Her Dream Cowboy Read Free

idea of having a woman depend on him but none ever took well to him doing so. Too independent or too needy. He’d never quite found the one who struck the balance.
    Maybe Sophie could…?
    He shrugged off the thought. No, a relationship with a tourist was a bad idea. Even if it lasted more than her short stay, she’d soon realize he wasn’t the cowboy of her dreams.
    When she tilted her head up to his, he found himself caught up in her pretty dark eyes. He heard her sharp intake of breath and a shudder wracked her. He hoped it was no longer fear that made her shiver.
    Lips parted and he knew he had no choice. He had to kiss her.
    Dipping his head, he skimmed his mouth across hers experimentally. When she didn’t pull back, he tried again, pressing harder this time. She released a tiny moan and shocked him by slipping her tongue in his mouth.
    Luke’s body responded immediately, and he grazed his hands down to cup her ass and rock her into his arousal. She gasped. Had he scared her? Apparently not, as she looped both hands around his neck and twined her fingers in his hair.
    Damn, the woman could kiss. So much for the stiff British upper lip. She explored his mouth, tangling her tongue greedily with his. Her ass gave way under his fingertips when he molded his hands around them and squeezed. Blood rushed through him and all he thought of was stripping her bare and feasting on every inch of her.
    A squawk from above broke through his lusty haze as she jolted in his arms at the sound and he prized himself away. Dammit, she was here to see the sights. To see the blasted wildlife, not kiss him. Lips flushed and soft, she gazed dreamily at him, cheeks pink. Too roughly he thrust her back and her dreamy state snapped quickly away.
    “Sorry,” he muttered. “Unprofessional of me. Didn’t mean anything by it.”
    Sophie scowled and tugged her askew T-shirt back into place. “What did you expect? That I’d fall head over heels for you? It was just a kiss, nothing more.”
    Just a kiss? Luke righted his hat and stared at her. Just a kiss? Yeah, a kiss that boiled his blood. A kiss that made him forget all reason. A kiss that made him want to pin her to the dusty ground and take everything she could give. Like hell was it just a kiss.
    But maybe it was to her. Maybe she always got that reaction off men.
    With a grumbled curse, he turned his attention to the horses. “I need to get them some water,” he told her without glancing back. “There’s a stream just over there.” He pointed over the brow of the hill. “Try not to scare any more snakes.”
    ~* * *~
    Sophie fumed as she followed Luke and he pointed out various sights. They’d even spotted an eagle, but she couldn’t bring herself to be excited. Though he remained totally professional, she already missed their easy camaraderie.
    It was all her fault for behaving like a sex-starved teenager.
    Didn’t mean anything by it.
    Bloody man. How could he just kiss her and then be so cool and distant? Her cheeks heated as she considered her response to him. She remembered the press of his arousal against her juncture, and a dart of longing gathered between her thighs. Maybe she was sex-starved.
    All she knew was it would be hard to forget the feel of his firm lips and strong body pressed against hers. But then he doubtless had women throwing themselves at him all the time. He likely thought of her as an inconvenience. Having swooning tourists pawing all over him probably got tiring after a while.
    As the sun began to set he brought them to a stop. Sophie sat for a moment and admired the golden steaks across the sky. Then Luke came to her side and she had to stop and admire him too.
    “It’s beautiful,” she breathed, unsure of whether she was talking of him or the sunset.
    “Yep,” he agreed, though his gaze lingered on her. Was he having similar thoughts? Her chest constricted as his gray eyes darkened. “Beautiful.”
    Unable to bear the heat building between them,