Page 30 of Ride Me Cowboy

A muscle jerks in his jaw. “Oh, good. Because bears always know to stay away from the trails.”

“Don’t be sarcastic with me.”

“What do you want me to say, Beth?”

“Nothing,” I shout at him, and jeez, it feels good. So good. I might be taking out some of my post-Christopher emotions on him, but who cares? Right now, he’s provoked me and I’m giving back as good as I’m getting. “I don’t want you to say anything to me. Let me absolve you of any responsibility for me, going forward. I’m not your problem.” And with that parting shot, I begin to run again. But I hear the clip clopping of his horse right behind me, the whole way back to the house.

Chapter Ten

Beth

HONESTLY, UNTIL THIS VERY moment, I really wasn’t even sure I was going to come. The note I found from Cole on my desk this morning—the morning after he rode up and lost his temper at me for the sin of going for a run—was direct, and to the point:

Beth,

Running gear on, 6pm. Meet me near the roses.

C.

I spend most of the day downing coffee after coffee and fuming, imagining not meeting him at all. But then, after last night, I’mpretty sure he’d just come stomping in here and pick another fight with me.

Not that I hate that idea.

How weird that I spent my entire marriage trying to keep my head down and avoid arguing with Christopher but with Cole, there’s something about seeing his passion rise to the surface that sparks everything good inside me. It sets me half on fire and I love it.

I’ll admit it; I’m intrigued. So, just before six, I change into my running gear, grab my water pack and head out of the house and around to the rose garden.

He’s standing there, but not like I’ve ever seen him before. I actually do a double take, becausethisversion of Cole could easily be part of a Central Park early morning running club. He’s wearing black shorts and a grey shirt with a white tick on the right pec, and dark grey joggers. He raises his brows as I approach, like he also wasn’t expecting me to come. and is showing his surprise.

“I wanted to go for a run, anyway,” I say defensively, not greeting him or offering any other pleasantries. “What’s this about, Cole?”

“I’m coming with you.”

My lips pull to the side. Well, that explains the outfit. “You really don’t have to.”

“I think we established yesterday that I do.”

I shake my head. “I run alone.”

“Not anymore you don’t.”

“Being alone is part of what I like about running.”

“I’ll run behind you. You won’t know I’m there.”

I roll my eyes but just manage to stop saying that he’s delusional if he thinks he can so much take a breath without me realizing it. Cole has infused all of me with hypersensitivity when it comes to him.

“This is not optional.”

I stare at him, that last sentence really getting on my nerves, for obvious reasons. “If you want me to agree to something, you’re better off not bullying me into it. Nothing triggers me more than being told what to do.”

His jaw throbs. “Then start listening the first time I say something.”

“You really are an arrogant?—,”

He steps forward then, pressing a finger to my lips. The gesture sends a thousand darts of heat flying through my body, totally blotting out my anger and irritation.

“Don’t say it,” he suggests, then, softer. “I don’t wanna fight with you, Beth.” His hand drops away and I have to bite back a groan. I like it when he touches me. I really like it.

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