Page 63 of The Runaway and the Rugged
“Did you think I wasn’t going to be?” I asked, a trace of annoyance lingering in my tone.
With a dangerous smirk, he lowered his arm, giving me his full height.
“If I’m bein’ straight with you, I had no clue what I was going to walk into,” he answered with a playful honesty that had me rolling my eyes.
I wanted to be annoyed. I really, truly did, but I found it nearly impossible. He tried to come off as grumpy and brooding, probably a way to keep himself guarded. But for some odd, infuriating reason, I was able to make him smile anyway.
“You said seven, so here I am.” I stretched my arms out wide. “Ready to work.”
He eyed me peculiarly.
“Ready to work, huh?” He laughed with the shake of his head. “Not sure you’ll be thinkin’ that once you see what were doin’ today.”
I sighed, closing my eyes briefly to stop myself from visibly gagging.
“Just—just at least tell me that these clothes will be enough to keep me somewhat clean today.”
It was more than evident that he wanted to laugh again. Eyebrow raised, mustache twitching in tangent with his mouth, he fought hard to contain his composure. I’m sure I sounded ridiculous, clinging to the hope of staying clean on a ranch, in a world that was undoubtedly a man’s domain. But what else was there for me to do other than hope he’d take it easy on me? If his expression was any indicator, then I could tell I’d be in for it.
“Clean? Sorry to burst your fancy little bubble, Outlaw, but clean’s damn sure not in a ranch hand’s talk.”
There he went again, calling me a ranch hand. I was the furthest thing from the title and I had a feeling Garth knew that too. He was only using the term to tease me.
“I’m not a ranch hand, Garth. So, yes, clean is definitely in this city girl's vocabulary,” I argued, folding my arms over my chest.
“It won’t be for long.” He gave me one last appraisal before clearing the path out the door. “Not when you’re workin’ with me, that is.”
His words sent a blast of heat down my spine. I doubted they carried any real intention, or were meant to be taken in a different light, but unfortunately for me, that’s the only way my twisted mind had taken it.
“You plan on running me ragged out there?”
He chuckled.
“You think I got that kinda cruelty in me?” he teased with a firm nod for me to follow him.
I narrowed my eyes before tossing them over my shoulder and into the cabin for one last look. Realizing the lights were off and everything else was in order, I stepped out onto the porch with Garth and a reluctance to get the day started.
“No, not exactly, but I mean… I’m not sure how you treat your workers,” I replied as he stepped around me and began messing with the door. He opened it, then reached his hand around as if trying to set the lock. After a moment, he finished and closed the door again then tossed me something. I caught it instinctively, a small, cold, metal key, but not before almost letting it slip through my fingers.
“Make sure you keep this door locked whenever you leave, yeah?” He sauntered past me, leaving a blend of leather and earthy notes in his wake. Instead of stopping, he bounced down the steps, sending my gaze downward to his flexing ass.
Damn, he looks good in jeans.
“You comin’?” he said over his shoulder, drawing my attention back to his upper half that looked just about as good as his lower. A navy blue button-up flannel with the sleeves rolled at the forearms and a worn tan cowboy hat placed effortlessly on his head.
He looked too polished to get dirty, but maybe he looked even better with a little mud and sweat mingling on him.
“Yeah—yeah, I’m coming.” I scrambled down the steps, nearly tripping over my boots as I settled into the passenger seat of the ATV. When he saw that I was comfortably positioned, he swiftly punched the gear into drive and sped off in the opposite direction of the cabin.
“Oh, almost forgot to give you this,” he announced, slipping his arm behind my headrest and reaching behind him. He pulled out a brown, weathered ball cap, its brim faded and frayed from years of use. “Here.” He handed it to me with a rough smile. “It’ll help with the sun.”
Twisting it around, I studied the front of the hat.
“PBR?” I read out loud, glancing at Garth for some clarification. “What does that mean?”
At first, his mouth was set into a harsh line until my words had registered and he arched a brow.
“Never heard of it?” he asked, as my gaze fell back down to the hat.
