Read Online The Cattleman by Angi Morgan - Free Book Online

her to her feet. She closed her eyes to keep from giving herself away. She played her feminine card, breathing harder, knowing that her chest was propelling her thinly-covered breasts closer to him. Knowing that no matter what was or wasn’t between them, under it all...he was just a guy. His stance weakened as he bent to check on her and she struck.
    Lightning fast she whipped her hand behind his ankle and yanked. With a resounding whack , he joined her on the hay pile. The moaning next to her was a positive indication she’d succeeded in her mission.
    “I’m thinking that move isn’t totally fair.”
    She twisted her face toward his, almost as close as when his back had pressed against her. “Why do you say that?”
    “I don’t have that weapon in my arsenal. Never will.” He rose on an elbow, his eyes cutting to the cleavage at the top of her tight sports bra.
    It was her turn to laugh. “No, I guess you don’t.”
    “We should head to our respective corners before we break something.” His fingertips skimmed the top seam of her tank.
    It was worse torture than if he’d pinned her shoulders to the ground. She couldn’t move. Her pulse raced in anticipation. She craved more. Another stroke. A single kiss. Shoot, just holding his hand when they were alone would be nice.
    “What could we...um...break out here?”
    “The rules.”
    He rolled away and stood, leaving her to fend for herself. If he hadn’t, she would have been all over him. It was better this way. Much better. She’d be heading home in another week. Sooner if she didn’t conquer her fear of those four-legged monsters at rest in the stalls.
    She’d never caught herself wishing for things to be different, but...
    She really wished their situation was different.
    “Meet you back here after breakfast.”
    “Not today.” He swiped at the straw stuck to his loose jeans.
    The man really did need new clothes that fit him after all the workouts he’d done this year to get strong. Of course, then everyone else would see what was hidden. Beth sort of liked the idea that she was the only woman who knew about the hidden muscles.
    She swallowed hard, trying to hide her excitement. Nick might mistake it as excitement for the horse. “I thought I had to saddle Applewine all by my lonesome today.”
    “You do, but dad can supervise.” He began walking out the door, swinging his arms into his jacket.
    The weather had turned much colder in the past couple of days. She’d already mentioned to Juliet she was thankful for the thicker coat she’d purchased in Alpine.
    “Wait. Why can’t you walk me through it?” He was hiding something from her. “Are you driving to Fort Davis? Marfa? Abilene?” She watched him shake his head as she ran through the town names. “But you are going somewhere.”
    “I’ll be back in a couple of days.”
    “You are not going into those mountains without me, and there’s no use arguing about it.”
    He slammed his hand against the wall and then dropped his forehead against the painted wood. “You can’t. I need to be on my own tomorrow.”
    Tomorrow was the anniversary of the day he’d been shot. Everybody was worried about him. Honestly, she’d expected to find him gone today instead of sparring with her. Her change of clothes and toothbrush were already in saddlebags his father had provided.
    She comforted Nick—as much as she could someone in his situation—by placing her hand on his shoulder. It was his only body part she trusted herself to touch. “I’ll go with you. It’ll give us a chance to talk.”
    “It would be a lot simpler if you just let me handle this.”
    “We both know that’s not a good idea.”
    He pivoted and her hand slid across his rigid chest. She recognized the angst, the worry that he’d lose it. The tick in his jaw was as pronounced as the worry wrinkle between his eyes. Gorgeous eyes that excited her with each glance. They warmed her just by looking at her, as if she’d