Read Online Always a Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller - Free Book Online

she’d been pretty brazen already. “Can you wait two more weeks? I need that much time for my study, and you’ve had this herd around for a while, anyway. Then I promise I’ll get out of your hair. I was planning on staying a month.”
    A bribe of sorts, and a shameless one.
    His cooperation in exchange for getting rid of her. She figured he might go for it.
    â€œA month!” He seemed properly horrified.
    â€œYou’d have one less week with me—if you’ll just hold off a bit.”
    He took the deal. He smiled grimly and jerked off his glove, then thrust out his hand. “Let’s shake on it.”
    Solid grip. He didn’t try to break her fingers or anything, which she appreciated, since she could tell he’d reached the end of his patience.
    He had the bluest eyes she’d ever seen.
    Was there any chance he’d actually pose for a formal photograph? Maybe next to that giant horse of his... Uh-uh, she thought wisely. This would not be the right moment to ask more of Mr. Drake Carson.
    Instead, she said simply, “Thanks.”
    â€œDon’t mention it,” he muttered as he stalked away. “All I ask is that you be a man of your word.”
    â€œI’m not a man,” she called out to his retreating back.
    â€œI’ve noticed that,” he said.
    He didn’t turn around.

CHAPTER FIVE
    T HE WEEKLY POKER GAME was set up at Bad Billy’s Biker Bar and Burger Palace. Drake could use a cold one, so he approved of the choice. He spotted two of his friends already at the table, then sauntered up to the bar and nodded at Billy in greeting. “Who’s waiting tonight? Thelma?”
    â€œSure is. Full of piss and vinegar, too. Got into a fender bender on her way to work. You know how she loves that old car. You boys be on your best behavior.”
    â€œThanks for the warning.” Thelma was a crusty older lady who, like Harry, tolerated no nonsense. Billy didn’t need a bouncer; if anybody dared misbehave, Thelma effectively booted him out, although how she managed it when she was only about five feet high—and that was on a tall day—was a mystery. She never had a problem getting her point across, either. “Tell her I’ll have my usual, and be polite about it, okay? Especially if she’s in a no-bullshit mood.” The place seemed busier than ever that night.
    Billy laughed, a low rumble in his wide chest. “You are a wise man, my friend. Our Thelma has a soft spot for you, but she’s about reached her cowboy quotient for the day, so I’ll go ahead and draw your beer myself.”
    Tripp Galloway and Tate Calder were halfway through their first mugs of beer, elbows resting comfortably on the nicked wooden table. Tripp hooked a foot around a chair and tugged it out so Drake could sit. “You’re late, but Spence texted and said he was tied up, so you don’t get the slow prize this time. He figures maybe twenty minutes.”
    Drake took the chair. In the background a jukebox was playing Willie Nelson and the place was loud, but never so loud that you couldn’t talk to the people at your table. One of the many reasons he disliked big cities was the noise—restaurants where you couldn’t hear yourself think, much less converse with the person next to you. Traffic snarls, horns honking, sirens blaring. The skyscrapers and office buildings made him feel hemmed in, and the smell of exhaust fumes followed you everywhere. Give him the sweet scent of long grass in a clean breeze.
    Tate said, “I need to warn you that Thelma’s on the warpath and she’s headed this way.”
    â€œBilly mentioned that she was in some kind of snit,” Drake muttered under his breath, just before she plonked down his beer.
    â€œCarson, you’re always running late. And where’s that worthless Spence Hogan, anyway? I spent some quality time with him earlier.”
    Spence was the