Page 50 of Buck ’Em Cowgirl

He let go of his mug and leaned back in his chair, holding his hands up like he was swearing an oath. “No more.” He gestured toward the door. “Got some time, then? I could show you around the ranch.”

“I’m meeting Harleigh and Roger later⁠—”

“No shit.” He cut in, and that stupid smirk spread across his face again, making my stomach flip in the worst—best—way. My mind betrayed me with an image of wiping it clean off his face . . . with my tongue.

No.

No. No. No.

Stop it. Seriously, stop it, brain.

“You’re going to dinner too?” I asked flatly.

“Of course I am,” he said, leaning forward slightly, his tone dripping with fake innocence. “Roger invited me himself.”

I groaned, shoving my chair back as I stood. “Why are you everywhere I am?”

He stood, too, and suddenly we were too close. His chest was brushing against mine, and I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze.

“Come on, Cowgirl.” That teasing smile was still taunting me. “You coming? Or are you not ready to get a little dirty?”

If only he knew the depth of that statement . . . if only.

16

Beau

“Over there, past the fence line, is the start of my property,” I said, pointing past the pastures.

“Oh shit. So you really are everywhere,” she muttered, shaking her head.

I stuffed my hands in my pockets, guilt creeping in. I’d screwed up this morning, barging in on her like that. I wasn’t thinking, but when she didn’t answer, I panicked. Thought maybe something had happened. If we were going to be friends, I couldn’t pull that crap again. It wasn’t something I’d ever do to Dalton, and she’d have to be like Dalton.

Except . . . the way her jeans clung to her, hugging every curve like they were made just for her, made it impossible to think of her like just a friend.

Snap out of it. Snap the fuck out of it.

“Guess so,” I said, forcing a casual tone as we walked toward the wooden fence.

The pastures stretched wide, a patchwork of green even in the heart of winter, dotted with scattered trees that stood against the cold breeze. The bulls moved slowly, their heavy forms blending into the expanse of the land.

“These are Kline’s retired bulls out here,” I said, nodding toward the pasture. “They’re mostly who I practice with.”

“Do you own bulls?” she asked, walking up to the fence line.

“I’ve got one cow, but I want more,” I said, leaning up against the fence. “And I’ve got two horses.”

Her eyes snapped to mine. “Horses?”

“Yeah,” I said with a nod. “Do you ride?”

She shook her head, her gaze dropping for a moment like she didn’t want to admit it. “Once, a long time ago, I wanted to. But I never got around to it.”

“You can ride my horse anytime you want,” I said, the smirk coming easily as the words slipped out.

She laughed, rolling her eyes in that way that somehow made her look even prettier. “I thought we weren’t doing that anymore.”

I chuckled, leaning a little closer just because I could. “Couldn’t help myself.”