Page 26 of Wrangled Up

“No, just a dad who drives truck. I don’t see him very often. My aunt has taken care of me forever.”

His lips tightened, causing a bracket to form around the corner. “I have a sister, Moira, who lives about two hours away with her family. She has four kids and one on the way.” He shook his head. “I don’t know when she became a brood mare, but—”

Claire smacked his biceps hard, and he hunched around the steering wheel in laughter.

“Thank God it’s not foal season. I can’t possibly be expected to know how to pull a foal on the ranch.”

“Yeah, that’s beyond my scope too.”

The weight of their new responsibilities crashed over them. Tucker had told Christian that he’d be gone for a few days. Two had passed without word from him. When would he come back? What happened when the animals ran out of food? On a waitress’s income, there was no way Claire could buy food. And she was sure Christian’s income wouldn’t get them much further than a couple of chili dogs scarfed down in the parking lot of the Quickie Mart.

They bumped into the parking lot. She gripped the “holy shit” handle to brace herself.

Christian pulled into a parking spot and sat there for a minute.

“What’s up?” she asked.

“Umm. I forgot about my wet jeans.”

Laughter bubbled from her. Too easily she recalled his shocked expression when the cold liquid hit his man parts.

He dug into his back pocket and produced a battered leather wallet. He peeled off acouple of bills, but her gaze was locked to the small ring where a condom obviously was tucked. “Here, get what you want and two dogs for me.”

She accepted the bills, careful not to touch his fingers. “Drink?”

“Biggest sweet tea you can get your hands on.” His smile was infectious.

“Be back in a few. You stay here with your wet jeans.”

“Smartass.”

Grinning, she went inside. While getting drinks, she ran into a woman who told Claire she was there buying cough medicine for her child. She was a single mom and had to ask her neighbor to sit with the feverish child because her deadbeat ex was never around when she needed him.

Claire nodded politely and made all the right sounds. By now, she was so accustomed to listening to people she knew who needed a sympathetic ear and who required a couple of words to soothe them.

On some level she was glad to be an outlet for so many, but on the other…who was ever going to help her?

While she was checking out, she stared through the big windows at Christian’s truck. He was a dark shadow in the depths of the cab, his ball cap pulled low over his eyes.

Lust spiked in her. Visions of Christian tumbling her into the mattress, his strong body pinning her, spiraled in her mind.

Her stomach leaped. With a bag of chili dogs and two drinks in hand, she pushed through the door of the convenience store. Outside, she froze in her tracks as their gazes met.

Sparks flew between them. On the heels of that was a rush of panic and guilt. This wasn’t how she should react after Tucker left. She still wanted that man with every cell of her being.

Except she wanted Christian too.

She made her feet move. He leaned across the seats and opened her door for her. Then he took everything from her hands and set it aside. His big body loomed so close. What would happen if she just wrapped her arms tight around him and yanked him down for a kiss?

“Claire.” His voice was choked, as if he’d just guzzled two shots and a beer chaser.

She swung her gaze to his magnetic one. A quiet noise sounded in her throat.

Slowly, Christian cradled her face in his hands. She zeroed in on his mouth. The upper bow was completely shadowed by hair growth, but she easily recalled how sensual his upper lip was while working over her folds.

She shuddered.

And he kissed her.

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