Page 38 of A Cowboy Takes A Chance

“A week, then home to Texas.”

“Well, I hope you have an enjoyable time while you’re here.” Jaxon reined Zander to a stop when she halted her horse and stared at him.

“I wouldn’t mind having a good time with you, Jaxon.”

Mentally shaking his head, he wondered why some women just came on to a man when he showed her no encouragement at all. Of course, men had been doing the same thing for years.The times they are a changing.

“I’m sorry, but there’s no fraternizing between guests and staff.”

“Damn. Well, you can’t blame a girl for trying. If you change your mind, I’m in cabin fourteen.” She nudged her horse to catch up with the others.

Grinning, Jaxon nudged Zander to catch up. They were almost to the point where they turned around. He wasn’t looking forward to returning to the ranch, but he did wonder what Presley was doing. Was she lying around the pool in that tight swimsuit? He shifted in the saddle as his dick tried to rise. Shit. How was he supposed to stay away from her when he wanted her every second of every day? It was because of her that Bethany was fading from him.

Once the group returned to the barn, he told everyone to dismount, and the ranch hands took the horses to cool them down. Jaxon dismounted then remove the tack and after a short walk to do a warm-down, he then led Zander into a stall to cool the horse down. After getting the hose, he entered the stall, and the horse bobbed his head up and down making Jaxon chuckle.

“Yeah, I know you like this part.” He moved the hose over the horse’s back, so the water flowed over him slowly. Zander turned his head and took Jaxon’s hat in his mouth.

“Damn it, give me my hat, Zander,” Jaxon muttered as he reached for it. Zander moved his head so Jaxon couldn’t reach his hat.

“He’s such a beautiful horse.”

Jaxon turned to see Presley leaning against the stall door. She looked away from the horse to look at him, and he could see the hurt in her eyes.

“Presley—”

“Jaxon, I’m sorry I stormed out.”

He was shocked that she put it on herself. “I made you angry and for that, I apologize. It’s just that I don’t know what to do as far as we’re concerned.”

Stepping into the stall, she ran her hand along Zander’s back and Jaxon swore he felt it on his dick.

“I don’t either, but I can’t imagine not seeing you or being with you while I’m still here.”

Shutting the hose off, he dropped it to the floor and strode toward her. Stopping in front of her, he cupped her face in his hands.

“I can’t either. But I don’t want to hurt you,” he whispered.

“I know you don’t, but I can’t seem to stay away from you.”

“I can’t stay away from you either. Do you want to go up to my house and wait for me?”

“Um…I do but I don’t think it’s a good idea. Maybe we need to cool it a bit,” she said, smiling at him. “Maybe we could just take a walk or go for a ride.”

Grinning, he leaned down and kissed her. “Well, not exactly what I had in mind,” he said frowning and wondering if he’d blown it with her. “Okay, I can show you around my property.”

Maybe later she’d be interested in spending some time in other pursuits.

“Let me finish up here and I’ll meet you at my place.”

“Okay. See you in a bit.”

She walked out of the stall and after giving him a little wave, disappeared. This wasn’t a good idea but he needed her too much to deny himself having her, at least while she was here. Once she left, he’d forget her.Liar!Presley Reynolds would be a hard woman to forget, but he wasn’t sure he could give her what she wanted. Shaking his head, he knew it couldn’t go anywhere. He was just too fucking scared. Even if he did want more from her, she was leaving at the end of the month. Idaho Falls was six hours away, and long-distance relationships had never appealed to him. When he’d been in the rodeo, he’d met a lot of women who he had sex with but he never wanted any one in particular for more than one night, until Bethany.Until Presley.

“Shit,” he muttered as he grabbed his hat from the horse, slapped it on his head thenleft the stall after giving Zander some extra oats.

****

Presley rode her horse following behind Jaxon on Zander. She glanced around at the beautiful area. Jaxon had told her he was the only one who rode this trail.

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