Read Online One Wild Cowboy by CATHY GILLEN THACKER - Free Book Online

the act—behind the scenes, of course? Was that what had really prompted Shane’s offer to him earlier?
    Dylan hated to think so. He wanted to think the proposal put to him was merit-based. On the other hand, he also knew Shane and Greta McCabe adored their only daughter and would do whatever they had to do to see she was well matched.
    Even by giving her current “love interest” a hand up…?
    Oblivious to the downward spiral to his thoughts, Emily continued, “Isn’t that what love is supposed to be about?Changing for the better because you’re involved with your ideal mate?”
    Her lips looked so soft and inviting, he wondered what it would feel like to silence her with a kiss. But he told himself to stay focused. “I thought relationships were supposed to be about not having to change. Being adored for who and what you already were. What’s that saying?” He attempted to lighten the mood. “‘I love you just the way you are.’”
    Emily scoffed. “It’s a song lyric, not a saying. And for the record—” she softened her tone wistfully “—I kind of like that you-complete-me thing.”
    He should have figured she would be a Jerry Maguire fan. Knowing this had to be said if they were going to be friends, he pointed out sagely, “If the man and the woman ‘complete’ each other, then that would imply they can’t live without the other person.”
    â€œSo?”
    Lazily, Dylan tracked the way the breeze was ruffling her hair. He reached over to tuck an errant strand behind her ear, then let his hand drop. “What kind of life would that be?” he asked unhappily. “If everything hinged on a person who might or might not live up to your expectations?”
    Â 
    I T WOULD NOT be the kind of life Dylan apparently wanted, Emily thought.
    She sighed, her emotions abruptly as turbulent as his.
    â€œAnyway,” Dylan continued, dropping his hand back to his side. He studied her expression. “I’m guessing your parents don’t know that Xavier hit on you.”
    Thrilling from his brief, casual touch, Emily turned so her back was to the car. She lounged against the driver door, wishing Dylan wasn’t such a hard man to get to know. But he was extremely independent—and as emotionally elusive as the wild mustangs he was going to tame….
    So she needed to forget about making him her next “diamond in the rough.”
    After all, there was no point in pretending he would be willing to transform himself into what she wanted—any more than she would be willing to convert into what he wanted.
    â€œI’ve been trying to forget that incident with Xavier.” Emily forced herself to get their conversation back on track. “And for the record, Dylan,” she warned, locking gazes with him, “I would prefer my family never know about all that cougar silliness.”
    Suddenly, the humor was back in the situation. “Why not?” he said as his lips formed a most devil-may-care smile.
    Emily’s exasperation returned anew. “Because Xavier’s pass was ludicrous enough without adding another layer of ridiculousness to it by having my father call him to his study and sit him down for The Talk.”
    Abruptly, Dylan went very still, a fact which only confirmed Emily’s worst suspicions. Seeing her chance to do a little more sleuthing, she added cheekily, “You know, kind of like the one I suspect my father had with you today, about me?”
    The kind that generally sent weaker men running for the hills…
    Just like that, a wall went up. “It’s not going to work, Emily.” Dylan was the picture of lazy male self-assurance.
    She stared at him.
    He stared right back. “I’m still not telling you what was said.”
    Emily sighed—she could have predicted that. Pushing away from the car, she suddenly felt reinvigorated. “Then