Page 17 of My Cowboy Boss
Arizona
I strip off the clothes I was wearing and dump them on the bed with the others. Nothing seems right. In my bra and panties, I stare at the pile, then realize why I’m troubled.
These are Aspen’s clothes. And for today while I’m with Flint, I don’t want to be faking it as the woman with the business degree who knows how to handle an office. I want to be me, the head-in-the-clouds dreamer who loves books.
Leaving my sister’s things on her bed, I walk into my room and take out jeans and a t-shirt. I’m in the middle of deciding how to wear my hair when I think that the time with Flint today might not be what I hope for.
We’d started our walk because he said his parents thought I needed a tour of the ranch. He was trying to make feel better after seeing me crying.
Maybe the invitation to go horseback riding is part of that. Him wanting me to feel better. I frown. No…he kissed me and he also said he’d dreamed about me.
Troubled, I get a pair of sneakers and sit on the sofa to put them on. “But that’s physical.” I glance at Panda. “Maybe today is a work thing and yesterday was spur of the moment for him. If that’s true, then this could be nothing more than sex.”
Panda’s tail twitches.
“Am I overthinking?”
My cat meows and stalks across the sofa to rub against me.
I pet her silky fur. “Yeah, you’re probably right. But if it’s just sex, am I okay with that?” I scratch beneath her chin. “No answers huh? Me either.”
There are rumblings in my heart that bother me. A longing for some deeper connection. But the life I’ve presented to him is a lie. How can there be anything deeper between us?
“It’s not like I’ll say no to the sex.” Panda walks away. “You haven’t seen how handsome he is,” I tell her, following her into the kitchen to give her a treat. “But it’s also because under all the gruffness, he really is sweet.”
I leave her to her snack and head out to my beater car. It’s difficult to concentrate on the trip because I can’t prevent my brain from coming up with various scenes involving me and a very naked Flint.
At the ranch, I park and get out and there’s Flint walking down off the porch toward me. His body is strong and fit. He could easily toss me over his shoulder…he could easily hold his body aloft over mine before he lowers himself…
He smiles at me.
Lowers himself…ooh…right now he’s wearing snug jeans. I glance down the length of his legs and back up to another length of his.Hellooo big boy.
“Come on, I’m carrying everything we need.”
And then some.Oh. He means the picnic bag and blanket.
I’m divided. Idowant this man. And I’m thinking sex with him would be phenomenal. But I’m also thinking I’d be better off if this is not a date because I like him so much. And if I get ousted because of my lie, then it’s gonna hurt. More so if I get in too deeply with him which I fear, very much so, that it’s already an issue.
“Let me help you,” he says once the horses are ready to go. He walks around the mare to stand behind me and grips my waistwith his big hands. But he doesn’t lift me. He holds me still and I angle my head to look at him.
“Are you nervous?” he asks.
“A little. I’m not sure of myself around horses.”
“You don’t have to be afraid. I’m right here.” His hands slide down the sides of my hips leaving heated trails. “I’ll help you get on now.” He lifts me like it takes him no effort at all, and I swing into the saddle.
He grins up at me, handsome and so sexy he should come with a warning. “And I’ll help get you off when you’re ready.”
“Is now a good time?” I answer with a laugh.
He laughs too and settles himself into his saddle. “Ride with me, baby.”
We ride for what feels like the entire day and when we stop my ass feels like it had a beating.
I groan as he helps me dismount in front of a sprawling oak tree.
He unloads a picnic bag and spreads a blanket beneath the canopy of branches.
