Read Online Her Dream Cowboy by Samantha Holt, Emily Silva - Free Book Online Page B

as Luke had requested of her earlier that morning. His efficient manner disappointed her slightly, but she knew she should be grateful he wasn’t flirting with her any more.
    Hopefully the ride through the countryside would wake her up. In spite of a comfortable room, dreams of a certain sexy cowboy had haunted her. She really didn’t need a fling. Life was already messy as it was. And just because she had a crush on him, didn’t mean he was remotely interested in her. Gorgeous man that he was, he probably dealt with love-sick tourists constantly.
    It didn’t stop her from admiring the snug fit of his jeans while he readied the horse though.
    Luke glanced over his shoulder at her and flashed her a grin. Her heart skipped a beat, and a flush of heat rolled through her.
    “Have you got everything?”
    “I think so.” She lifted her bag, and he took it from her and hooked it onto the saddle.
    “Say hello to Rocky.”
    “Hello, Rocky.” She put out a hand, and Rocky put her silver muzzle to it. Sophie giggled as the horse snuffled and pressed against her. It had been too long since she’d ridden.
    Glancing at Luke, she flushed as a curious expression came across his face. Gray eyes softened while he watched her with Rocky. And then…
    And then he moved behind her. Oh God. The scent of soap surrounded her, and she felt the heat of his body traverse the gap between them. It took all her strength not to lean back into those strong arms.
    “You need a hand?”
    Sophie nodded dumbly. She probably didn’t, but right now her legs barely worked. Hands on her hips, he lifted her as she hooked a foot into the stirrup and put her leg over. The sensation of his fingers on her body lingered and she peeked down at her jeans, half expecting them to have singe marks.
    She observed him mount his own buckskin horse, admiring the ease with which he moved. The man was made to ride a horse, she concluded, and then realized her stupidity. He had probably ridden for just about forever, of course he was made to ride a horse.
    He motioned her to follow as he set the pace, and she came up beside him.
    “You ok?” Luke asked.
    “Yes, just getting used to it again.”
    “Your info said you were an experienced rider.”
    “I was—I mean I am—but it’s been a while. I kind of lost custody of my horse.”
    “Lost custody?”
    “Divorce,” she stated simply.
    “Ah. Sorry to hear that. No children then?”
    “No.”
    Another bone of contention between her and David. She wanted them, he didn’t. Thank goodness they hadn’t had any though. Bad enough they fought over their belongings and the horses—she couldn’t imagine how it would have been if she’d had to fight him for children too. Thankfully she’d come away with enough money to keep her going for quite a while, but losing the house still stung.
    “Sorry,” he murmured again. “I didn’t mean to make you sad.”
    Sophie peered at the cowboy in surprise. Pretty perceptive for a man. She thought she hid her emotions fairly well after nearly a decade of disguising them.
    She offered him a smile. “It’s ok, I’m not sad really. Not about the divorce anyway. Just the time wasted, you know?”
    “Yeah, I get it. I feel like that sometimes.”
    “You’re divorced?” Sophie failed to hide the astonishment from her voice. How could anyone leave the sexy cowboy? If he were hers, she’d do everything to keep hold of him. If he was mine? What was she thinking?
    “No, though I wasted plenty of time in dead-end relationships too. This place took a lot of work to build up and I guess I neglected my relationships. My last girlfriend couldn’t cope with me spending weeks on the trail with clients.”
    “Guess absence doesn’t make the heart grow fonder then,” she teased. “I didn’t realize you owned the ranch,” she added. She suspected there was a lot more to Luke than just a way with horses…and women probably.
    “Yeah, been in the family for a long time. But times