Read Online The Lone Rancher by Carol Finch - Free Book Online Page A

Boston making a similar comment about her lack of faith in the motives of men in general. Lucas, of course, received a free pass because Boston apparently approved of her cousin’s marriage. As for Quin, he hadn’t been welcoming or friendly. He’d wanted something from her, just like every other man of her acquaintance, he suspected.
    Until the previous evening, Quin hadn’t added getting his hands on Boston’s curvaceous body to his list of wants . He wasn’t proud of it, but the truth was he desired the chestnut-haired hellcat whose sassy mouth amused him, annoyed him and aroused him all at once.
    â€œSo what do you say, Cahill?”
    Quin snapped to attention, then scrambled to find his place in the conversation. Damn it, fantasizing about Boston had thoroughly distracted him. Finally, he gave up and glanced guiltily at Burnett. “Sorry, what did you say? I was woolgathering.”
    Lucas grinned knowingly. “I can see why. Addie K. is exceptionally attractive.”
    â€œWho said I was thinking about that mouthy shrew?”
    Lucas’s thick black brows arched a notch higher and he grinned broadly. “I’m not as stupid as I look, Cahill.”
    â€œDon’t put money on it,” Quin muttered as he followed Lucas, who tethered his string of horses outside Rosa’s shop. “After all, you married into the family so that makes you Boston’s cousin-in-law. You have my sympathy.”
    Several women filed from the shop, carrying packages and smiling in satisfaction. Lucas, Dog and Quin waited until the women had vacated the boardwalk before they ambled inside. Quin stopped dead in his tracks when he heard bright ringing laughter and witnessed the sparkling smile that lit up Boston’s face. He hadn’t expected her to be here. He certainly wasn’t prepared to see her laughing. Usually she only glared poison arrows at him.
    Obviously, Quin brought out the worst in her, for as soon as she spotted him her smile disappeared. Then shefocused on Lucas and walked over to hug the stuffing out of him.
    â€œI’m so glad you’re here to join us,” she enthused, ignoring Quin as if he was one of the many bolts of fabric crammed on a shelf. “We can discuss my plans for your wedding celebration over lunch.”
    â€œNow hold on a minute—” Lucas tried to object as he stared pleadingly at Rosa.
    Boston waved him off as if he were a pesky mosquito. “I wasn’t here to attend my cousin’s wedding but you won’t deprive me of hosting a grand party so the whole town can congratulate you on your marriage and I can meet my new neighbors.”
    Lucas stared helplessly at his lovely, lavender-eyed wife and Quin almost felt sorry for the ex–Texas Ranger. Especially when Boston snapped her fingers in front of his nose, demanding his undivided attention.
    â€œRosa broke her solemn promise to me,” she told Lucas. “We were going to become spinsters together and denounce all men everywhere. Then you came along to steal her heart. My only consolation is this party to celebrate her happiness.” She gave him the evil eye. “Do not fight me on this, Lucas, or I will make your life miserable.”
    â€œAnd she can, too,” Quin interjected before he could bite back the taunt. “Take my word for it, Burnett.”
    When she turned her glittering green-eyed glare on him, silence descended on the boutique. Quin hated to admit that, glare or not, he’d wanted Boston’s notice. It beat the hell out of being ignored as if he were invisible. He suddenly remembered that he had considered changing tact. Maybe he could treat the shrew with kindnessrather than taunts and see how that worked. It probably wouldn’t matter, given her cynical opinion of men and her dislike of him in particular.
    Quin removed his hat, then bowed slightly from the waist. “I apologize, Miz McKnight. That was uncalled for.