not seen one cowboy.
Across the gravel lot in the corral, a horse whinnied. She dropped onto the rocking chair and watched the animals. There were four chestnuts and one dusty gray gelding. All were saddled but not tied.
A cloud of dust rose from behind the small riding office. Another horse rounded the corner—this one black with a white strip down his face—ridden by a man dressed in typical western wear. Dark denim clung to powerful thighs, a long-sleeved maroon shirt stretched across a broad chest.
From this distance, she couldn’t make out facial features, but when he removed his hat and wiped his forehead on his sleeve, she saw brown hair darkened by sweat. He oozed raw masculine power, the kind that sent her heart racing and made her nipples pucker.
The man looked in her direction and tipped his hat. He smiled and clicked to the horse who responded by turning and disappearing behind the building.
Intrigued, Sara walked across the road and followed the path around the office to a fenced corral. She watched the man strip the horse of its saddle and bridle, though she knew there was probably some appropriate terminology like desaddling or untacking. All she knew was that was one lucky horse.
Finally, the cowboy approached the horse with a round brush—a curry comb, she vaguely remembered it being called from her visits with Gran—and ran it in circles over its side. The large animal drank from a bucket tied to the fence post.
The man himself was tall, somewhere over six feet—she’d never been good at estimating anyone’s height. He turned at her approach, and her heart jilted in her chest.
Holy hell, he was gorgeous. Light brown eyes, the color of rum, were framed by long, thick black lashes. He smiled in welcome, revealing perfect straight white teeth. Her nipples pebbled against the lace of her bra.
“Uh, hi,” she stammered. “I hope you don’t mind, but I saw you ride in and thought I’d come check out the horses.” Gees, why don’t you just say “I think you’re hot and want you to be my weekend fuck buddy.”
The cowboy tipped his hat. “Not at all. Are you planning to do some riding this weekend?”
Heat flushed her cheeks. “That’s the plan.” She reached out and gave a tentative stroke of the horse’s hip. The animal shifted and leaned his butt into the caress.
The cowboy chuckled, drawing her attention to his face again. Dark stubble framed a strong jaw and outlined perfect lips. Brown eyes twinkled, the corners crinkling with humor.
“I’m Dane.” He extended a large hand.
She eyed the hand and swallowed hard. Grasping his fingers, she said, “Sara.” Again she studied him. “Dane. Do you happen to be a Dumen?”
His chest puffed out and his grin broadened. “Our reputation precedes us?”
“Actually, my cousin, Shannon, told me about your family. Something about heartbreakingly sexy.”
“You don’t say.” The gleam in his eye sent her tummy into flutters.
Flirting with him came much easier than she’d anticipated. Especially when he gave her that crooked grin. Just his smile made her wet.
“Hmm. What was it?” She tapped a finger against her chin. “Oh, yes. If you want a sexy cowboy who can turn your world upside down, you want a Dumen.” Sara allowed her gaze to travel the length of him, lingering on the bulge outlined by his chaps. “Very tempting.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I’ve got to get back to the festivities. It was nice meeting you, Dane. Maybe I’ll see you around.”
Walking away before he could respond, she forced her heart to calm its erratic beat. By nature, she was not a tease. In fact, because of the attention her mother received as a stripper, Sara tended to shy away from giving men any kind of impression. But that type of attitude wouldn’t do this weekend. Determination added a little extra swing in her step. Take that, cowboy . As she’d promised herself, the next four days would be the time to experiment,
Across the gravel lot in the corral, a horse whinnied. She dropped onto the rocking chair and watched the animals. There were four chestnuts and one dusty gray gelding. All were saddled but not tied.
A cloud of dust rose from behind the small riding office. Another horse rounded the corner—this one black with a white strip down his face—ridden by a man dressed in typical western wear. Dark denim clung to powerful thighs, a long-sleeved maroon shirt stretched across a broad chest.
From this distance, she couldn’t make out facial features, but when he removed his hat and wiped his forehead on his sleeve, she saw brown hair darkened by sweat. He oozed raw masculine power, the kind that sent her heart racing and made her nipples pucker.
The man looked in her direction and tipped his hat. He smiled and clicked to the horse who responded by turning and disappearing behind the building.
Intrigued, Sara walked across the road and followed the path around the office to a fenced corral. She watched the man strip the horse of its saddle and bridle, though she knew there was probably some appropriate terminology like desaddling or untacking. All she knew was that was one lucky horse.
Finally, the cowboy approached the horse with a round brush—a curry comb, she vaguely remembered it being called from her visits with Gran—and ran it in circles over its side. The large animal drank from a bucket tied to the fence post.
The man himself was tall, somewhere over six feet—she’d never been good at estimating anyone’s height. He turned at her approach, and her heart jilted in her chest.
Holy hell, he was gorgeous. Light brown eyes, the color of rum, were framed by long, thick black lashes. He smiled in welcome, revealing perfect straight white teeth. Her nipples pebbled against the lace of her bra.
“Uh, hi,” she stammered. “I hope you don’t mind, but I saw you ride in and thought I’d come check out the horses.” Gees, why don’t you just say “I think you’re hot and want you to be my weekend fuck buddy.”
The cowboy tipped his hat. “Not at all. Are you planning to do some riding this weekend?”
Heat flushed her cheeks. “That’s the plan.” She reached out and gave a tentative stroke of the horse’s hip. The animal shifted and leaned his butt into the caress.
The cowboy chuckled, drawing her attention to his face again. Dark stubble framed a strong jaw and outlined perfect lips. Brown eyes twinkled, the corners crinkling with humor.
“I’m Dane.” He extended a large hand.
She eyed the hand and swallowed hard. Grasping his fingers, she said, “Sara.” Again she studied him. “Dane. Do you happen to be a Dumen?”
His chest puffed out and his grin broadened. “Our reputation precedes us?”
“Actually, my cousin, Shannon, told me about your family. Something about heartbreakingly sexy.”
“You don’t say.” The gleam in his eye sent her tummy into flutters.
Flirting with him came much easier than she’d anticipated. Especially when he gave her that crooked grin. Just his smile made her wet.
“Hmm. What was it?” She tapped a finger against her chin. “Oh, yes. If you want a sexy cowboy who can turn your world upside down, you want a Dumen.” Sara allowed her gaze to travel the length of him, lingering on the bulge outlined by his chaps. “Very tempting.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I’ve got to get back to the festivities. It was nice meeting you, Dane. Maybe I’ll see you around.”
Walking away before he could respond, she forced her heart to calm its erratic beat. By nature, she was not a tease. In fact, because of the attention her mother received as a stripper, Sara tended to shy away from giving men any kind of impression. But that type of attitude wouldn’t do this weekend. Determination added a little extra swing in her step. Take that, cowboy . As she’d promised herself, the next four days would be the time to experiment,
Similar Books
