Always a Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller Page B

afford to.”
    â€œThe government will auction them off!”
    â€œBut not to a slaughterhouse or the glue factory, if that’s what you’re worried about. I wouldn’t condone that, either. The real problem is that you’re getting unreasonably attached.”
    Those gorgeous eyes sent him a death glare to rival Thelma’s. “ I’m unreasonable?”
    * * *
    R EALLY ?
    In just one evening, Drake Carson had ordered her to leave a restaurant with him, picked her up without warning, kissed her senseless and then infuriated her. It was becoming pretty clear that he did things his way, and if she didn’t like his approach, he wouldn’t lose sleep over it.
    Oh, the moon rising up over the mountains was gorgeous, no question about that. Not to mention romantic, which might’ve been why she was so drawn into that passionate kiss. She could tell that her research project meant little or nothing to him, and his agenda was what mattered. It was his ranch, true, but he hadn’t done anything about the horses yet. Maybe they could figure something out...
    Maybe she’d figure out what that something could be.
    She splashed through the cold stream, finding the bottom rockier than she’d expected. She gritted her teeth and went on, the current swirling around her thighs. She understood he was running a business; that part was fine. But the fact that he seemed to think she was pursuing a frivolous degree set her teeth on edge. No, he’d never said that. He really didn’t need to.
    Drake Carson was bullheaded, and that was all there was to it.
    To make matters worse, he knew she was mad and didn’t try to talk about it. He just walked behind her and didn’t stop her when she rushed forward to open her own door. He closed it, climbed in the driver’s side—both of them wet—and started the truck.
    Clearly, if it was up to him, they weren’t going to have a conversation.
    Well, she had a news bulletin—it wasn’t up to him, not entirely.
    Luce began by asking, “Why did you kiss me?”
    â€œI wanted to.” He put the truck in gear and drove down the rutted track.
    â€œI could swear you don’t even like me. I told Mace that earlier.”
    â€œMace is nothing but a pain in the ass.”
    â€œ And he’s your brother, and a really nice man.”
    â€œNice? When did that happen?”
    â€œYou’re joking and you know it.”
    â€œLuce, what do you want from me?” He kept his tone even. “I assume you realize I’m attracted to you. Not sure I want to be, but there it is. I don’t do casual, so that means it has to be serious, and in the end, you’re going back to California. It might be better if we stayed away from each other, but you’re there every time I turn around. This is a hard rock or a deep pool situation for me.”
    He had a point. She murmured, “I don’t think that’s quite the right saying. Devil or the deep blue sea? Between a rock and a hard place?”
    â€œClose enough. That’s Red talking. He always says that you could be stuck on a hard rock or drowning in a deep pool.”
    She laughed. “I can imagine him saying that. So what now?”
    â€œIf you want to fall in love, Wyoming is your only choice.”
    That was honest. A play on her words, but honest.
    Still, this was moving far too fast. “I don’t know if I want to fall in love—with you or Wyoming—at all. Anyway, I can’t fall in love—in just a couple of weeks.”
    â€œIt does seem to defy logic, but my impression is that logic doesn’t enter into falling in love.”
    Time to give him some perspective. “I was kissed by a sexy cowboy near a waterfall during a full moon while a wild stallion intruded on the moment. Let’s not confuse romantic with deeper feelings.”
    Drake only grinned. “I’m sexy?”
    â€œOh, yes.” She