Read Online Romancing the Ranger by Jennie Marts - Free Book Online Page A

grandmother never was one for being good at subtlety.”
    “Yeah, I saw the wink.” Reese grinned at him. “Plus, I figured she was a little old for the PTA.”
    “Oh no, she’s really going to PTA. She’ll head over to her friend Winnie’s house where they’ll play Pinochle, Talk, and drink Amaretto Sours. It’s their thing.”
    Reese laughed.
    He liked her laugh. He liked the way her smile lit up her whole face. He liked her. And that was the problem.
    He just simply liked being around her.
    So why did this have to be such a problem? Why couldn’t they just hang out together and have a good time? Maybe he was letting his bias against females and money cloud his judgment of Reese.
    Had he really even given her a chance? It couldn’t hurt to just spend some time getting to know her. Could it?
    He leaned back in his chair, regarding her. “So, what do you like to do for fun, Ms. Hudson?”
    She narrowed her eyes as if she wasn’t sure if he was serious or giving her a hard time. “Not much. I’m fairly boring. Most nights I read, watch a movie, or take my dog for a walk. Or sometimes I get crazy and do all three in one night.”
    He grinned. “That does sound pretty crazy.”
    Although his idea of a crazy night with her was something completely different.
    “How about you? What do you like to do for fun?”
    It sounded as if she added just the teeniest bit of tease to that question, but he couldn’t tell for sure. Maybe it was just his own thoughts going into overdrive. “I guess I like to tinker around my grandpa’s garage, hike, get out and enjoy nature, and I spend a fair amount of time fishing. Have you ever been?”
    “Fishing? No, but lately I’ve decided that I need to try more new things.”
    “Yeah? I was thinking about doing a little night fishing after supper. Want to come along?”
    “Sure. I’d love to go fishing with you.”
    …
    What the hell had she been thinking?
    I’d love to go fishing with you?
    She thought he was flirting with her. Like fishing was some kind of code for making out.
    No, he’d really meant fishing. Like, for actual fish.
    She swatted at a mosquito as she trudged through a pasture of waist-high grass carrying a smelly box. At least the view was good.
    In the dim light of the moon, she kept her eyes trained on Wade’s cute butt as they crossed the meadow behind the bed and breakfast.
    “It’s right up here.” Wade unhooked the latch of a gate and held it open for her.
    She stepped through the gate and gasped as she took in the charming setting. Cottonwood trees surrounded a small lake that dazzled in the moonlight, the chirping of crickets the only sound in the still night. “It’s beautiful.”
    “Yeah, it is.” Wade took her hand and pulled her out on the short dock where a rowboat was tethered. He climbed into the boat, setting the poles down first, then reached to help her step in.
    She loved the feel of his hand on her back as he guided her into the boat. He was so at ease as he unhooked the rope and sat down on the bench across from her.
    She liked this Wade. This happy guy that liked to fish. She liked his easy smile and the way his hair fell over his forehead. And she really liked the way his muscled arms flexed and tightened as he rowed the boat into the middle of the lake.
    In fact, a few of her parts were tightening inside as she watched him move back and forth in the seat with the rhythmic pull of the oars.
    Suddenly fishing didn’t seem so bad.
    He stopped the boat in the middle of the lake then instructed her to carefully turn sideways on the bench seat. He eased onto the seat behind her, straddling the bench with his legs, and nestling her bottom against him, then handed her a fishing pole. With his arms around her from behind, he helped her thread a worm onto the hook and toss the line into the water.
    In any other instance, a gooey bloody worm being strung on a hook would probably have grossed her out completely. But she didn’t even