Read Online Montana Hearts by Darlene Panzera - Free Book Online

thought for sure she’d demand a date or kiss, but why the horse ? What did she have to gain? “I told you I can’t ride.”
    This time she gave him an earnest look. “Have you tried?”
    â€œNo, but one fall and, instead of using a cane, I could end up in a wheelchair the rest of my life.”
    â€œDoubtful. They make prosthetic legs now all the time.”
    â€œNot something I would look forward to,” he assured her.
    â€œI don’t want you to get hurt,” she explained. “But I do want to see you happy again.”
    â€œYou think riding a horse will make me happy?”
    â€œWhenever you think no one is watching I see how you look at the other riders, longing to tear out into the fields with them at breakneck speed, with an excited, half-­wild look in your eye and that wide goofy grin.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œNo?” She put her hands on her hips and gave him that adorable stubborn tilt of her chin. It was clear she was enjoying this. Enjoying having the upper hand and making him eat humble pie.
    He couldn’t start a feud with her. He needed her. He needed to help his family. As co-­owner, he needed to make his guest ranch work.
    â€œPlease, Sammy Jo. Let’s be honest and make this easy on each other. You want to use me to get your father off your back so he won’t set you up with any more creeps. I want to use you to soften your father up so he’ll issue our permits. It’s a win-­win for both of us and we both get what we want. What do you say?”
    â€œI want you to try the rehab horse.”
    Luke glared at her and she glared right back. She wasn’t going to lay off the horse issue. She would hold on and fight him until she finally got her way. Just like she always did. But isn’t that why he was making her the deal in the first place? Because she was persistent?
    â€œOkay,” he agreed. “But you’ve got to ‘try’ to convince your father to give us the permits first .”

 
    Chapter Four
    S AMMY J O WASN ’ T sure she’d made the right decision. Instead of having Luke try to ride the rehab horse, she could have pressed her advantage. She could have demanded a kiss.
    â€œWhat do you think it would be like to kiss Luke?” she asked Tango as she ran a brush over his thin palomino summer coat.
    The horse didn’t answer but gave a loud snort. Then he continued chewing the patch of green grass in front of the tack shed as if he wasn’t interested. But she was.
    If Luke kissed her, would it be hot and hungry? Slow and soft? Hesitant at first, then more insistent? She smiled as she dwelled over the countless possibilities. If only she’d asked . . .
    Then she remembered why she hadn’t and her shoulders slumped. Luke had expected her to ask. She could tell by the way his gaze kept drifting toward her mouth. Except he didn’t look too sure about whether he wanted to.
    Despite her pleasant romantic daydreams, the reality was that if she’d asked for a kiss, Luke would have given her a fast, stiff, brotherly peck. And if she’d insisted he prolong the kiss, she knew his heart wouldn’t be in it. What an awkward disaster that would be. Not the best way to make him fall in love with her. No, what she needed was time. The more time they spent together, the more likely he’d want to kiss her. Then someday, when their lips finally met, they’d both be happy.
    Luke had jerked back in surprise when she’d insisted he try to ride the rehab horse. Obviously he hadn’t seen that one coming. But she got him to agree and that was all that mattered. Now she could look forward to spending several long days with Luke as he discovered he could ride, and he did want to kiss her.
    Sammy Jo took a hoof pick out of Tango’s tack bucket and gave him the cue to pick up his foot by leaning into his shoulder and running her hand down the length of his