Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“Cowboy,” I murmured.
He turned his head sharply, meeting my eyes, shaking his head no. Too late, I realized Rachel was at the counter. She met my eyes, her gaze flitting between me and Luke and widening.
I froze, then tossed my hair and kept going. “Hey, Rachel. I was hoping to see you today. Thanks for the use of your tub, Luke. It really helped. Now I’m gonna get ready for the day. I’ll be right back.”
“Yep,” he said easily. “No problem.”
In my room, I closed my eyes, wondering if she bought it. I brushed my hair, got ready, and headed back to the kitchen. Luke was finishing his breakfast, looking cool and collected.
I poured a coffee and sat down, trying to act nonchalant.
Rachel cleared her throat. “Rumor has it you danced last night, Luke.”
“You know how I feel about rumors,” he replied.
“You left the dance early, tugging Sammy with you.”
“Tom Hopkins was sniffing around. Couldn’t let him get his hands on her.” He indicated me with a lift of his chin.
“Her has a name,” I said dryly. “And I am right here.”
He rolled his eyes. “Whatever, Lady.”
“So, what did you do the rest of the night?” Rachel asked innocently, hiding her smirk behind her coffee cup.
“Came home and had something to eat. Your brother yanked me away before I got to taste anything. Then we went to bed.”
“I see.”
“Alone,” I mumbled.
She nodded.
Luke stood. “Is the inquisition over? I have animals waiting and a thousand other chores to take care of.”
“Yep. Your schedule is clear for tomorrow, right?”
“Yes.”
“Everything set for you leaving the next day?”
“Yep. Loading the cattle in the morning and heading out. I’ll be gone three days.”
I knew he was going to an auction to sell off some steers and buy others. He was also meeting with other ranchers and owners. The thought of him off the ranch felt odd, and I somehow knew I was going to miss him, but I forced down the sensations. I had lots of plans to keep me busy.
“Okay.”
“You’ll–you’ll keep an eye out, right?” he asked.
Rachel grinned. “Yep. I’ll handle it.”
He nodded. “Good.” He picked up his hat. “Later.” He turned, catching my eye and winking before he walked out. For a moment, there was silence. I finally lifted my gaze to Rachel’s. She was watching me, her head tilted.
“Handle it?” I asked.
“Watch over you.”
“Oh. Whatever,” I mumbled. Jackass.
“Cowboy?” she questioned.
“He calls me Lady. I had to call him something.”
“You call him that in the throes of passion too?”
I lifted my chin. “I am not talking to you about your brother.”
She burst out laughing. “You don’t have to. Question answered.”
“What?”
“You have a bite mark on your neck, Sammy. Unless Tom Hopkins got closer than Luke wanted, someone gave you that. Given the way my brother was smirking and relaxed this morning and you tripping down the hall after ‘using his tub,’ I’m pretty sure the answer is yes.”
“I did use the tub.”
“When?”
I gave up, defeated. “After the dance. I was sore, and Luke offered.”
“And one thing led to another?”
I met her eyes. “Again.”
She began to laugh. “I knew it. I saw something between you.”
“It’s just sex,” I said. “We both agreed. And it won’t interfere with the project.”
She grasped my hand. “You know why he never uses the tub?”
“He told me the whole story.”
“Really?” she asked, astonished.
“I know about her, the fiancée who walked away, his accident…” I trailed off at the look of shock on her face. “What?”
“He never talks about the past. Ever.”
“He did with me.”
She shook her head. “You have no idea how big that is.”
“We’re just enjoying the moment,” I told her. “We know it’s not forever.”
“Are you sure?”
“He runs a ranch. I travel and help businesses grow. We live thousands of miles from each other. We have our own lives. This is for the moment. Your brother has been very clear on that. And I’m good with it.”
“When I walked in this morning, he looked—different. Lighter somehow. I think a lot of that has to do with you.”
“Or maybe the sex we had,” I pointed out dryly.
She pulled a face. “Ugh—that’s my brother. I’m just going to pretend it was spending time with you.”
I smiled and lifted my coffee, ignoring the little voice in my head that wished that was the reason too.
I wandered to the stable, stopping to get Oreo. He meowed as I went toward him and let me pick him up, nuzzling into my neck. I patted his momma on the head. “I’ll bring your baby back.”
Then I went toward the rhythmic sound I could hear behind the stable. I sat down on an old bench and took in the sight before me.
Luke, his shirt pulled off, skin glistening in the sun, chopping wood. It was mesmerizing. One bend of his body and a log was balanced on an old, thick stump. Another lift and the ax was poised, driving down hard, splintering the wood. Repeat. His movements were powerful, the strength of his upper body evident. Sweat rolled down his chest, beading on his face and arms. If he noticed me, he gave no indication, intent on the task at hand. I couldn’t stop staring, remembering how those arms held me. The way his torso pushed into mine, the hardness of it forcing my softer curves to align with it. He was a machine, and soon the pile of split wood towered high. He raised the ax one last time, driving it into the stump, then picked up his discarded shirt and a thermos of water that he drank from, then poured over his head, like my own private Chippendales show. He sauntered toward me, a smile playing on his lips.