Read Online Buckle Down by Melissa Ecker - Free Book Online Page B

angry because he cared about this horse and
her unborn baby? “Of course I understand. How about if I just make us some
sandwiches and we can sit out there by the stable? Like a picnic.” She smiled
at him. “That is if you have the fixings for sandwiches. If not, I can go pick
something up in town and bring it back.”
    He cringed. “I haven’t been to the store. I don’t really
have much here except Cup O’Soup and coffee.”
    “No worries. I’ll go out to Jake’s and get barbecue
sandwiches.”
    “You’re too good to be true, Tess.” He kissed her and pulled
her inside his apartment. “I missed you.”
    “I missed you, too.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
    His hand slid up to squeeze her breast. “Let’s have a snack
first.”
    She laughed against his lips. “Stop that, you horny toad.
We’re going to eat first.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “That’s exactly what I had in mind.”
    A tingle started between her thighs and her nipples
hardened. She knew how good that would feel. Shaking off the thought, she said,
“No. You go check on Sierra and I’ll go get food.” She kissed his cheek. “Be
back.”
    He poked his bottom lip out. “Okay. Fine.”
    “No pouting. I’ll make it up to you later. I promise.” She
jogged out to her truck and headed back to town.
    An hour later she parked in the spot beside his truck and
carried the bags to his apartment. She went inside and laid the items out on
the table. Jake made the best pulled pork sandwiches in Central Arkansas.
Nobody could replicate his barbecue sauce or his slaw. It had been a long time
since Tess’d had one and she licked her lips. She had also stopped at the store
and bought a jug of sweet tea and salt and vinegar chips along with a few other
snack items to keep them. She didn’t know how long Sierra would take to foal,
but it might be a long night.
    Leaving everything set up to eat, she strolled out to the
stables and found Shane rubbing Sierra’s nose.
    “How’s she doing?” Tess stepped up on the gate and peered
inside.
    Shane smiled. “She’s doing good. Everything seems to be
progressing normally.”
    “Can you come in for a bit and eat?” She looked at her
watch. It was half-past-six already.
    “Yeah. I think she’s still a few hours off from delivering.”
He climbed over the gate and grabbed Tess, pulling her up on his back.
    She squealed and held onto his shoulders while he piggy
backed her all the way to his apartment.
    “That smells so good.” Shane set her on her feet on the
tiled kitchen floor. “I haven’t eaten there before.”
    “Jake is famous for his sandwiches. I hope you like pork.”
    “We’re from Arkansas. Of course I like pork. Soo-ie. Go
hogs.”
    Tess laughed and opened the refrigerator to bring the tea to
the small table. “Can you get a couple of glasses?”
    Shane set two plastic tumblers beside their food and pulled Tess’
chair out for her. “Thank you. This is really nice.” He poured tea into the
cups and sat down across from her.
    She unwrapped her sandwich and bit in. Closing her eyes, she
groaned. “So good.”
    Shane agreed and polished off his entire sandwich and more
than half of the chips.
    Tess wrapped up what was left of hers and put it into the
refrigerator.
    They sat outside Sierra’s stall and talked while the mare
paced and panted.
    “Tell me about your family,” Tess said, playing with a piece
of hay.
    “There’s not much to tell. My dad’s a truck driver. Mom
works in a grocery store. My brother is a roughneck. He works in the oil fields.”
    “What do they think about you breaking into the rodeo
arena?”
    He stretched his legs out in front of him and crossed his
ankles. “My mom worries. She’s afraid I’ll get hurt. My dad is proud. Tells
everyone I’m a big star. I don’t talk to my brother much. He’s married with a
baby on the way and works his ass off.”
    “It is dangerous. Luke has been hurt pretty bad a couple of
times. It’s hard to watch