Page 4 of Last Chance Cowboy
“Strawberry,” she said, taking a step toward him.
“Why?”
“Because. Because I did. Because it’s…oop!” She took a step forward, and her ankle rolled slightly when she stepped on half a pinecone. She steadied herself and smiled. “Nice.”
“Why,” he repeated, this time, not a question, but a demand for an answer.
“Okay, Cody was hoping that I would talk to you about using your property for trail rides.”
“Fuck him and no.”
“But—” He turned away from her and began to walk up the front porch.
Wow. The muscles on his back were amazing.
Wow, that is not your goal here.
“But,” she started again. “He’s your best friend.”
“Yes. He is my best friend. He’s my only friend. And fuck him. I’m not letting him use my property to run tourists through it like it’s a goddamned theme park. Does this look like the happiest place on earth to you?”
“Clearly not. I don’t think he’s suggesting he bring the crowd up to roll merrily all over your land. I just think he wants to run a trail ride through the far end. Way, way, far away from your house. Anyway, you would benefit.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Why did they send you?”
“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach?” She lifted the basket up higher. He turned toward her, cocking his hip and leaning against the railing on the porch.
He made a low, growling sound. “That may be true. If the man has a heart.”
The statement made her feel breathless, and she didn’t know if she wanted to roll her eyes at him or herself. Both, honestly. “I think you have a heart. I just think you’re stubborn.”
“Is this news?”
“I don’t see why you won’t do this for him.”
“Why do you care?”
“Honestly? It could be good for my business too.”
“He can run a ride up to the trail once a week. Once a week. That’s it. Then I don’t want to hear anymore. No more badgering me, no more trying to get me to give up more space. I’ll give what I give. That’s it.”
He turned away from her again.
“Wait,” she said, launching herself forward, and when he turned again, even though he was two steps above her and she was on the ground, he was far too close.
She sucked in a sharp breath, everything in her freezing. “Strawberry rolls.” She held the basket higher.
They were the only words she was capable of uttering.
“I don’t need a bribe.”
Except he had agreed only when she had come up here. Maybe… Maybe he had agreed because it was evidence that they found him so unreasonable they were willing to send anyone and everyone up to convince him. Maybe this had been a bit.
He reached out and grabbed ahold of the basket. His rough hand brushed hers, and she felt something like fire shoot through her veins.
He was awful. Genuinely. The least friendly, the least welcoming, the least accommodating man she had ever met.
So why was she breathless?
