Come On Over

Come On Over Read Free

Book: Come On Over Read Free
Author: Debbi Rawlins
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paws,” she said, eyeing the dusty wood floor. “If you care.”
    She immediately regretted being snide. Trent ignored it, but she knew he’d heard. It wasn’t like her to be rude. But she was tired, hungry and not completely enamored of the run-down Eager Beaver ranch. Stupid name, anyway. She’d look into changing it first thing.
    And then there was Trent, whoever he was...besides tall and hot. Though being good-looking didn’t work in his favor. Not with her. She’d had it with men. And their expectations. And...well, just about everything.
    â€œHow many times have I told you to use the doormat?” Trent said to the dog, then ducked out and returned with a faded towel. “He get any mud on you?”
    She shook her head, then looked up. Trent’s eyes were an unusual gray. She hadn’t been able to tell earlier, but she’d noticed the strong jaw shadowed from a couple days’ growth of beard. With his dark wavy hair, tanned skin and long, lean body, he was the perfect image of the untamed cowboy conquering the rugged West. If a woman had a fanciful imagination, which she did not. Anyway, she was from Colorado and knew better. Not all cowboys were equal. But all men were.
    No, that wasn’t fair. She looked at her left hand, where her engagement ring used to be. She was still raw from Donald’s betrayal. From the proof that while he wanted to marry her, he didn’t know her at all. In time the sting would fade. She had to believe that if she wanted to start fresh, prove to herself she could be successful on her own terms.
    â€œCome here, boy.” Trent crouched beside her and gave the dog’s collar a light tug until his front paws were on the towel.
    Huddling between Trent and a console table felt too intimate so she stood. “What’s his name?”
    â€œMutt. Actually, it’s Ugly Mutt. Sometimes I call him Ugly. But mostly just Mutt.”
    She stared down at him, ready and waiting to disappoint him when he looked for her reaction to his baiting. But he never looked up, simply concentrated on cleaning the dog’s paws while her gaze followed the play of corded muscle along his forearms.
    â€œYou’re kidding, right?” she said finally.
    â€œAbout?”
    â€œHis name. You don’t really call him Ugly.”
    â€œSure I do.” He gave the dog an affectionate pat. “Look at him.”
    â€œThat’s awful.” How could he treat the poor animal that way? “
You’re
awful.”
    Trent smiled. “You know he doesn’t understand, right?”
    Her gaze caught on the laugh lines fanning out at the corner of his eye. Then slid to his muscled bicep straining the sleeve of the T-shirt. When she finally noticed that he was giving her a funny look, she realized she’d stopped listening.
    She cleared her throat and surveyed the room. “We need to straighten out this mess.”
    Trent glanced over his shoulder and frowned at the magazines and newspapers littering the coffee table. A pair of boots, one turned on its side, butted up to the burgundy recliner. “Which mess are we talking about?”
    â€œThe Eager Beaver,” she said, as it slowly dawned on her that the place was furnished with chairs, a high-quality leather sofa, a flat-screen TV, rugs... Trent wasn’t simply squatting or passing through. “And how quickly you can clear off my property.”
    He wasn’t taking her one bit seriously. With a lifted brow he slid his gaze down her body. “You suddenly found that deed somewhere?”
    â€œNo. I explained where it is. But you seem so sure of yourself, I’m assuming you have one.”
    That wiped the smirk off his face. “I do. Not here. My folks have it in their bank safe-deposit box.”
    â€œIn Blackfoot Falls? Shouldn’t take you long to get it.”
    â€œThey live in Dillon, four hours from here.”
    â€œOh, how

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