Page 13 of A Cowboy Takes A Chance

“Everything all right here?” he asked. When she smiled up at him, he swore his heart skipped a beat.

“Yes. I just need to roll it up.” She glanced up to the sky. “It’s going to be hot again today.”

“Yeah, but I think rain is moving in.” He moved his hand down his leg but stopped when he noticed her looking at it.

She moved closer to him. “Are you all right,” she said in a low tone of voice.

“Yes,” he snapped then felt like an ass when she took her bottom lip between her teeth and nodded then moved back toward her tent.Fuck!Grasping her elbow, he turned her to face him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. I just want to get in the Jacuzzi when I get home. It’s hurting a little.”

“I understand. I need to get busy, so we can head back. A Jacuzzi sounds good.”

He watched as she moved away to help Rodney with her tent. He’d been tempted to ask her to join him in his Jacuzzi. He tore his eyes from her ass in those tight jeans and headed for his horse.

A few minutes later, they were all mounted and ready to head out. Jaxon waited until they were in a line and he brought up the rear. He noticed that Bett was up closer to the front this time. Maybe he’d finally gotten through to her. He chuckled when he saw her flirting with Chip. He ignored her, but Chip did seem to be interested in her friend.

Jaxon tugged his hat down over his forehead and put his sunglasses on. He saw Presley slathering suntan lotion on her arms. She was wearing a white, sleeveless blouse tucked into jeans and the jeans tucked into her boots again. His eyes skimmed down her back to her ass in the saddle. She had a fine ass. Damn, now his dick was twitching at just the thought of her ass filling his hands, and he shifted in the saddle.Not going to happen!

Taking his eyes off her backside, he looked up to the sky when the sun disappeared. Clouds were rolling in, and he hoped they made it back before it started raining. Thunder boomed in the distance, and he saw all the riders looking up.

“It’s a way off, just keep moving at a steady pace and if we’re lucky enough, we’ll beat it in,” he told them.

“Can’t we pick up the pace? I don’t want to get my hair wet,” Bett complained.

Jaxon heard Presley snort and then she glanced back to him. He smiled at her and when she smiled back, it felt as if the sun had come back out.Fuck!

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Presley was shocked when Jaxon smiled at her. Just a slight lifting of his lips, but it was a smile. The first one she’d ever seen from him, and it made her heart flutter. Dimplespeeked in his cheeks. She loved dimples. It had changed his whole face making it even more attractive.Damn, it was hot out!Glancing up to the sky, she noticed the clouds were beginning to darken.

“Chip, we can pick up the pace a little. Is everyone all right with that?” Jaxon called out.

Presley noticed everyone nodded their heads. They all nudged their horses into a trot to try to beat the rain. Thunder rumbled above them. She’d always heard if you could hear the roar, lightning could strike you. As the thought entered her head, a streak of lightning lit up the sky. She shivered despite the heat and was surprised when she saw Jaxon ride past her to get to the front, pulling the packhorse behind him. The man could ride. He had the horse at full gallop, and he didn’t move in that saddle. She sighed. Something about a cowboy. As she watched, he slowed beside Chip and talked with him. Chip nodded while Jaxon started riding back, telling all of them they were going to make a run for the barn.

“This is going to be a bad storm. If you feel comfortable enough to ride at full speed, go for it. Just follow Chip. I’ll bring up the rear and stay with any of you who have trouble keeping up.”

Presley watched as everyone in front of her nudged their horses into a run. Lightning flashed across the sky, and the thunder cracked overhead. She loved a good storm but not being right in the middle of it. She smiled when she saw Bett hightailing it out of there. Presley figured she’d be the one to hold back just to be with Jaxon. Apparently, her hair staying dry was more important.

“Can you go?” Jaxon asked from beside her.

“Yes, I was just watching Bett go.” She looked at Jaxon. “Her hair is more important than you.” She smiled.

Jaxon burst out laughing. “Thank God. Let’s go.” He jerked his chin for her to follow the others.

“Yes, sir.” Prodding her horse into a run, she laughed as the sky opened and the rain poured out of it in sheets. She couldn’t get his laugh out of her head. He had a deep laugh, and his face lit up, showing his perfect white teeth. He needed to laugh more often. Could he be any sexier?

The rain was drenching her, but it was terrific. Her blouse was getting soaked, along with her jeans and hat. The hat that wasn’t keeping much rain off her face. Glancing over, she saw Jaxon riding beside her. His T-shirt was stuck to his chest, and her mouth was suddenly dry despite the rain slappingher in the face. His face was wet from the rain too. He looked over to her, and his eyes lowered to her damp blouse, and she could feel her nipples harden. When he raised his eyes to hers, she gasped at the heat in them.

“Get moving,” he yelled.

Glaring at him, she nudged her horse into a full gallop and hoped mud splashed on his face from her horse’s hooves. Damn him. Staying in front of him, she rode back to the barn then entered the building. Some of the ranch hands came running forward to help everyone. All the riders dismounted.

“That was wild. I never saw a storm happen so fast,” Bett said as she pushed her wet hair out of her face.

“Storms can pop up quickly in the mountains,” Chip said.

“All of you can head to your cabins. We’ll take care of the horses,” Jaxon told everyone.

“I’ll get soaked walking to my cabin,” Bett complained.

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