The Ranger's Rodeo Rebel by Pamela Britton

should go home.”
    â€œAnd be at the ranch all by yourself? I don’t think so.”
    She released an oath of frustration. “Natalie would be there.”
    Her eyes implored him to see reason. Wasn’t going to work.
    â€œAnd your sister’s not far away,” she added.
    He shook his head, emphatically so she got the point. “I’m not willing to jeopardize their safety because you’re bored.”
    She drew up short. Clearly, she hadn’t thought that far ahead. A second later, she flounced down on the couch opposite him.
    â€œI can’t stand being pent up like this.”
    He reached behind him and stretched his arms. “Then do something productive with all that energy.”
    â€œLike what?”
    It was one of those things—a suggestion he hadn’t known he was going to propose, and something he probably shouldn’t mention. “Training.”
    She cocked a brow at him, and with her hair down and loose around her shoulders and her black T-shirt clinging to her every curve, he began to doubt the soundness of his suggestion. He should be keeping away from her, not planting ideas in her head.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” she asked when he failed to explain.
    Don’t do it. Do not do it. You know how uncomfortable she makes you feel. Touching her will only complicate matters. He’d had enough fantasies about her last night.
    â€œSelf-defense.”
    The voice inside his head groaned, but he couldn’t ignore the fact that she needed training. Pepper spray only went so far. If that bastard ex of hers was crazy enough to shoot at her horse, no telling what else he would do. And if he ever caught her off guard, if he managed to surprise her one night at the ranch, she wouldn’t have time to get out her spray or arm herself with a weapon. Today was proof of that. So if Chance taught her a few of the moves he’d learned in the army, she might have a fighting chance.
    â€œYou should learn to protect yourself.”
    Oh, yeah? asked the voice. Who’s going to protect you?
    â€œYou mean learn karate or something?”
    â€œYou don’t need karate. There’s a lot you can do with just your hands.”
    And if he needed proof of what a bad idea this whole thing was, those words sure did seal the deal, because there was a lot she could do with her hands...and he wished she’d do it all to him.

Chapter Ten
    She should have said no.
    Later that evening, Carolina wondered what the hell she’d gotten herself into. At least, she’d been granted a momentary reprieve. She had been downright embarrassed earlier. When the girls had returned, Lori had banged on the door, shouting, “Whadda ya guys doing in there?”
    Carolina had wanted to die. Despite telling Chance she didn’t care what everyone thought, she didn’t want to be thought of as a floozy – shacking up with the boss’s brother. Although word would spread quickly that she had an issue with an ex, so she probably had nothing to worry about.
    â€œNow, remember, you’re never going to win if you’re facing a man with a gun.”
    They stood between the two trailers, in an area shielded from people passing by, the grass in between them trampled from their feet.
    â€œI know,” she said, nervously tucking her hands into her pockets.
    â€œThe best thing to do if that happens is run. But not straight. Zigzag. Do the unexpected. And dive behind something if you can.”
    She nodded. It was late. The rodeo had ended long ago. Colt had gone off to tend to the horses. The girls had fled somewhere else...probably to the local bar. That left her and Chance alone, the sun at an angle that lit the tops of the trees on fire, the sky a yellow orange that would have taken her breath away if she wasn’t already breathing hard in anticipation of what they were about to do. It was ridiculous. It wasn’t as though Chance would hurt her. He was