Read Online Love Somebody Like You by Susan Fox - Free Book Online

out of herself. And, worse, if she actually fell for him, she would give him power over her. Never would she let another man have that kind of power.
    This morning, she would tell Ben to go. She had to.
    Yawning, she rose. She’d showered before bed, so now only did a quick face-wash, hair-comb, and tooth-brushing before pulling on clean clothes. Every day she wore the same thing: jeans and a plain T-shirt with a long-sleeved shirt over it, each item a size too large so her body was concealed rather than on display. The knees of the jeans she put on were wearing through. Hopefully, they’d hold out until she acquired a new student or boarder to ease her dire financial situation.
    As she went downstairs, the welcome aroma of strong coffee told her that the coffeemaker’s timer had done its job. She filled a mug and flicked on the radio, tuned to CXNG. The news never interested her much, but she enjoyed the country music.
    Deciding against eggs, she poured a bowl of generic bran flakes, sliced the last banana—overripe, but edible—on top, and added milk. The milk carton was almost empty and so was the fridge, but today was grocery delivery day.
    She went through the mudroom and unlocked the outside door, then settled at the deck table with her breakfast. As she ate, she surveyed her domain and sighed with pleasure. Despite her financial worries and the pressure of too much work, life was pretty wonderful. The landscape was both stunning and peaceful. A pale, gentle sun shone in a clear sky, promising a beautiful day.
    Her time would be spent with her three pleasures in life: her horses, the children who came for lessons, and her flock of chickens. And her day would be free of fear. There’d be no Pete with his impossibly high standards. No Pete to make her second-guess her every move for fear she’d do something to set him off.
    Breakfast finished, she rose. There would be no Ben either, because she’d send him away as soon as he woke up. Maybe she should offer him a cup of coffee first, so she wouldn’t seem too rude about rejecting his offer of help. He was being gracious; he was being a cowboy. And she was turning up her nose.
    For a moment, she imagined what it might be like to accept his offer. To share the workload. To have time to tend the garden. To look up from whatever activity she was engaged in and see Ben. Ben leading a horse from the barn; Ben cheering after she took Melody around the barrels; Ben on the back of his American Paint.
    Stupid. She’d once let herself be seduced by an appealing man, and it had nearly destroyed her.
    Briskly, she returned to the kitchen, washed her few dishes, and poured the rest of the contents of the coffeepot into her battered thermos. She always took a second cup to the barn to give her a boost as she did her morning chores. Later, when Ben was up, she’d decide if she wanted to make fresh coffee and offer him some.
    In the mudroom, she slipped into her work boots and clapped her straw hat on her head. She started toward the foaling paddock, but when the parking lot came into view she stopped abruptly. Though it wasn’t yet six o’clock, Ben sat on a folding chair beside his rig, a mug cradled in his right hand. He smiled and called, “Mornin.’”
    Slowly, she walked toward him. “Good morning.”
    But for the collar and cuff sling, he looked so relaxed and comfortable. Yesterday, his jeans had been newish, but today’s were faded and worn, hugging his muscled thighs. His long-sleeved Western shirt had been replaced by a faded blue short-sleeved one with a frayed collar. Comfy old work clothes, but his were so much more flattering than hers. His damp, freshly combed hair suggested that, unlike her, he’d taken the time to shower.
    The shower in that trailer would be small, too small for a man his size, especially when he had a fractured shoulder. Her own old-fashioned bathroom had a tub she rarely had