Page 35 of Hard To Fall
She’s every man’s dream, wearing cutoffs, a tank top, and cowboy boots. Her hair is loose, her eyes even more blue, shining off her tan skin. My eyes are drawn to that scar on her knee andher bare legs. And now I have barely any patience. I leave the corral and head to the back barn, needing to catch a breather. But just as soon as I get in there, she appears in the doorway.
“Colt,” she says lightly as I wander further to the back.
“Sunshine,” I mutter.
“You always walk away from a beautiful woman?” she asks with a chuckle.
“Only when I’m trying not to do something stupid.”
She laughs. “So…constantly?”
I stop and turn and just about fall over her. She’s right there, so close her citrus scent is wafting all around me, smiling with bright eyes.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask.
“Doing what?”
“This,” I snap, motioning with my hand between us. “This teasing, flirting, circling, pretending you don’t know exactly what you’re doing to me.”
“I’m doing something to you?” she asks innocently but with a raised brow that tells me she’s anything but.
“Not yet, you’re not, but you damn well better real soon.”
She laughs and runs her hand along my shoulder and down to my bicep. “Be a good boy and finish your chores, and I’ll reward you later tonight.” She turns on her heels and tosses back over her shoulder, “And keep the hat on.”
~~
Night comes, and I’m barely standing. I was grumpier than usual, and Levi said it had everything to do with sexual frustration.
“I fucking know that,”I sniped out, and he just laughed in my face. How I went from hating her to wanting to consume every minute with her blows my mind.
The ranch is quiet now as the cattle all settle down to bed for the night. The wind moves through the trees, and the air is warm but gentle. The stars light up the night sky.
And I’m losing my mind.
I find her at the back of the barn, the doors open wide, showing off the expansive land and hills. She’s sitting on a blanket on top of a hay stack like she’s a trophy on my mantle.
Her hair is down, her boots are off, and her knees are pulled up close to her body. She’s peaceful but with an air of temptation surrounding her. I huff to myself,how did a girl like this find me?
“I hope you finished your chores.”
I step close to her, tipping my hat in response. She uncrosses her legs, stretching them out in front of her, and my heart rate speeds up.
“You’re doing this on purpose,” I say.
“Yep,” she answers.
“I’m losing my mind.”
Her smile softens. “I know.”
“You don’t get to light a fire and walk away,” I growl.
She climbs down from the hay bale and wraps her arms around my waist. I tip my hat back and kiss her forehead.
“Maybe,” she murmurs, “I wanted to see if you’d burn or actually come find me.”
“Sunshine,” I warn.
