Page 13 of The Rancher's Addiction

“About what?”

“This,” he said as his gaze swept the room.

“Why?”

“Well, I know you’re wealthy...”

“How did you know that?”

He snorted.“Welcome to small-town living, Baby.”

She sighed and waited.

“So, I’m wondering why you’d pick a small, run-down house?”

“Why do you need to know?”

“I just do,” he said with a sliver of impatience in his tone.

“Okay, well, I don’t need a big house because it’s just me, and I wanted to learn how to do renovation because I needed a hobby, and it’s good to know how to do things on my own since I don’t have anyone here.”

“Anyone in town would help if you needed it.”

She nodded.“I’m sure they would, but I’m used to depending on myself.Besides, this is relaxing for me.”

“Doing construction is relaxing?”he asked in disbelief.

“Anything with my hands.”

He looked down the short hallway and saw the light in one of the rooms.He nodded toward it.“Is that it?”

She looked over her shoulder and nodded.

He moved around her.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“I want to see.”

“Shouldn’t you wait for an invitation?”

He grunted and kept walking.

He stopped in the doorway and looked down at the floor.“You did this?”

She smiled at the disbelief in his tone.“Yes.I still have a few tiles to set, but then all I have to do is grout.”

He glanced at her and scowled.“I’m impressed.”

She bit back a smile.The way he complimented her sounded painful.She knew she could mess with him, but decided since they were actually getting along, she didn’t want to break the peace.She followed him as he walked back to the front door.

“I’m not convinced you can be the type of vet I need.”

She sighed.That didn’t last long.“And I already told you it’s fine.It won't affect me if you go to another veterinarian.I’ve got plenty of clients.”

The muscle in his jaw started to throb again, and she wondered what had pissed him off this time.He took the three steps to stand in front of her and then slowly cupped her face.He studied her for a moment, then his head lowered, and he took her lips.

The shock held her immobile for a moment, and then the taste and feel of his lips made whatever resistance she had disintegrate.Her breath caught in her lungs, and her heart and pulse pounded.

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