Always a Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller Page A

happening.
    He’d once told Slater that when the woman of his dreams walked into his line of vision, he’d know it.
    That might be true, but he wasn’t sure he wanted it to be Lucinda Hale. They lived in different states, an obstacle in itself, and he sensed that her interest in him was based on her intellectual pursuits—but it might have evolved into something more. He couldn’t pick up the ranch and move it somewhere else, so unless she was willing to completely change her life, it wasn’t going to work.
    How had he gotten himself into this situation?
    Wait, he hadn’t done it. She had.
    Was he really that serious? He’d met her only a short time ago.
    Maybe he was...
    â€œThat’s so beautiful,” she whispered. “Drag me out of a bar and carry me across a river anytime.”
    â€œCount on me.”
    The hell of it was he wanted to reach over, haul her into his arms and prove he meant it, but he wasn’t comfortable with this kind of emotional impulse. He led a simple life and liked it that way. He got up early, saddled his horse, went to work and came home. Yup, simple.
    Luce was throwing a hitch in his stride. She was a complication, and that was the truth.
    It didn’t help matters when she turned and smiled almost tremulously. “I could very easily fall in love.” She amended quickly, “With Wyoming, I mean.”
    Damn, he was going to kiss her, and the worst part was that she knew it, too. There was an expectant look on her face, and when he leaned in and slid his arm around her waist to pull her close, she accepted it willingly, one hand coming up to rest on his chest.
    It was quite the kiss, starting tentatively, but then it deepened with alarming speed. Still, he didn’t care to analyze it. Luce was warm and pliant against him, her hair smelled like flowers and was tangled around his fingers. His heart was pounding and—
    A familiar sound broke them apart, and to his complete shock, he saw the stallion, probably less than a hundred feet away. He’d come up here to drink from the stream and snorted again in displeasure at their presence. Then he lowered his head and drank, anyway, always vigilant but apparently thirsty.
    If he could’ve had a conversation with that mare-thieving bastard, Drake would have pointed out that he was the one who should be ticked off.
    To make it worse, Luce seemed to forget the kiss entirely. “I can’t believe it,” she said in a hushed voice. “Look how close he is!”
    â€œYeah, he sure is.” Drake spoke in his normal tone, because while he had affection for all creatures on the planet, he was greatly irritated by this one at the moment.
    â€œShh. You’ll scare him away.”
    â€œThat would be fine with me. I don’t have a tranquilizer gun, and if I did, there’s no way I could transport him from this spot, anyway. So I guess if I spook him, it doesn’t bother me too much.”
    â€œWe agreed you weren’t going to do that. Use a tranquilizer gun, I mean.”
    Oh, good. Great kiss followed by an argument. “We didn’t agree on anything. You made the declaration that you’d become his new best friend, and I told you flat out that you were delusional.”
    â€œI do remember you being extremely closed-minded now that you mention it.” She stood up and Drake gave an inner sigh.
    Smoke, the coward, turned and melted into the shadows. Smart horse.
    â€œ Practical. That’s a better word.” He stood, too. He might as well ride fences tonight, even though Red had it handled. Never hurt to check twice.
    â€œWhatever,” she muttered and started to walk toward the stream, stopping to yank off her shoes, holding them in one hand. “No need to carry me, by the way. I can take care of myself.”
    â€œLook, the herd’s growing. If I wait too long, it’ll be impossible. So I’m not going to wait. I can’t