Page 24 of Falling for the Maverick

“Are you saying I’m trespassing?”

“Yes. This bank of the stream is the property of Circle C, while the land on the opposite bank is privately owned.”

“You’re right because I bought it a couple of weeks ago. So, if you cross the stream, then you would be trespassing on land that belongs to Big Doggo.”

“Are you saying we’re neighbors?”

“Something like that. What are you doing all the way out here?”

“I hadn’t ridden Betty Boop for a while, so we needed a good long ride.”

Lucas looked at the grazing horse. “She’s beautiful. You prefer a sidesaddle?”

Michelle nodded. “I ride Western, too, but I prefer riding sidesaddle because I have less discomfort in my thighs than riding astride.”

Wrapping his arms around her waist, Lucas pressed his mouth to the side of her neck. “Now that you know where I live, we can meet here. I doubt if anyone from your ranch comes out this far.”

“How can you be sure of that?”

“When I discovered this parcel was for sale, I would come here several times a week and didn’t encounter anyone. I decided to buy it because it’s another source of water for my horses.”

“My father is interested in land in the northwest quadrant, so that’s why you were able to buy it.”

“What does he intend to use it for?”

“Horses.”

“A man after my own heart.”

“You don’t like cattle?” Michelle asked.

“Not more than horses. Now if he’s looking to buy horseflesh, then he should talk to Brittany’s husband, Daniel.”

“It’ll probably be Tristan and Shane who will be doing the negotiating.”

“I really like Shane.”

“That’s probably because y’all are obsessed with numbers.”

Lucas slowly blinked. “Numbers aren’t the only thing I’m obsessed with.”

The beginnings of a smile parted Michelle’s lips. “What is the other thing?” she whispered.

“Someone with the initials MC.”

“You have feelings for me?”

“Isn’t that obvious, Michelle, if I’m willing to go along with your crazy scheme to see you on the downlow? That’s something I never even did as a teenage boy.”

“Are you saying you want to back out now? That we should forget about seeing each other?”

Lucas wasted no time in responding. “The answer is no, Ms. Michelle Corey. If anyone’s going to back out, it will be you.”

* * *

Michelle didn’t want to argue with Lucas. Instead she rose up on tiptoe and pressed her mouth to his. Only when she was finished kissing him did she say, “I promise not to back out.”

Lucas shook his head. “No promises, bae, because they can be broken.”