Read Online Fox, Morgan - Discovering Temptation [Texas Stallions 1] (Siren Publishing Allure) by Morgan Fox - Free Book Online

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    Abby studied him, wondering how she could’ve gotten so lucky to have three men under her roof that resembled rough-riding cowboy gods instead of ordinary men. Cooper’s broad shoulders filled her vision as he stood uncomfortably close. She wished she had grabbed her robe before leaving her room, since her nipples were showing a clear sign of her arousal and desire. She inhaled deeply and the scent of his body reminded her of fresh, new-fallen snow. His smooth olive skin seemed untarnished by hours spent in the sun.
    Her heart raced as she admired the intensity in his gaze. She couldn’t think straight with him standing so close to her. One deep breath and surely her breast would rub up against his chest. She took a side step toward the refrigerator and created much-needed space.
    “Um, what were we talking about?” she asked, trying her best to keep her composure.
    He turned and leaned against the countertop and folded his arms over his chest. “Why are you so defensive?”
    How could she possibly expect him to understand? She always believed that no one would truly understand what she had gone through living with a woman who only saw dollar signs and cared what society thought. How could she explain, without sounding like an ungrateful brat? “Look, it’s not important. I really just came out here to grab a drink and something to eat.”
    “So you think your life is too complicated for a redneck like me to understand, then?” His tone with her had changed, making him sound annoyed and a little angry.
    She choked on her words. “No,” she quickly retorted. “That’s not what I think at all.” Well, technically, wasn’t that exactly what she was thinking? “I just don’t think that the story of my life and an overbearing mother is worth listening to.”
    His sexy blue eyes narrowed. “Why don’t you let me decide that?”
    Abby watched him curiously. The heavy stare she witnessed told her he was dead serious, and the way he didn’t seem to want to budge from her side made it all the more obvious that he wasn’t planning on leaving without hearing her pathetic story.
    “Look, it’s my own cross to bear, okay. I have mommy issues.” her eyes rounded as she emphasized the word mommy. “I’m not one for being paraded around like some freaking doll, and that’s exactly what my mother did to me. I was forced to live in her shadow and was critiqued at every turn. Nothing I did was ever good enough in her eyes.” She sighed hard, hating that her mother had had so much power over her. “I’m just tired of being questioned about every damn decision I make.”
    “Your mother sounds like a real”—pausing, his eyes darted up to hers, and with a crooked smile, he finished his thought—“gem.”
    Abby smiled at his polite description, which really meant something else altogether. “You could say that.”
    “If I’m reading you right, taking over this ranch means a lot more than just hard work. This is basically a new start for you.”
    Relieved that Cooper understood her, she relaxed a little, reached into the fridge, and pulled out a can of soda. “Yes, that’s exactly what this is.” The can hissed as she popped the aluminum top.
    “Then having some lunatic wreak havoc on your plans must really piss you off?”
    With a long hesitation, Abby finally admitted, “It does, more than I think any of you could possibly know. If the person attacking me is Jackson, I hope the cops find him and put him away. He’s the worst sort and my own damn fault.”
    “How do you mean?”
    She took a sip of her soda and leaned against the cabinet beside her. “My mother despised men with long hair, tattoos, and earrings. She hated anything that wasn’t proper.” Abby grinned from ear to ear, remembering the day vividly. “When I met Jackson, he was the perfect man to drive my mother crazy, and boy, did he ever. She freaked the moment I brought him over for dinner. I made sure she was having one of her