Page 5 of Dirty-Talking Cowboy
“I’m honest. There’s a difference.” I reached up, slow enough that she could stop me if she wanted, and tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. Her skin was soft, warm, and I let my fingers linger longer than necessary. Watched her breath catch. “I know what I’m doing, and you don’t. Let me help you.”
“Why?” She was breathing harder now, and I could see the war happening behind those eyes. Pride versus need. Independence versus common sense. And something else. Something that had nothing to do with the ranch. “Why do you care if I fail?”
“I don’t.” That was a half-truth. I didn’t want her to hurt herself, but I knew she couldn’t, okay, shouldn’t be trying to runthis one on her own. Her aunt had hired help when she needed it. “I don’t like good land going to waste.”
“And you know exactly what to do with it.”
“Yes, I do.” I let me gaze run over her body again, let those feelings from yesterday wash over me. I wanted this woman. And I was not the type of man to deny myself something I wanted.
Which was the land. And now, her.
“Wow. You really know how to charm a woman.” Beneath her sass was the undeniable awareness that she knew what I wanted. That she was indeed the prey.
I smiled, slow and deliberate. I let my gaze drop to her mouth, then back up. “Sweetheart, if I was trying to charm you, you’d know it. This is me being practical.”
“Then what would charming me look like?”
The question hung between us, dangerous as hell. She’d meant it as a challenge, trying to put me on the spot. She had no idea what she was asking for.
Just like yesterday when I’d pinned her against the porch, I moved closer, forcing her against the wall, caging her in. I leaned in close. Close enough that my mouth was right by her ear, close enough that I knew she could feel my breath on her skin. “It would sound like me telling you how good you look in those jeans. How I’ve been thinking about you since yesterday. About what all those curves would feel like under my hands. How I want to know if you’re as innocent as you look, or if there’s a wild side hiding under all that sass.”
A small sound escaped her throat—not quite a gasp, not quite a moan, but something that went straight to my cock.
“That’s—” Her voice cracked. She swallowed hard, tried again. “That’s inappropriate.”
“Only if you don’t want it.” I pulled back just enough to look at her face, to see the way her lips had parted. “Do you want me to stop, Maggie?”
She should have said yes. Should have told me to get the hell off her property and leave her alone. Instead, she just stared at me, breathing hard, her hands coming up to rest against my chest.
“I don’t... I can’t...” She shook her head, trying to clear it, and I watched her scramble for that attitude, that armor. “You’re supposed to be helping me with the horses.”
“I am helping.” I didn’t move back, even though I probably should have. “I’m teaching you the most important lesson about ranching.”
“Which is?”
“When you’re out of your depth, you ask for help from someone who knows better.” I slid one hand from the wall to her jaw, tilting her chin up until those defiant eyes met mine. Her pulse fluttered against my thumb. “I know about horses. About cattle. About running a ranch. About a lot of other things you’ve probably never even thought about.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re so arrogant.”
“I’m experienced. There’s a difference.” I stepped back before I did something stupid like kiss her and find out if she tasted as sweet as she looked. “Now, do you want me to teach you how to handle these horses, or are you going to keep fighting me?”
She looked torn, pride warring with practicality. Finally, she sighed. “Fine. Teach me.”
“Good girl.” The praise made her flush again, pink spreading down her neck, and I filed that away for later. She liked being told she was good, even when she was trying to be difficult. “First rule. Confidence. Horses can smell fear, but they can also sense when you’re sure of yourself. “
I spent the next hour showing her the basics. How to approach, where to touch, how to read their body language. She was smart, I’d give her that. She paid attention and asked decent questions. After a few tries, she didn’t shy away even when Diablo gave her attitude. By the time we were done, she was feeding all three horses without incident, and there was a smile on her face that did something strange to my chest.
“See?” I said, leaning against the stall’s half wall, watching her give Diablo one last cautious pat. “It’s not so hard when you know what you’re doing.”
“Thanks to you.” She closed the stall door behind her. That smile was still there, softer now, genuine. “I appreciate the help. Really.”
“Don’t thank me yet. We’ve got a lot more to cover if you’re serious about keeping this place.”
Her smile faded slightly. “I’m serious.”
“Then we start tomorrow. Five o’clock. I’ll show you how to check fences, spot cattle problems, everything you need to know.”
“Five in the morning?” She looked horrified. “That’s insane.”
