Page 21 of Taming the Billionaire Cowboy
“Typical Carly,” he says, shaking his head with a wide grin. “You can fling hay and shovel shit better than anyone, but you sure don’t mince your words, do you?”
“No.” I rip my gaze away from his chest, focusing instead on the horse.
I sound calm, composed even, but I can feel the heat in my cheeks. That wasn’t supposed to happen.
“And why should you?” He shrugs. “We’re gonna be working together a lot now, after all.”
“Yeah,” I reply, my tone hollow. “Working together…”
I can feel him studying me from behind. Does he sense something too, or is it just me?
But then he joins me again, and we tend to the animals together in companionable silence. He still fumbles and bumbles around a bit, but he’s quick to learn and eager to help, which comes as a pleasant surprise.
The truth is that working with Oliver is not as insufferable as I thought it would be. In fact, it’s almost comfortable.
But that makes me nervous. This is foreign territory, and I don’t know how to navigate it. I can’t have a crush on my boss — for a truckload of reasons.
Maybe I’m just getting thirsty. It’s been a long time since I’ve even been on a date and longer since I’ve, uh,taken things further. Maybe I’m just horny or lonely — or both — and I need to get out there and meet some guys.
Trouble is, a town this small isn’t exactly teeming with eligible bachelors. And I’m not quick to trust. Not after…
I push the thought — the memories — out of my head. Not here. Not now. This ranch is my happy place, and I’ll be damned if anyone or anything will take it away from me.
“I saw some fencing that needs to be fixed,” Oliver says, breaking the silence.
I try to hide my surprise over his awareness, afraid he’ll misinterpret it as flirting. “I’ll grab the toolbox. Lead the way.”
He does, and even though I’m sure I’ll soon be forgetting about this little hiccup — crush, flirtation, whatever it is — I have to admit, the view from behind is pretty good.
CHAPTER 10
OLIVER
Carly runs a pencil through her hair and squints at the sheet of paper in front of her, adding another chore to the long list of things I don’t know. When she posts it in the stable and reminds me that we can check off the tasks each day, I feel like a child.
The worst part is, she’s right. There’s no way I’d keep up with everything if I didn’t have her, and no one else could teach me this way.
But would anyone else do it while looking so good in work boots and jeans?
Even when she’s bossing me around, I can’t help but stare at her. Actually, especially when she’s bossing me around.
I have a list of my own, a running tally of everything I’m noticing about her. A snort of a laugh, the flash of her eyes. I’ve added the fact she said it looks good when I’m sweaty, and though I’m sure it was a slip of the tongue, it has me wondering if she’s as attracted to me as I am to her.
“Hope you’re not allergic to hard work,” she says, and there’s a grin in her voice. “There’s plenty of it.”
I’ve learned that already. That first night, with her breaking onto my property and accusing me of being a failure… well, it’s not something I’d easily forgive from anyone else. But she’s here. She’s teaching me how to do things the right way, and even though she’s making a sport out of it, her effort is still appreciated.
“There’s no way I’ll remember all this.” I tap on the list, feeling a little lost but not entirely alone.
“Just check them off.” She gives the paper one last look, then steps back. “And get it done right, city boy. I’m counting on you.”
My smile stretches further than it should. “No pressure then.”
“Just the usual amount,” she says.
“Believe it or not,” I say, following her to the tool shed, “I have held a hammer before. Some tools don’t even come with instruction manuals.”
She stops at a toolbox, bending to find something inside. I try not to look but fail spectacularly.
