Read Online Almost a Cowboy by Em Petrova - Free Book Online Page A

afternoon, but they’d have some traveling hours before night descended. Then Utah planned to stop at a decent motel and keep Caroline screaming in pleasure until everyone in the place knew his name.
    She wrapped her arms around her middle. “Lonely? Maybe.”
    He focused on the place where the road converged on the horizon. His chest tightened with the realization there might have been someone special in her life before he dive-bombed her at the bar—then at her house.
    She did have a lot of condoms.
    “Arial was the only thing in your life?”
    She glanced at him. “Work, my ma, and Arial, yes.”
    He had to ask, even though he already knew her ex was a jerk. “Your ex…”
    She jerked and stiffened. Her spine was so tense he feared she might snap it. “He’s nothing.”
    “Your reaction doesn’t seem like nothing.”
    A blue eye glared at him through waves of hair. “I’m not talking about him.”
    He blew out a breath, thankful but worried at once. “Fair enough.”
    “He was a mistake, Utah. A huge mistake. After you left for college, I was wrecked.”
    He swallowed a rising lump. “Know the feeling.”
    “But you didn’t go off and get yourself hitched. Was there never anyone special to you?”
    Considering her words took less than a second. “Nope.” He placed his hand on her thigh again and squeezed. “It was always you, Caroline.”
    She released a pent-up breath and inched against his side once more.
    “You were worried folks in town might say something about us being together, weren’t you?” He ran his knuckles toward her knee.
    “A little bit. I’ve spent enough time kicking my own ass for bad decisions. I’ve had to suffer through everyone’s opinions on that as well.”
    “No Coach Milton popping out of the drugstore aisles, telling us we’re screwing up our lives.”
    She giggled. “I expected it, didn’t you?”
    “Honestly, yes. Remember that Sunday when you showed up in church wearing my ring? God, I thought they’d find a reason to sacrifice us.” Half the congregation had practically stood in line to tell them how stupid they were, ask if Caroline was knocked up, and “remind” Utah of his talent at football.
    “They weren’t right.” She shook her head hard and said it again, “ They weren’t right. ”
    He applied pressure to her leg. “No. But we’re telling them now by being together.”
    Caroline rested her head against his shoulder. “We’re giving them the finger.” She sounded cold, as if she wanted to do more than that. The tone worried him.
    He didn’t want to believe she’d lost her innocence with some bastard ex-husband Utah had failed to save her from.
    They were silent the rest of the way to the ranch. When they pulled up before the house, his brothers stepped onto the porch, looking like a pair of gunslingers, arms folded and legs braced wide.
    Utah shoved out a breath. “Stay here.”
    He climbed out of the truck, fists clenched and prepared to brawl.
    “Looks like the prodigal son hasn’t run yet, after all.” Gunnison nudged his hat back enough to set his glare on Utah.
    “Not runnin’. I have business to see to.” He approached his brothers slowly. Annoyance was a hot stone in his gut.
    “Business with Mrs. Jeremy Robinson,” Clinton said, raising his chin toward the truck where Caroline sat.
    His words rocked Utah’s control. He didn’t like hearing Caroline’s former name. The last person who’d told him her ex’s name had narrowly escaped with his teeth. When Utah returned following his ma’s death, a guy at the bar taunted him with this information. Utah had burned to put the man in the hospital, but instead he’d walked out without ever ordering a drink.
    People had interfered in his life enough. When it came to Caroline, his brothers had better toe the line, or else.
    Utah barreled right into Clinton’s space. “Her name’s Wilks again. You don’t got a problem with us being together. Your problem is with