Read Online Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy? by Abigail Sharpe - Free Book Online Page A

away, as muscled and handsome and scowling as last night. She wouldn’t say he sought her out, but a warm flush crawled up her neck when his gaze jumped over to her. One eyebrow lifted at her reaction but she kept his eyes, earning a small nod of acknowledgment before Molly stepped in front of him. “Ladies, may I present my brother to you? This is Riley Pommer.”

Chapter 4
    H e would never look at a cattle auction the same way again.
    Eight pairs of eyes watched his every move from the moment he stepped through the kitchen door. Eight feminine bodies subtly shifting closer to him as if getting ready to have a calf-roping contest.
    Make that six. The woman from last night took a step backward. Apparently she knew how to play the game. He dipped his head in a brief nod of acknowledgment as his sister gripped his elbow, tighter than the way he held the rein when he used to ride broncos. She dragged him to the green-eyed blonde who stood nearest to them, the other women fixing their sights on him like he was a bullseye for their target practice. “Riley, this is Mary Ellen Singers,” his sister said. “She’s a news segment producer from Ohio.”
    Mary Ellen twittered as she offered her hand to him and he shifted his focus to this new intruder. There had to be something he could do to get rid of them, the woman in front of him and the audience behind.
    Well, if they wanted a cowboy, he’d show them a cowboy. He planted his feet wide while he took her hand, then laid his other hand on top, grinning at her with all the teeth he could show at once. “A news segment producer? Well, now, that sounds mighty interestin’.”
    A small noise escaped Molly’s throat at his cowboy accent and he suppressed a smile of satisfaction. Mary Ellen beamed at his interest, undeterred by his behavior.
    “Oh, it is,” Mary Ellen said. “I get to—”
    “You should produce a show ’bout mares that foal and the physical changes to their bodies. See, first, when their nipples get swollen—before the foal is born, o’course—you have to spend time cleanin’ ’em so they get desensitized, right?” Riley mimicked wiping a mare’s belly. “Then they git covered with this waxy-like substance, and you know the foal’ll be born soon. Real interestin’ stuff. I could go show you some pictures—” He turned to leave, hoping he remembered the location of the photos Jeanne took for a 4-H project a couple of years ago.
    “No, that’s okay. Uh, thank you, though.” Mary Ellen’s eyes darted around for a place of safety as she took a step back.
    Riley stepped forward to close off her space. “Y’shore?” He could feel Molly glaring at him, but he ignored her and the heavy dullness settling in his gut. She wanted him to be a Casanova Cowboy, so she was going to have to deal with the results. “It won’t take me but a right minute.”
    “No, really. Thanks.” Mary Ellen slunk away and was immediately replaced by another woman. Orange-red hair framed the pale skin of her face, and her blue eyes held a touch of reserve. Riley almost felt guilty for what he was about to do. Almost.
    “Riley, this is Jessica.” Riley heard the threat in Molly’s voice and raised his brows, his face a picture of innocence and serenity.
    “Jessica, what’s a pretty little filly like you doin’ tryin’ t’ find a stallion all the way out here?” He puffed out his chest to indicate that he was the stallion, camouflaging the gulp of air he swallowed. He waited, holding it in the back of his throat.
    “I’m…um…”
    He opened his mouth and burped, bringing up as much gas as he could muster, and let it hang in the air for a couple of seconds as Jessica took a step back. Riley waited for her to run like Mary Ellen while he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “’Scuse me.”
    Instead, her lips pulled back into a brilliant smile that transformed her face, and she gave a little giggle before clapping a hand over her mouth. “Boy, have I