Reckless in Texas by Kari Lynn Dell Page B

definitely misinterpret the gesture. Much like her body was beginning to misinterpret their current position, the lean length of him hot against her, his cheek pressed to her collarbone, his face buried in the curve of her neck. Each short puff of air was a hot stroke on her skin.
    â€œYou sound like you’re in labor,” she said.
    He huffed a laugh that tickled her ear. “If having a kid hurts as bad as gettin’ whacked on the pecker with a nylon rope, I need to buy my mother flowers.”
    â€œMore like a new car,” Violet said drily. “And I thought it was your thigh.”
    â€œIt’s both now, thanks to you.”
    â€œI was trying to help.”
    â€œUh-huh. I’m guessing this is why you’re a pickup man and not a paramedic.”
    Degree by degree, the tension eased from his body, even as Violet wound up like a spring. Need coiled hot and low, and the urge to wiggle against him was almost intolerable.
    â€œUp until then you were doing pretty good,” she said, by way of casual conversation. “I’ll have to tell Beni you can handle stock okay.”
    â€œGee, thanks.” She could hear the eye roll in his voice. He blew out a long, slow breath—then nuzzled his face into her hair and inhaled deeply. “You even smell good when you’ve been rolling in the dirt.”
    She jerked her head away. “Do you always go around sniffing women like a damn stud horse?”
    â€œNah. If I were a stud horse, I’d do this.” He gave her a quick, light nip at the curve of her neck that electrified every nerve ending and shot a blue-white current straight to where his thigh was pressed between her legs.
    She shoved at his shoulder. “Stop that!”
    â€œJust wanted to see if you tasted good, too.” He pushed up onto his elbows, groaned, and eased sideways, an excruciating slide of body against body before he rolled clear and flopped onto his back, legs splayed. He lifted one hand in warning. “Stay back. I’ll be fine as long as you don’t help me anymore.”
    No problem. Violet couldn’t move, paralyzed for a few breaths by the sudden, aching absence of his weight. Then she scrambled to her feet, slapping the dust from her butt and legs. “Take all the time you want, tough guy.”
    His head snapped up. “You tackled me when I was already down.”
    â€œI thought you were actually hurt.” She flipped a casual hand at him. “No, don’t get up. Katie and I can handle it.”
    He made a noise like a pissed-off rattlesnake. She shook the dirt out of her hair, tugged her cap down low, and went to deal with the bulls before she lost her head and tackled him again.

Chapter 10
    Violet slathered mayonnaise onto two pieces of squishy white bread, slapped a slice of American cheese between them, and took a huge bite, chewing furiously. She usually ate lunch at her mother’s house when Beni was gone, but facing Joe across the table would ruin her appetite. For food, anyway.
    She choked down the mouthful, then took another huge bite. Maybe all the triglycerides would gum up her arteries so she couldn’t feel that low simmer in her blood. As if. She scowled at her pathetic excuse for lunch. Nothing short of a massive stroke could wipe the imprint of his body off hers. The man was a walking, breathing collection of all her biggest weaknesses, but didn’t they say abstinence was good for the soul? If she managed to keep her hands off Joe for two more weeks, she’d qualify for sainthood.
    She crammed the rest of the sandwich in her mouth, washed it down with sweet tea, then picked up her phone and tapped out a text message to her best friend. Home sweet home. Got time for lunch tomorrow? Melanie would slap some sense into her. No one knew Violet’s baser tendencies better. She’d barely hit Send when the phone rang in her hand.
    Violet checked the number and grinned as she answered.