Read Online The Bachelor’s Surrender by Janelle Denison - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Janelle Denison
Ads: Link
vast Wyoming sky was cloudless and so blindingly blue it seemed to stretched for eternity. Birds twittered in nearby trees, broken by a soft neigh of a horse or the squabble of chickens hashing over a kernel of food.
The calm and tranquility of the country was so different from the obnoxious city sounds she was used to. She loved the serenity, the slow pace, and the wholesomeness that surrounded her. A mild breeze, fragrant with the scent of grass and more earthy elements, drifted through her unbound hair, reminding her of the way Rafe’s fingers had tangled through the strands last night. The sensual memory curled through her, and she resolutely dismissed the luxurious thought before it escalated any further.
She had little reason to worry about Chad’s welfare. She found her young wannabe cowboy in a corral under a shady awning, standing next to Rafe and a docile mare they were in the process of saddling. Since the two seemed intent on their task—with Rafe instructing and Chad listening and complying with Rafe’s directions, Lauren quietly sidled up to the split-rail fence enclosing the pen and watched the two of them work together.
Observing Rafe was certainly no hardship; he had a backside she could admire for hours. Broad shoulders sloped down a well-defined back, tapering into a trim waist and lean hips. Soft, faded denim molded to his buttocks and clung to muscular thighs. Though each movement he made was fluid and economical, his entire body was a package of concentrated power and strength that belied the gentle way he stroked his long fingers down the chestnut’s neck, and the soft way he crooned to the mare while Chad buckled the girth. She found Rafe incredibly sexy when he wasn’t pretending his fierce warrior routine.
A soft, appreciative sigh escaped her, ending on a tiny hum of pleasure that tickled her throat. The unintentional sound caught Rafe’s attention and he glanced over his shoulder, his gaze colliding with hers.
He wasn’t wearing his Stetson, though at the moment, sheltered from the sun, he didn’t need one. His thick, black hair was combed away from his face, layering softly on the sides and falling along the collar of his t-shirt in the back. The style accentuated the lean lines of his cheeks, nose, and jaw, and drew attention to his lips, which at the moment had lost their hard-edge and appeared full, soft, and giving.
Something deep within her belly fluttered, warm and exciting.
The harsh expression that had lined his features the previous evening was gone, replaced by a slight, uncertain frown. Wariness shone in his pewter eyes, along with a good dose of reservation. His stance had turned rigid upon seeing her, cautious, but in no way reflected last night’s brash attitude.
She offered him a smile.
He didn’t return the sentiment, though he inclined his head ever-so-slightly in greeting. “‘Morning,” he murmured, his voice a rich rumble of sound that drifted to her.
She wondered if his polite manners were for Chad’s benefit, and suspected they were. If it wasn’t for her young foster client, she was certain Rafe would have sent her packing last night. “Good morning, Rafe,” she said brightly, determined to keep things amicable between them.
Chad poked his head from around the other side of the horse, a huge grin on his face. “Hi, Lauren!” he said exuberantly, full of life and energy. “I guess you were the sleepy-head this morning, huh?”
“Yeah, I guess I was,” she admitted with light laughter. “Why didn’t you wake me when you got up?”
Chad snuck a peek at Rafe from beneath the brim of his black Stetson, who’d returned his attention back to the mare. “Because Rafe said you were tired, and you’d get up in your own good time.”
More like he didn’t want to face her this morning, Lauren thought, but declined to comment.
“I’ve fed the goats and chickens and even mucked out a stall!” Chad announced with more delight than the chores
The calm and tranquility of the country was so different from the obnoxious city sounds she was used to. She loved the serenity, the slow pace, and the wholesomeness that surrounded her. A mild breeze, fragrant with the scent of grass and more earthy elements, drifted through her unbound hair, reminding her of the way Rafe’s fingers had tangled through the strands last night. The sensual memory curled through her, and she resolutely dismissed the luxurious thought before it escalated any further.
She had little reason to worry about Chad’s welfare. She found her young wannabe cowboy in a corral under a shady awning, standing next to Rafe and a docile mare they were in the process of saddling. Since the two seemed intent on their task—with Rafe instructing and Chad listening and complying with Rafe’s directions, Lauren quietly sidled up to the split-rail fence enclosing the pen and watched the two of them work together.
Observing Rafe was certainly no hardship; he had a backside she could admire for hours. Broad shoulders sloped down a well-defined back, tapering into a trim waist and lean hips. Soft, faded denim molded to his buttocks and clung to muscular thighs. Though each movement he made was fluid and economical, his entire body was a package of concentrated power and strength that belied the gentle way he stroked his long fingers down the chestnut’s neck, and the soft way he crooned to the mare while Chad buckled the girth. She found Rafe incredibly sexy when he wasn’t pretending his fierce warrior routine.
A soft, appreciative sigh escaped her, ending on a tiny hum of pleasure that tickled her throat. The unintentional sound caught Rafe’s attention and he glanced over his shoulder, his gaze colliding with hers.
He wasn’t wearing his Stetson, though at the moment, sheltered from the sun, he didn’t need one. His thick, black hair was combed away from his face, layering softly on the sides and falling along the collar of his t-shirt in the back. The style accentuated the lean lines of his cheeks, nose, and jaw, and drew attention to his lips, which at the moment had lost their hard-edge and appeared full, soft, and giving.
Something deep within her belly fluttered, warm and exciting.
The harsh expression that had lined his features the previous evening was gone, replaced by a slight, uncertain frown. Wariness shone in his pewter eyes, along with a good dose of reservation. His stance had turned rigid upon seeing her, cautious, but in no way reflected last night’s brash attitude.
She offered him a smile.
He didn’t return the sentiment, though he inclined his head ever-so-slightly in greeting. “‘Morning,” he murmured, his voice a rich rumble of sound that drifted to her.
She wondered if his polite manners were for Chad’s benefit, and suspected they were. If it wasn’t for her young foster client, she was certain Rafe would have sent her packing last night. “Good morning, Rafe,” she said brightly, determined to keep things amicable between them.
Chad poked his head from around the other side of the horse, a huge grin on his face. “Hi, Lauren!” he said exuberantly, full of life and energy. “I guess you were the sleepy-head this morning, huh?”
“Yeah, I guess I was,” she admitted with light laughter. “Why didn’t you wake me when you got up?”
Chad snuck a peek at Rafe from beneath the brim of his black Stetson, who’d returned his attention back to the mare. “Because Rafe said you were tired, and you’d get up in your own good time.”
More like he didn’t want to face her this morning, Lauren thought, but declined to comment.
“I’ve fed the goats and chickens and even mucked out a stall!” Chad announced with more delight than the chores
Similar Books
