Read Online Paige Cameron by Commando Cowboys Find Their Desire - Free Book Online Page B

quickly she had responded to him. Just yesterday she’d been so mad. But today, his touch set her on fire. If he’d pulled her close again, she didn’t think she could have resisted wrapping herself around his strong, muscular body.
    She walked out of his room and into the next bedroom. Each room had a king-sized bed, bedside tables, a chest of drawers, a lounge chair, and a small private bath. It’d be a comfortable place to stay if it wasn’t sandwiched between their rooms. They were going to be much too close for comfort.
    He brought in her suitcases. “Here you are.” He set them down. “Unpack. I’ll holler when lunch is ready.”
    “Thanks.” She didn’t look directly at him. Her body still hummed in awareness of him. Once he’d gone, she placed her jeans and underwear in drawers then hung up the few dresses her mother had added. She seldom wore dresses, but they might come in handy. She suspected her parents wouldn’t mind if she decided to marry Payton and Cody. They wanted to see her happy and settled.
    “Lunch is ready,” He hollered up the stairs.
    “I’m coming.”
    He’d put their plates on the small kitchen table. A chicken sandwich, chips, and a glass of soda sat at each place, plus a plate of fruit sat in the center.
    “This looks very inviting. But did you taste test everything first?”
    “Of course, I’m the queen’s taster,” he teased.” After lunch we can walk out to the barn and see the new foal. She’s a beauty, all spindly legs and big eyes.”
    “I can see from your expression you love horses.”
    “I have, ever since I got old enough to get on one. After my dad died they were a consolation to me. I lived on a horse or in the barn, when I wasn’t up to mischief with Payton.”
    “Let me guess. You were most often the instigator.”
    “I take great pride in saying yes.”
    His grin and bright blue eyes caught at her heart. She took a bite of her chicken sandwich and ate some chips. “This is very good. Did you cook the chicken?”
    “Actually I did, on the grill.”
    A comfortable silence fell between them as they ate. Cody’s cell rang just as they’d finished.
    “Payton, how are you? Did the doctor say it was all right? No, of course I want you here, but I’d prefer not to go through seeing you pass out and be sick again. See you then.”
    “Is Payton coming home?” Averil asked.
    “Tomorrow. He was released from the hospital the day before you were. The doctor did a scan and his surgery is completely healed. But his mom insists he stay one more day with them.”
    Cody hesitated then added, “I’m sorry for the way I treated you. It was uncalled for. I was being an ass.”
    “Yes, you were.”
    “Can we start again, fresh?”
    Averil took her plate and his to the dishwasher. “If you take me to see the foal.” She smiled at him.
    “We’re on our way.” He grabbed his cowboy hat from the rack and then put one on Averil. “Come on.”
    The barn was cool and shady. There were ten stalls with horses.
    “Did you breed them?”
    “All but the first two. It’s taken time, but when I’m off work most of my spare time is spent here working with the horses.”
    “What is your job on the ranch?”
    “Same as here, I train the horses and watch over them. You can’t beat a job that’s your passion. I also go off on assignments.”
    “What type?”
    “I’ll explain another time.”
    He led her to a stall in the back. A foal was nursing and the mare raised her head to see who had come close to her baby.
    “No problem, Dainty Walker, this is a friend.” Cody spoke in a soft tone, and it was evident the mare knew him. She laid her head back down.
    “They’re both lovely.” Averil and Cody stood quietly by the stall for several minutes. When the foal finished she got awkwardly to her feet and came to them, bumping their hands with her nose.
    “She’s inquisitive.” Averil rubbed across the foal’s nose.
    “Would you like to name her?”
    “I’d