Owned for Christmas Read Free

Ranch, just outside Dallas, training racehorses. It was a long way from Brewster County to Colorado. What were the chances that the only man to ever break her heart had ended up working for her boyfriend’s family’s ranch? Could anyone have worse luck than she did?
    “Grant, what are you doing here?” Gale marched up to the man, slapping his hand back from the salad bowl, where he picked olives off the top.
    Kate remained frozen, standing just inside the kitchen threshold, unable to move any farther forward.
    “I thought you were out with the cows?” Gale retrieved a knife from the counter and started slicing a loaf of fresh bread. She continued with her dinner preparations as if Kate’s whole world wasn’t slipping away beneath her.
    “I was. I finished up early. I wanted to rush home and meet my little brother’s new girl.”
    Little brother. Kate’s stomach lurched at the words. It couldn’t be. This couldn’t be Daniel’s brother. Grant was nothing like the man she loved.
    He looked over at her. For a second, she almost thought he recognized her. The flicker of surprise filled his eyes. Then it vanished as though it had never been there at all. He grabbed a slice of bread from the pile Gale had cut then bit into the soft golden crust.
    “If you’re going to eat a piece, take a plate.” Gale handed him one from the stack to the side of the cutting board. “You don’t want Kate to think she’s come to have Christmas with a pack of animals.”
    His pewter gaze met Kate’s. A shiver ran through her. He didn’t smile but the smugness in his words prickled her nerves.
    “No, we wouldn’t want that .”
    “Oh, where are my manners? Kate, this is my older boy, Grant. Grant, this is Danny’s new girl, Kate.” She leaned closer to him as though whispering a secret but Kate heard every word. “Be nice to her. Your brother seems very smitten with her.”
    Grant smiled over at her. Kate’s insides twisted into even tighter knots.
    “I’m always nice.”
    Bullshit. Grant isn’t nice . It was what she had liked the most about him.
    He extended his hand to shake hers. She stared down at it. His palm and fingers were calloused, more calloused than before. But she could still remember how those fingers had felt wrapped around her wrists, holding her tightly while he’d spanked her ass with a paddle.
    She lifted her eyes to find his gaze focused on her, watching her like she was a bug in a jar. A surge of awareness ran through her body. How long had they been staring at each other? It seemed like forever. If I don’t take his hand soon, Gale might notice .
    This was far worse than any of the scenarios Kate had nervously run in her head on the airplane or during the drive to the ranch. Even in her worst nightmares, she never would have imagined bumping into Grant again, let alone here. She couldn’t describe her relationship with Grant to anyone—least of all his mother.
    She extended her hand. Her fingers shook as she slipped her hand into his palm. “Nice to meet you.”
    “Now you’ve officially met her.” Gale motioned with her knife, pointing out of the kitchen. “Go wash up. Dinner will be ready in a half hour.”
    “Yes, Mom.” He placed the plate and half-eaten bread slice on the counter. He offered Kate a wink as he walked out of the door.
    Her stomach sank. An aching, hollow feeling took root in her chest. How could he be so nonchalant about seeing her again? He had acted as though he didn’t know her. Like he hadn’t seen her naked, hadn’t flogged her to orgasm, hadn’t seen the most dark and twisted parts of her. The sections she didn’t show to anyone else—and certainly not to Daniel.
    His brother. How can this be? They are so different, almost polar opposites. Daniel was all light fun and easy-going sweetness. And Grant was dominant, wicked and dark in all the ways that made her toes curl. Grant was everything she wasn’t supposed to want anymore.
    Her mind raced. The walls