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

pegged you wrong! I thought you were going to be all polite and ‘yes ma’am’-ing us all over the place. I’m glad to see you’re more relaxed than that.”
    Well, damn. Score one for the filly. But what about the others?
    They milled around the open space, casting occasional smiling glances his way. Even though he was being rude and insufferable, none of them stepped away from him. Like they didn’t care.
    Like none of them would care about him.
    Except the one from the greenhouse. She wasn’t following his every move. All he could see of her was the curve of her back and the golden hair that tumbled down. He’d like to go up against her, see how she’d react to this new side of him.
    See if he would be burned again by the heat that had sizzled between them last night.
    “Pardon us,” Molly said and placed a firm hand on Riley’s arm to guide him away from Jessica, hiding the vicious pinch she delivered through his shirt. “What in blazes are you doing?” she whispered.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he answered, then focused as his next victim approached. He planned his defense.
    “Riley, this is Robin.” Tightness crept into Molly’s voice and Riley could tell she was close to losing it. He didn’t know why. The women were still fighting for position to meet him, like he was the grand prize in some unspoken female competition. The sooner he could prove to Molly that this idea of a meat market wasn’t working, the sooner he could get back down to the business of running a ranch.
    Robin shook his hand with an enthusiasm that made its way to his shoulder, her short brown hair brushing her chin with the movement. “It’s so exciting to finally meet you!”
    He yawned, opening his mouth so wide that Robin could count his teeth if she wanted. “Ooh, boy,” he said. “I’m really tired. I was up way too late last night surfing the Internet for por—”
    “Pork products,” Molly interrupted, jumping in between them so he couldn’t speak again. “He was up late surfing for pork products. Riley, let’s see if Linda needs us in the kitchen.”
    “Maybe she needs help bringing out some pork products,” Robin volunteered as Molly grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him around. “I could come with you.”
    “That’d be right sweet of you,” Riley called over his shoulder while his sister propelled him toward the kitchen.
    “But please, stay and eat,” Molly said. “We’ll be right back.” She guided him to the mud room before rounding on him, hands fisted at her hips.
    “Don’t I get any breakfast?” Riley asked.
    “What do you think you’re doing?”
    “I’m meeting all these lovely women you scoured the country to find for your market research. I’m just being me. I should think that would make you happy.”
    “Belching like an animal is supposed to make me happy? Talking about porn is supposed to make me happy? I don’t know what definition of ‘happy’ you’re thinking of, mister, but it sure isn’t mine.” Molly took him in with pleading, wet eyes, her anger leaving like the end of a storm. Her lower lip trembled and she turned away from her brother to hide her face, saying nothing more.
    “Mol?” Riley asked cautiously. He swallowed around the building thickness in his throat and the twinge in his chest at the thought of her crying. There had been enough of that already in the past four months. Even if his cowboy game had just proven having the women here was a waste of time.
    “What?”
    Damn. Her voice had caught and he knew that any second she would…
    She spun back to him and poked his shoulder. “It’s just that Jeannie and I worked so hard for this and we thought you would appreciate it.” Poke. “Instead you run and hide, and act like such a jerk and I’m sorry that we tried and I’ll go out there and send everybody home.” She poked him again, but it had lost some of its enthusiasm. “We only want you to be,” she paused, trying