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)
“She’s a she,” I hissed into the phone. “I thought you said Sam—like a man. Not Sammy like a stubborn woman who refuses to listen to me.”
And looks like a wet dream come true, I added silently.
There was silence for a moment, then Rachel began to laugh. “You are such a moron. I should have known you were only half listening to me. I told you Sammy, as in Samantha. The very first day we discussed this. It’s not my fault—or hers either—you have a memory like a sieve. Oh God, have you been rude to her?”
I paused. “Define rude.”
“Luke Jonathan Adler!” she yelled into the phone. “What did you do?”
“I might have left her at the airport after telling her off.”
“You left her at the airport?” she repeated. “Have you taken leave of the little good sense you had in you?”
“She found her way here anyway and informed me we had a contract.” I defended myself. “And you call me stubborn. Now she’s in the kitchen getting herself something to eat, making herself at home.”
“Moron,” she muttered. “I’m related to a moron.”
“So that falls under rude?”
“You are a complete ass. You go down the hall, and you apologize. Nicely. Then you sit down and listen to what she has to say, you overgrown idiot. Her ideas are amazing. The publicity is exactly what we need to start this off. You ruin this, Luke, and you can kiss the ranch goodbye.”
“Fine,” I snarled into the phone. “I’ll go make nice. She better not flip me again.”
“What?”
“She took exception to me pointing my finger at her, and she flipped me onto my back.”
“On my God,” Rachel breathed out. “You have completely pissed her off. What have you done?”
“I’ll apologize.”
“You do that.” Then her voice softened. “Listen to her. She is amazing. I trust her. Completely.”
I sighed, the fight draining out of me. “Okay. I’ll apologize and get on board. Let me know how Tyler’s doing.”
“Did she really flip you? You’re twice her size.”
“Like I was a gnat. I have to admit, it was impressive.”
She giggled, the sound making me smile. “I would have liked to see that.”
“I have a feeling it might happen again. She’s feisty.”
“And you’re pigheaded. What a combination.” She sighed. “I love you, big bro.”
“Love you too.”
I hung up and let my head fall to my chest. The scent of coffee wafted down the hall, and I knew I had to go and talk to Sammy. Apologize. Let her crow about what an idiot I was. I knew Rachel would contact her later, so I had to do it now.
Pushing myself up, I braced my fists on the desk and took in a deep breath. I just had to remember to stay far enough away that she couldn’t get her hands on me. I had a feeling both her smile and her moves were her deadliest weapons.
It was like lassoing a spirited filly. Patience and determination. I could do this.
I ignored the fact that a spirited filly never caught my eye the way Sammy had. Nor had I ever wondered what it was like to kiss a spirited filly.
I ignored that fact completely.
CHAPTER FOUR
SAMMY
I heard his footsteps coming down the hall, and I braced myself. I thought I was prepared for when Luke entered the room.
I was not.
His hat was gone, his dark hair gleaming in the light. The few silver strands only made him look more handsome. He’d pulled off his plaid shirt, leaving him in a tight white T-shirt. His muscles flexed and bunched as he walked toward me. The cords in his arms were thick, his biceps the size of my upper thighs. I swore his muscles had muscles.
His thighs were massive, his jeans strained tight around the flesh. Everything about him spoke of strength. Determination. Power.
Yet when I met his eyes, the hostility was gone. Instead, they were steady, the clear blue brilliant against his tanned skin.
He looked at the plate in front of me and grimaced. “I’m sure we can find you something better to eat than that. You must be hungry.”
“No, it’s fine. I, um, made coffee. Kind of addicted to the stuff.”
He chuckled, the sound low and throaty in his chest. “I hear you.”
He opened a cupboard and took out a mug, filling it. He took a long sip and nodded in appreciation. “Good. Strong.”
“No point in drinking it unless it is,” I said cautiously.
He hummed in agreement as he took a chair, turning it and straddling the wide seat, his jeans stretching farther to accommodate the strain. He rested his forearm on the chairback and took another sip, then set his mug on the table.
“I believe we got off on the wrong foot.”
“What part? You leaving me behind, or me taking you down on the porch?”
He chuckled again, smiling this time, the movement changing his whole face. I’d thought he was handsome before. Smiling, he was downright dangerous. His eyes crinkled, small laugh lines appearing. A deep dimple popped high on his left cheek. One side of his mouth lifted higher than the other. He displayed an easy charm in the way he pushed his hair back from his forehead. Then he winked at me.