Page 13 of Running to the Cowboy

“I didn’t say you were weak. If you ask me, I think you might be the strongest person I’ve ever met, Olivia.”

The way he says my name makes my breath catch. Heat pools inside these too-tight sweatpants, and I question the image that floats into my head. It’s one of Wylie ripping this shirt from my body, buttons popping and flying across the room. His hands frantically shoving my bottoms out of the way so he can…so he can what? What would I have him do, exactly?

And why would I be thinking of such forbidden things when he’s paying me a nice compliment?

“Am I brave or incredibly foolish for running away without a plan or a penny to my name?” I ask wryly, shaking my head to clear away the lustful thoughts.

I suddenly notice he’s closer than before, but I don’t recall him moving toward me. He smells like sweat and the barn, and it’s oddly hypnotic.

“Well,” Wylie says, holding up two fingers. “Maybe just a tiny bit stupid.”

The embarrassing snort-laugh from me turns his smirk into a full smile.

“But only because you keep resisting me,” he says.

Um, excuse me?

“Resisting you?”

“Uh,” he says, squeezing his eyes shut. “I meant resisting my advice. My help.”

Wylie is awfully cute right now. No one has any right to be this cute.

“Wylie?”

“Yeah?”

Is he closer still? Yes, he’s definitely closer. How does he do that so stealthily?

“I…um…” What? What is it that I’m going to say? “I just wanted to thank you for taking care of me. I know I can be a little stubborn, but I really do appreciate your kindness.”

“No need to thank me.”

I’m about to protest again when there’s a knock, followed by the sound of the back door opening. I jump and ready myself to run. But why? Who among the elders will simply walk into his neighbor’s house unannounced? I shudder to think, though, that they might just be capable of exactly that.

“Boss?”

A woman in rugged outer gear appears in the doorway of the mud room, carrying a grocery bag.

Her face is wind-burned, and her hair is tucked up under a woolen cap. “Hi, these must be for you,” the woman says.

“Me?”

I turn back to Wylie, noticing the relief at seeing this woman. Oh. Okay. He doesn’t want to be alone with me. I get it now. I don’t know what I was thinking. He wasn’t trying to get close to me.

“Thanks, Dani,” he says.

He crosses to her, takes the bag, and then brings it to me.

“Dani’s one of our ranch hands. I asked her if she had any clothes to spare.”

Awkwardly, I take the bag from him. Inside are several clothing items, including jeans and a bra.

“I don’t want to dirty up the kitchen with my boots,” Dani says, “but there are some shirts in there, a sweater, and a sports bra. Some PJs and socks. Oh, and some new undies from the store.”

My cheeks feel hot as Wylie and his ranch hand discuss me while I stand there.

“Shoot, I didn’t even think about that. Nice of you to make a run to town. I’ll reimburse you.”

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