Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
She opened the door and walked in, Cy sat in a chair to her left. Dark hazel eyes speared her and her breath left her in a rush.
“You wished to see me?”
He dropped the paper from his hand to the small table beside him and pushed to his feet.
“Oh yeah,” he growled.
Lord, he was big. She wanted the opportunity to explore his hard physique in the light of day. The recollection of his hands upon her skin caused a hitch in her breathing. Strong callused hands skimming over her waist, breasts and every ache she’d experienced previously vanished. She wanted more and could feel herself ready for him.
“What?” she asked. Hopefully he couldn’t hear the pounding of her heart. It was so loud to her.
“You left me there. Not only that, you didn’t tell me you’d been injured.”
“We’re men who work together. I didn’t think I needed to wait for you. Moreover, the cut is just a cut. Hank did a good job.”
He narrowed his eyes. “We’re not men. I am. You…are a woman.” She blew an exasperated breath. “He put a needle in you.”
“Like he would do any other man who got hurt. Should I have gone to see the doc? Pray he didn’t ask me to remove my shirt?”
“Damn it!”
Anger began to rear. “Am I suddenly not able to do the job?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Good because I refuse to lose this job.”
He clenched his fists and swore. She crossed her arms and looked at him, unwilling to budge.
“I could force you.”
“You could.” A shrug. “You won’t.”
“So confident?”
Not really no. “Yes.”
“And why is that?”
Please don’t let me be wrong here. “Because you gave your word.”
“And you trust me?”
“Yes. I never would have slept with you had I not.”
The door opened behind her, shattering the moment. Hank stood there.
“Sorry Boss, am I interrupting?”
Cy moved an impersonal gaze over her. “Not at all. We’re done here.”
At her dismissal, she pivoted and walked out. It wasn’t supposed to work like that. Was it? Confliction warred within her as she tried to sort out her feelings. In the bunkhouse, she sat on her bed and lay back.
What were you expecting?
She had no answer for her brain’s question. She hadn’t thought of anything but the moment. Being intimate with him had been the right thing to do. Both times. For such a large man he could be exceedingly gentle.
It no longer mattered. She had to stay focused on work and not slip up. She drifted into an uneasy sleep and woke with a jerk. The place was quiet, broken by the occasional grunt or snore.
Awake, she made her way to the door and outside. The moon was almost full and bathed the area in silver light. She walked to the corral and released a low whistle.
Polaris trotted up, greeting her with a whicker. “Hey boy.” She rubbed his head beneath his forelock. “Thank you for keeping me alive, today.” He whickered again and nudged her.
When his ear twitched to the left, she tensed and dropped her right hand to the butt of her gun. The shadows parted and Cy approached.
“Where’d you get him?” he asked settling by her on the fence and patting Polaris as well. “Your brother said from some Indians when he was young.”
“Yes.” She didn’t embellish further.
“How’d you get your hands on one? I mean, why did they give him to you?”
“A gift.”
“Are things going to be difficult between us?”
She tipped her head to the side momentarily thrown by the change in conversation. “Are you going to treat me differently?” He sighed and shifted. She wanted to lean against him. Inhale his masculine scent.
“You know this is hard for me.”
“Why? It’s no different than before.”
“Bullshit!” His response fell harshly.
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I knew you were a woman, but everything has changed now.”
A bit of fear penetrated. “How?”
“Because,” he said his voice all deep and graveled. “We’ve slept together. I took your virginity, for God’s sake.”
Ignoring the flutter of passion within her, she narrowed her eyes. “Doesn’t change my capabilities, I’m riding the trail.”
“Damn it, Rebecca! I want to protect you.”
“I don’t need your protection. And you already told me if I was caught I was on my own.”
“I will kill them if they hurt you.” His tone was dagger sharp.
“Kill who?” Bigger question was why did the thought of his protection make her smile so?
“Whoever.”
So much for being on her own if they found out. “Don’t ruin this for me. Please.”
He whirled and left abruptly. She noticed his limp and realized that was probably had him up at this time. She blew out a breath, which Polaris echoed with a snort.
“Who understands men,” she muttered before patting him a final time then leaving.
Things between her and Cy remained tense. She ensured they weren’t alone and went out of her way to avoid him without appearing she’d done so. Three weeks after they’d made love in the old building and she still couldn’t forget how it had been.