Read Online Pressure Rising (Rhinestone Cowgirls Book 2) by Rhonda Lee Carver - Free Book Online
Authors: Rhonda Lee Carver
Ads: Link
you have nothing to be jealous of. Diana is pretty, but you’re stunning.” He caught the glow in her eye. “I’m sure you’ve heard that a time or two.”
She laid her palms in her lap. “Not often.”
He watched her mouth, the slight tremble targeted his groin, sending heat radiating through his stomach. She didn’t come to the ranch for a romp with a cowboy and, no matter how much he wished things were different, they still had an ocean of differences between them.
Even if his cock urged him to sample a sweet, sexy Stone sister, his mind was guarded.
“You should hear it often. You’d have more confidence when you’re not hiding behind a shotgun.”
Her eyes warmed. “Dad taught us girls how to shoot about the same time we learned how to walk. I feel real comfortable holding my firearm and I’ve also learned gun safety.”
He swallowed. “I think I have the proof that you failed the safety test.”
“It was an ac—”
“Yes, I know. It was an accident. But you were going to kill poor Pugly.”
She blinked. “I really wouldn’t have shot him. I was angry and, looking back, I do see how silly it was. But Charmin is my prized horse and I had plans for the money I make off of her.”
His chest tightened. “What are those plans?”
“I’d like to expand my horse training and breeding business on the land at Rhinestone.” Pride made her eyes sparkle.
“I have a confession. I’ve been saving for a long time to build a house and maybe multiply the R&R with a few more cabins and trails. I was told I might have to dig into that savings if that horse of yours foals a mule.”
She shrugged. “So that’s why you agreed to this, having me here? Were you hoping you could convince me to not ask for compensation?” Some of the spark left her eye. “Or maybe you were hoping to seek revenge?”
He rubbed his jaw. “Yeah, I guess I did have those intentions, but I want you to know if Charmin has a mule I plan to make restitution. I’m not the only one with dreams. I see why you were as pissed as a horse with a bumblebee on its ass.”
“I appreciate that, but I’d say we’re even.”
He watched her fingers play with the hem of her skirt, rolling and unrolling the material. The action got him right in the gut. “Do I make you nervous?” How was it he’d been accused by every female he’d ever known that he didn’t communicate worth a crap, but with Pearl he told her things easily—things he had no business admitting.
“A little.”
“I think you make me a little nervous too.” Damn, this sharing thing was scaring him. Up until yesterday morning he couldn’t stand her being within ten feet, let alone living in his house. Yet, he was getting way too comfortable. The feelings of want couldn’t be ignored… not when the pressure was dangerously rising.
“I do?” Pearl’s brows shot up.
Smiling, he nodded. “I haven’t lived with a woman that wasn’t a relative, and even that was a very long time ago.” He could make light of the situation, but the knowledge of how attracted he was to her weighed heavily on him.
“Understandable. And I’ve never lived with a man besides my father.”
Her smile made his balls throb. Her face glowed. He was done for.
Shifting, he hoped his jeans didn’t pop the zipper. At this rate, the lack of oxygen going to his brain was going to cause him a loss of intelligence.
“I just want to say that I appreciate your dad hiring hands to help out here for the week. Otherwise, my brothers would have had to come back home.” If his brothers came back home, then Pearl could leave. Why didn’t that sit well in his gut?
“It was the right thing to do.” She slid her fingers through her hair, something he noticed she did a lot. “Never know, maybe we can mend our issues.”
“I think it’s possible.”
She stood up. “I was wondering if you’d be okay for a few hours while I take care of some business?”
“Sure. I’ll just sit here with
She laid her palms in her lap. “Not often.”
He watched her mouth, the slight tremble targeted his groin, sending heat radiating through his stomach. She didn’t come to the ranch for a romp with a cowboy and, no matter how much he wished things were different, they still had an ocean of differences between them.
Even if his cock urged him to sample a sweet, sexy Stone sister, his mind was guarded.
“You should hear it often. You’d have more confidence when you’re not hiding behind a shotgun.”
Her eyes warmed. “Dad taught us girls how to shoot about the same time we learned how to walk. I feel real comfortable holding my firearm and I’ve also learned gun safety.”
He swallowed. “I think I have the proof that you failed the safety test.”
“It was an ac—”
“Yes, I know. It was an accident. But you were going to kill poor Pugly.”
She blinked. “I really wouldn’t have shot him. I was angry and, looking back, I do see how silly it was. But Charmin is my prized horse and I had plans for the money I make off of her.”
His chest tightened. “What are those plans?”
“I’d like to expand my horse training and breeding business on the land at Rhinestone.” Pride made her eyes sparkle.
“I have a confession. I’ve been saving for a long time to build a house and maybe multiply the R&R with a few more cabins and trails. I was told I might have to dig into that savings if that horse of yours foals a mule.”
She shrugged. “So that’s why you agreed to this, having me here? Were you hoping you could convince me to not ask for compensation?” Some of the spark left her eye. “Or maybe you were hoping to seek revenge?”
He rubbed his jaw. “Yeah, I guess I did have those intentions, but I want you to know if Charmin has a mule I plan to make restitution. I’m not the only one with dreams. I see why you were as pissed as a horse with a bumblebee on its ass.”
“I appreciate that, but I’d say we’re even.”
He watched her fingers play with the hem of her skirt, rolling and unrolling the material. The action got him right in the gut. “Do I make you nervous?” How was it he’d been accused by every female he’d ever known that he didn’t communicate worth a crap, but with Pearl he told her things easily—things he had no business admitting.
“A little.”
“I think you make me a little nervous too.” Damn, this sharing thing was scaring him. Up until yesterday morning he couldn’t stand her being within ten feet, let alone living in his house. Yet, he was getting way too comfortable. The feelings of want couldn’t be ignored… not when the pressure was dangerously rising.
“I do?” Pearl’s brows shot up.
Smiling, he nodded. “I haven’t lived with a woman that wasn’t a relative, and even that was a very long time ago.” He could make light of the situation, but the knowledge of how attracted he was to her weighed heavily on him.
“Understandable. And I’ve never lived with a man besides my father.”
Her smile made his balls throb. Her face glowed. He was done for.
Shifting, he hoped his jeans didn’t pop the zipper. At this rate, the lack of oxygen going to his brain was going to cause him a loss of intelligence.
“I just want to say that I appreciate your dad hiring hands to help out here for the week. Otherwise, my brothers would have had to come back home.” If his brothers came back home, then Pearl could leave. Why didn’t that sit well in his gut?
“It was the right thing to do.” She slid her fingers through her hair, something he noticed she did a lot. “Never know, maybe we can mend our issues.”
“I think it’s possible.”
She stood up. “I was wondering if you’d be okay for a few hours while I take care of some business?”
“Sure. I’ll just sit here with
Similar Books
