Page 23 of Barbed Wire Hearts

He shrugs. “Pregnant mares like massages. I imagine any pregnant lady would.”

Laughing at his words, I pet William when he deigns to come say hello. “Okay, so you know how to give a massage. That’s a good quality in a man.”

“That’s not even my best quality,” he says, grinning. “I also make a really great lasagna. Does it count if it’s my ma’s recipe? I feel like it should.”

“Oh, it definitely counts. Just keep offering all the green flags,” I laugh. “I doubt you have any red ones.”

His smile falls. “Everyone has red flags, Kate.” But he immediately wipes the expression away before I can comment and directs me to sit on the couch. I do as he says despite the weird tension and wait as he sits behind me. “The trick is to find the knots,” he murmurs. “Find the knots, ease the pain.”

And then he works magic on me in such a way that it’s a wonder he doesn’t have a line of women waiting to fall in love with him. He starts at my shoulders, massaging and working out the knots. He moves slowly, intentionally, until I’m moaning with the way he’s moving his fingers. He spends thirty minutes easing out some of my tension, and when he’s done, I nearly beg him to continue. Wiley is dangerous that way. Maybe that’s his red flag?

“I should probably go,” Wiley says. “Another early morning tomorrow.”

“Of course,” I groan. “I didn’t mean to keep you away.”

He pets William on the head as he passes and heads for the door. But when I open it and he walks out, he turns and leans against the doorjamb instead, looking down at me with those soulful eyes. Tension dances between us as we stare at each other, and I’m not even sure what to say.

“Thanks,” I rasp. “For the massage.”

“Any time,” he says, grinning. He reaches out and cups my chin, tilting it up, and we linger there for a moment, staring into each other’s eyes. “Good night, Kate,” he murmurs.

“Good night.”

It feels like we should kiss. It certainly feels like he wants to, but he caresses my chin once more and steps back. He tips the rim of his hat to me and grins. “You’ll need your rest. You’re with Dakota tomorrow.”

“Good night,” I repeat as he turns to walk away, because what else do I say? Come back? Kiss me, you animal?

He grins at me over his shoulder. “Good night, darlin’.”

When I close the door, I have to lean against it for a few seconds. All the country songs warn us about them cowboys. Now I know why.

They’re all just one step away from making us fall in love.

ChapterTwenty

Kate

When I leave my cabin the next morning, it’s to find Dakota waiting in his shiny pickup truck, his arm hanging out the window. He taps the side and gestures for me to get in.

“You’re late,” he greets.

I glance at my phone. “It’s five o’ one.”

“So you’re one minute late,” he replies. “Wasted time out here means wasted potential.”

I climb into the passenger seat sheepishly. “Sorry. It won’t happen again.”

He takes off without another word about it, heading down the gravel road and out of the ranch.

“Where are we going?” I ask, glancing over at him.

“A lot of what I do deals with orders and supplies. I make sure we have everything Wiley and Levi need for the horses and cattle, and deal with contracts. Today, we need to pick up another order of vaccines for the newest calves, make sure the new tractor I ordered has come in and is what we need, and I also need to drop off some items for some of the folks in town. We supply a bit of meat to the older folks.”

“That’s so sweet of you to bring it to them,” I comment.

“It’s the least I can do. Most of them worked on the ranch at least once in their life. Maybe under my pa, but still. We show loyalty to those who were once a part of the family around here.”

Dakota is gruff and to the point but at least he talks. I find I enjoy myself as I continue to ask questions. How many calves do they expect? What’s the cattle drive everyone keeps talking about? How long until that happens? Do we have to send all the cows to slaughter? He answers every single question, not once scoffing at my lack of knowledge. I’m interested in the inner workings of such a large-scale ranch. Clearly, they need more help for their level of growth. Even I can see that.

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