercing blue eyes touched his. “I don’t know what to say except that I pulled you over