Cowboy Heaven Read Free Page B

he managed the ranch, even though he’d always seemed to be somewhat lacking in personality. Far from being interested in me in the romantic sense, he seemed to disapprove of me. He was always considerate and respectful, but I couldn’t help feeling there was something about me he didn’t like. I could almost see it in his eyes.
    Cody must not have told any of the other men about the fun things we’d indulged in while we were alone, for none of them had ever stepped forward to take his place. Dad had made no secret of the fact that he thought my marrying Rufus might not be a bad idea, but it didn’t look as though there was much chance of that ever happening. Besides, I didn’t love Rufus, and he sure as hell didn’t love me.
    Cody had spoiled me. I knew what a marriage could be like with the right man, and I wasn’t about to settle for anything less. I had my memories and my fantasies, and for the rest, well, let’s just say I wasn’t willing to compromise. After Cody’s death, my friends had told me I couldn’t afford to be choosy—especially at my age—but we weren’t talking about their lives. This was my life and my decision. Just as it had been my decision to pick up a startlingly handsome cowboy who had gotten my mind working along erotic lines again, much the way Cody had when I’d first laid eyes on him as a junior in high school.
    I glanced over at the cowboy, noting his anxious, wide-eyed expression. No doubt he expected that someone who could withdraw so completely wouldn’t be able to drive safely, but it had never been a problem for me, and it helped to pass the time I spent on the road.
    â€œSorry,” I said. “I was thinking about something else. Jackson Hole is about two hundred miles from here.” With a fuck every twenty miles and two more when we got there, that made twelve times he would have to get it up. I doubted there was a man alive who could actually do that.
    So much for fantasy.
    He blew out a pent-up breath. “I was afraid of that. Like I said, I was asleep—I had no idea where I was when I started walking. I’m not sure I can walk that far.”
    â€œNot in those boots, anyway,” I agreed. “Not made for walking, are they?”
    With a rueful shake of his head, he glanced toward his boots, then back at me. “Not at all. I’ve probably got blisters on top of blisters by now. Would you mind if I took them off?”
    No, dear, you can take off anything you like, starting with your boots and working up to your hat. The mere thought made my nipples tingle.
    â€œNo,” I said aloud. “But I should warn you we’re almost to the point where I have to let you out.”
    He swore softly under his breath. “I was afraid of that, too.” He looked so miserable at the prospect of getting out and walking again that I had to think of something, some other alternative we hadn’t considered yet—or maybe I had, somewhere in the midst of my fantasy.
    â€œTell you what,” I said, doing my best to sound as though I were doing him a bigger favor than he would be doing for me. “Let me take you back to the ranch. You can rest for a while—take a shower, even spend the night if you like. Then you can call someone to come and get you. You must have some friends on the rodeo circuit who would do that for you.”
    â€œI guess I could.” He chewed his lip thoughtfully. I had to turn away from him for a moment as another wave of desire washed over me.
    No, I wasn’t the one doing him any favors. The pleasure of his company would be all mine, and if he couldn’t find anyone else to give him a ride, I would do it myself. I just wouldn’t do it today—after all, I had supplies in the truck that were needed at home, and I’d have to at least unload them before I could make a run into Jackson Hole. It would, at the very earliest, be ten or so the