Getting Ahead Read Free Page A

hadn’t even gotten all the way into the saddle since her fall.
    “Fine. But only because I don’t want to spend the evening alone.” Her friends tried to be helpful, but she couldn’t tell them what she was going through. As much as she loved them, any one of them could leak the information to the media. Exactly the sort of edge her opponents would love. Someone who didn’t know her or her situation would certainly be a welcome distraction.
    Besides, a little flirting never hurt anyone. It was a rarity that someone could hold his own in a conversation with her, and she was eager to see exactly where it might lead, if only for a few short minutes. That’s all she’d allow herself. A little chitchat, a single drink, then she’d be back to her own room to rest up before tomorrow. Despite his insistence in watching her and interrupting her plans, he seemed like a relatively normal guy. The ranch owner had assured her that his employees kept their heads down and noses clean. If Colt turned out to be anything less than a gentleman, he’d have something coming. She might look like a weak woman, but she could more than take care of herself.
    “Well, I’m happy to be your last choice for nightly entertainment. Let’s get this guy put away and then we can head back.” He smiled, but she saw a brief look of hurt on his face. Whatever the expression had been, it was gone before she could make any judgments. She grabbed the reins of her horse and followed him toward the stables.

Chapter Two
     
    “Do all the workers get accommodations like this?”
    Colt held the door open as she entered his bunk. After setting down her bag, she immediately headed into the living room.
    “Not quite. I’m special.” He slipped off his boots and started down the hall, hoping she wouldn’t ask any more questions. He wasn’t prepared to divulge any personal information. At least not yet. “You hungry? I don’t have much, but I could probably rustle up something.”
    “I could eat something.” Her boots thudded against the tile floor as she removed them. “So who’d you have to kill to get this place?”
    “No killing. I happen to be the owner’s favorite.” He piled a bunch of cheese from the fridge onto a plate, grabbed a container of salsa, and tucked a bag of tortilla chips under his chin. A bit embarrassed he didn’t have more to offer, he made his way out into the living room. “I told you I didn’t have much.” After setting the food down on the coffee table, he took a seat on the couch across from her.
    Immediately she dove into the food. It was nice to see a woman who wasn’t afraid to eat. “And, of course, the whiskey I promised.” He leaned off to the side and pulled out a couple of glasses and a fifth out from the side table. After popping the glass stopper from the bottle, he held it beneath his nose a moment before pouring a generous portion into each cup.
    Amber reached for the glass as he pushed it across the table, her fingers brushing against his for a second. Even in that brief moment, he could feel the electricity running through them. She felt it too. He knew it. Her face stayed strong, not showing the slightest hint of surprise. It was the tiniest jump before she snatched the glass back. If he hadn’t been watching for it, the movement would’ve gone unnoticed. Now that he’d seen it, he couldn’t ignore his instincts. He’d been attracted to her since the moment she had set foot on the ranch. It didn’t mean a thing unless she wanted him back. In that instant, she’d given him all the signs he needed to know that he stood a chance. The only question remaining unanswered was how to approach her. Amber wasn’t the easiest woman to talk to, and he doubted she’d be easy to woo.
    She sniffed her whiskey, then shrugged and tipped the glass back. Her face scrunched up as she coughed, clutching her chest and sticking her tongue out.
    On the other hand, if she kept up this pace, she’d spend the