Winning Love Read Free Page B

Lance said. “You might as well get used to her. She’s going to be around.”
    She could almost hear his teeth grind. “Fine.”
    Gayle hid a smile of triumph and started walking. This time, footsteps followed her. She didn’t slow her pace or look behind her. When she reached her yard, she went around the side of the house toward the back.
    Those footsteps stopped. “Where are you going?”
    She didn’t slow, nor did she respond, just headed for the four-wheeler ATV parked outside her backdoor with a picnic basket strapped to the back. She hiked the hem of the sundress she’d changed into to mid-thigh and climbed on. Twisting, she patted the area behind her.
    Mac stared at her as if she’d lost her mind.
    She revved the engine and inched the four-wheeler forward until she was by his side.
    “Lance is right, you know. I’m not going away, so you might as well give me what I want. I promise to be on my best behavior…at least for tonight.”
    As his gaze roamed over her face, his brows pulled together in a fierce frown. “You have laugh lines.”
    To keep a burst of laughter in, she pressed her lips together and then worked her face into a serious expression. “It’s never nice to point out a woman’s wrinkles. Though, if we’re being honest with each other, you could use a few laugh lines.” She circled her index finger in front of his face. “You’ve got that curmudgeon look down to a science.”
    Again those lips didn’t even begin to initiate a smile. Wow. Curmudgeon might not be that far off. Not that he appeared old—not with a body like his—but his features carried a haggard edge to them, especially around the eyes. And in those eyes was a sadness that made her wonder what had put it there.
    “Sorry,” he said. “You just seemed so young before. But I can see now you’re not as young as I first thought.”
    Another chuckle tried to erupt. She mock-scowled. “Are you calling me old?”
    Being mistaken for a kid in her early twenties happened on a regular basis. That was, until they got a really good look at her. However, having her crow’s-feet pointed out was a first.
    “I’m just stating an observation.”
    “Fair enough.” She pointedly nodded her head at the ATV. “Get on.”
    Mac muttered, “What the hell,” and climbed on behind her. Muscular thighs surrounded her hips, causing tingles to erupt over her. She wanted to feel his chest pressed into her back, his hands wrapped around her waist, but he didn’t move to hang on to her.
    We’ll see about that. She gunned the four-wheeler forward. As his body jerked back, his thighs instinctively clenched around her and his arms flew around her waist. She smiled.
    Better.
    “Hang on, handsome. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
    She took off toward the wheat field that billowed behind the farmhouse. The heat of Mac’s touch seeped through her sundress and she inhaled a pleased breath. When she moved out here from Kansas City, she’d worried she’d have a hard time meeting someone, especially since the very hot Lance didn’t do a thing for her. Not that she would’ve started anything with him even if he had. Having a fling with her neighbor carried the risk of upsetting her day-to-day life. The men she chose to play with were temporaries, and when she moved on, seeing him every day wasn’t an option. Which made Mac perfect. Not only did he make everything inside her come to life, but he was out of here in a few weeks. Just long enough for her to scratch her itch.
    She just had to get him on board—and she would.
    Five minutes later, she stopped in the middle of the field. She loved this spot. It was far enough away from the houses so the artificial light didn’t dim the night sky. With no moon and the sun having set, they were in complete darkness. Stars glittered above them, and the canopy seemed to go on forever.
    She climbed off the ATV and waited for Mac to stand. When he did, she stretched around him, making sure her