Round-the-Clock Temptation by Michelle Celmer

fun as far as she was concerned.
    Maybe this wasn’t a lost cause after all.
    Connor stopped a few feet from where she was crouched inspecting the ground. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
    If he was going to go all macho on her, maybe she shouldn’t be so eager to let him off the hook. She slowly rose to her feet and turned to him, her face the picture of serenity. “Good morning to you, too.”
    He jumped down from his horse. “Look, I know you’re probably upset about last night…”
    Oh yeah, he was askin’ for it. “Don’t flatter yourself, cowboy. Men like you are a dime a dozen. It’s a shame though, we could have had fun.”
    If she’d wounded his pride, he didn’t let it show. “Then why did you leave without me? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
    â€œI have a farm to run. If you can’t keep up with me, that’s not my problem.” She mounted her horse and headed for the stable, Connor riding close behind her, a silent sentinel. He didn’t say a word the entire ride, but she could feel his anger hovering over her like a heavy black storm cloud. And she was only slightly enjoying it.
    Well, maybe more than slightly.
    Jimmy was outside the stable waiting for them.
    â€œLooks like our digger was back,” she told him. “I found more holes in the west corral. I want the boys to fill them, then search every inch of the property for more.”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    She hopped down from her horse and headed for the house to see if her daddy was up. They had housekeepers to interview starting at ten.
    â€œWhen were you planning on telling me about the holes?” Connor asked from behind her. From the tightness in his voice, she could tell he was still angry, but trying hard to hold it in. He’d feel a whole lot better if he just blew up at her and got it out of his system. He was too closed off, too darned controlled all the time.
    Knowing she was throwing kindling on the flames, Nita shrugged and said, “You didn’t ask.”
    â€œI shouldn’t have to.”
    â€œLook, Connor,” she shot over her shoulder. “I don’thave time to babysit you today. Why don’t you make yourself useful and go help the men fill the holes?”
    â€œYou know I can’t do that.”
    â€œI’ll be perfectly safe in the house with Daddy.”
    â€œYour father is in a cast. If someone were to come in and grab you, what would he be able to do to stop them?”
    â€œI don’t think someone is going to waltz into the house in the middle of the day.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter what you think,” he said, his voice so tight she’d bet that given one good pluck, his vocal cords would snap in two.
    She could see there was no reasoning with him. Not that she’d ever been able to reason with him, so it wasn’t a big surprise. And boy, he was cranky today. Probably sexual frustration, she decided. If he had just given in last night, after she was through with him, he’d have slept like a baby.
    He followed her in the back door, through the mudroom, and into the kitchen. Her father was at the table eating a bowl of cold cereal.
    â€œMorning, Daddy, how do you feel?”
    He slammed his spoon down on the table. “I’m sick of cold cereal, that’s how I feel. When are those housekeepers coming?”
    Jeez, was everyone in a foul mood this morning? “The first one is coming at ten.”
    â€œHow many answered the ad?”
    â€œOnly two.”
    â€œOnly two ?”
    Nita shrugged. “People talk. Everyone knows what’s been happening out here. Can you blame someone for not wanting to get involved? Maybe we should try advertising in other cities.” Or just call Jane, she wanted to add.
    He muttered something about “Those damned Devlins” then boosted himself on his crutches and hobbled out of the