Read Online Forever Together by Leeanna Morgan - Free Book Online Page B

so
close that Kate felt his body heat through her T-shirt.
    “I’m not your enemy.”
    Kate frowned. “I never thought you were.” It
was difficult to think straight with Dan’s blue eyes focused on
her. She took a step backward, needing more than a few feet between
them to stop the confusing thoughts racing through her brain. She
couldn’t be attracted to Dan. He didn’t trust her, didn’t want
anything to do with her except to know she hadn’t left Bozeman.
    “Why do you always think the worst of me?”
she asked.
    Dan’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t trust
easily.”
    “No kidding,” she muttered.
    “And you, on the other hand, are an open
book.”
    Kate crossed her arms in front of her chest.
“There are plenty of people who know the real me.”
    “Why do I find that hard to believe?”
    Kate shrugged her shoulders. “Could be that
old trust issue rearing its head again.”
    “I don’t think so, Kathleen Jennings. I think
you’re all bluff and bravado. Deep down there are things going on
in your life that you don’t want to share with anyone.”
    She didn’t like the way Dan was staring at
her. The way he got under her skin and made her conscience itch.
“I’ve got my reasons and I’ve also got Loretta waiting for me.
Enjoy crowd control.”
    “Wait a minute.” Dan’s hand shot out. “How
are you feeling?”
    For a split second, Kate panicked. “About
what?”
    “When we were at the hospital last night you
were upset. I wanted to make sure you’re okay now.”
    “I’m fine.” Kate offered him a half-hearted
smile. She wasn’t fine. She was just as scared as Anna, but for
double the same reason. All night she’d thought about Lily, the
endless visits to the hospital and the day her sister had died.
    Dan’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t believe you,
but I guess that’s become standard practice between the two of us.
I’m here if you need me.”
    “Are you sure there are no strings
attached?”
    “Only the ones keeping you in town.”
    The grin on Dan’s face made Kate smile. “I’ll
see you later.” She felt his gaze between her shoulder blades as
she left the backstage area.
    There was no doubt about it. Dan Carter was a
mystery, a man better left to someone else’s devices. He might be
able to charm the pants of a porcupine, but he wouldn’t be getting
anywhere near her. Kate was an independent, sworn-to-singleness
kind of woman. And Dan Carter was trouble.
     
    ***
    Kate yawned as she put the helmet her dad had
given her on her head. She hadn’t made it back to the ranch until
after eleven o’clock last night. She was tired but excited. The
dress rehearsal for the fashion show had been exhausting,
nerve-wracking and fascinating. After more than one false start, everyone knew what they
were supposed to be doing. They’d followed Flavio's instructions
perfectly and tonight’s show was going to be amazing.
    She gave the strap under her chin one last
tug before starting the engine on her four-wheeler. She followed
Tom across the yard, zooming across the gravel, kicking up a dust
storm behind her. For the last few mornings, she’d worked with her dad, looking for fences
that needed mending or moving cattle into fresh pasture.
    At first she hadn’t been too sure she’d be of
much use. She could have written what she knew about living on a
ranch on the back of a postage stamp. But between her father’s
patience and her determination, they’d figured out a way of working
together.
    Kate watched Tom’s back as he pulled his bike
to the left to check on the fence they’d mended yesterday.
    “Looks good,” Tom yelled over the growl of
his engine. “We’ll head across to the far pasture. I want to check
the moisture levels in the soil. If it’s too dry, we’ll need to set up the irrigation
system.”
    Kate didn’t know how big her father’s
irrigation system was, but she’d seen the neighbor’s machine
working yesterday. The metal frame had stretched across the