Page 35 of Red Hot Rancher

Caleb tracked her like a hawk circling its prey.

Next was her bra. There was no enticing way to get a bra on, but she might change her opinion based on how Caleb adjusted himself.

She stepped into her jeans, her jiggling breasts and wiggling hips catching his attention.

He groaned. “This is the best thing I’ve ever seen.”

She nearly rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop her grin. “It’ll be my turn for a show next time.”

“Next time?”

She stopped, her shirt hanging from her hands. “Yes?”

He sat forward and pulled her between his knees. “So what is this? Us?”

“I think…” What did she think? She was torn in two. There was the girl who loved her home and hadn’t regretted a moment with Caleb. There was also the woman who’d worked hard for her education and wanted to use it. She wanted to carve out her own niche in the world. “I think we’re still going in different directions in life, but as long as we’re traveling together for a while, there’s no reason we can’t be together. If…you want to?”

“I’ve wanted you my whole life, Brigit. I’ll take what I can get.”

Her phone buzzed and they both froze.

“This is ridiculous.” She reached for it in the nightstand. Huh, she wasn’t so self-conscious about being shirtless around Caleb. She chuckled when she read the message from Justin out loud. “‘Are you bringing my main mode of escape back? I’m one more sigh away from riding horse to the hardware store.’”

“I’d better let you go rescue him.” He pressed his lips against her stomach.

She tossed the phone on the bed and hugged him to her. She had a day full of nothing ahead of her. More job searching. Trying not to act awkward around her parents. Begging Justin to do some of the chores to escape any tension.

Sounded awesome. “What are your plans for the day?”

He let her go. “You made such a good case about switching minerals and supplements to decrease my open rate, I thought I’d wander through town and see what there is.”

He could call her beautiful again and it wouldn’t make her glow so much. He was taking her advice to switch minerals and see if that helped improve his calving numbers.

“What if I caught a ride to town with Justin and met up with you?” She shrugged into her shirt to cover a sudden case of nerves. It was like she’d asked him out. She’d never asked a guy out.

“Seriously? I’d love having your expertise at my disposal.”

“It’s only book knowledge, so…”

“So it’s more than I have. And it might be more than the person on shift at the farm supply store has.” He handed her the keys. “I would’ve started the pickup but since it’s the only set of keys, I figured today would be the one day a car thief drives by.”

“After the sauna in here, a cold truck sounds nice.”

“I’ll warm you up later.”

She grinned. “Deal.”

He walked her out and she pulled away first. When Mom had busted them together as teenagers, Mom had hauled her away like a felon off to prison. Brigit had glimpsed Caleb in the rearview mirror, his head hanging low, his hands shoved in the pants he’d hastily put back on.

She glanced at Caleb in the mirror. Caleb waved before he swung his lithe form into his truck. Heat blasted across her body. What a man. And she was seeing him again. She bit her bottom lip and sighed.

How times changed.

If I sit here any longer, they’re going to call the cops on me.

Caleb glanced around the half-full parking lot. The major Black Friday run was over, and he’d been buried deep inside Brigit’s willing body for most of it.

Best Black Friday ever.

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