Page 138 of Ride a Cowboy

“Just drifting around aimlessly with no direction, no goals.”

He tilted his head. “I have a goal, Sienna.”

She picked up his towel and wiped her hands on it. “Like what?”

“I want to be happy.”

“That’s your big goal? To be happy?”

He stretched his shoulders, amazed by how much better he felt, how loose. She’d worked wonders on his tense muscles. “Can you think of a better ambition?”

“I’m not saying that’s not a good thing to aspire to, but how do you intend to get there?”

He glanced around his room. “I’m pretty happy right now.”

“At Compass Ranch?”

He nodded, though she’d missed his point. “Yeah, I like it here. Like your family and the work.”

“Oh.”

He shifted closer. “But when I said I’m happy now, I meant this moment, sitting here, with you.”

A slight flush painted her cheeks. “Flirting will get you nowhere, Daniel Lennon. I have a boyfriend, remember?”

He nodded, unconcerned by her reminder. Sienna needed a break from her well-ordered life and he intended to see she got it. There was something about the unflappable woman that made him long to ruffle her feathers. “What do you do for fun, Sienna? I’ve been here two weeks and your life seems to consist of work, home, repeat. Don’t you ever go out?”

She shrugged. “I’ll go out when Josh gets home. We like to go to the movies or out to dinner together.”

He let his sarcastic tone say it all. “Wow.”

She scowled. “I’m sure it doesn’t sound very exciting to you. I understand you went out with some of the hands last night. Rumors are flying around about you and the blonde waitress at Spurs.”

He loved small towns. Never took long to get a reputation. Even one that wasn’t earned. “Oh yeah? What are the rumors?”

Her face turned a bright shade of red. “I’m not about to say it aloud, but I’d certainly never be caught dead having sex in a public bathroom. They’re filthy.”

He couldn’t help it. He laughed. He’d been propositioned by the waitress, but he hadn’t accepted her offer. Even so, it was more fun to let Sienna think he had. “Are you sure you want to get married, Sienna? Seems to me you may be better suited for life in a convent.”

“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with keeping my sexual encounters private and with someone that I love.”

“Josh was your first, wasn’t he?” He knew the answer. There weren’t too many subjects Jade considered off-limits and she’d filled in that blank on Daniel’s third day on the ranch.

Sienna glanced around the room, unwilling to look him in the eye. “Not that it’s any of your business, but yes.”

“And you’ve never been with anyone else?”

She shook her head, still refusing to face him.

“What a waste.”

Her gaze flew to his. “It’s not a waste. It’s beautiful, romantic. We’re in love. Who says I have to sleep with a million different men just to have a full life?”

“I’m not suggesting you go out and screw half the men in Compton Pass. But aren’t you curious? Don’t you ever wonder what it would be like to take another man to your bed?”

Sienna started to rise, but Daniel caught her hand.

“This conversation is way too personal. You’re crossing a line, Daniel.”

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