Page 34 of Jonathan

“That cowboy, I was dancing with.”

“Which one?” He asked dryly. “There were so many.”

She had to admit to herself that it made her feel powerful to notice the jealousy in his tone.

“The one you dragged me away from.”

“Oh, that one. I wanted to rearrange his damned face. He had his hands all over you. Why are you asking about him.” Shifting slightly, he jerked her chin up, eyes narrowing. “If the nextwords that come out of your mouth is that you are interested, I am going to find him and beat him to a pulp.”

Lifting the glass to her lips, she eyed him over the rim. “I never thought I would find macho men sexy, but you are proving me wrong,” she laughed when he practically snarled.

“In case it has slipped your attention,, I am here with you, am I not?” She shook her head. “He said he is just passing through. What does that mean?”

Jonathan settled down slowly, marveling that he could get so carried away when it comes to her. “It means he is an itinerant and just at the ranch for a couple of weeks. We hire men who pass through town to look for work.”

“Is that safe?” She asked with a frown. “Do you do background checks on them before they are hired?”

He had to grin at her sober expression. “This is not your typical big city.” He reminded her. “And yes, we insist on letters of recommendations.”

“Which can be easily forged.”

Taking the empty glass from her, he emptied his and put them away, before gathering her against him.

“I assure you that I am know what I am doing. I have been doing it for years.” He trailed his fingers up and down her arm. “Why? Did he appear threatening?”

She shook her head. “He was a bit heavy on the compliments and flirtations and yes, he was a little handsy.”

“A little?”

“Okay, a lot. Before you marched over and decided to take matters into your own hands, I was going to end the dance prematurely. There is something about him that gave me the creeps.”

He shifted again so he could see her face. “Tell me the truth, did he suggest anything that’s making you uncomfortable?”

“No!” She shook her head. “It’s just that he was a little too familiar. And he’s jealous of you.”

“Jealous? What did he say?”

“Kept saying how good you have it and wondered if you knew how lucky you were.”

“Anything else?”

“Just that.” She lifted her shoulders slightly. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

A frown touched his brow. “His name is Brant Sullivan, and he just popped up two weeks ago looking for work. He is sullen and does not react well to authority but does good work. The branding will be finished with in another week or so and he will be on his way.”

“Are there many of them?” She asked curiously.

“About a dozen or so.” He loved the feel of her slender curves against him and yearned to have it as a permanent situation. He wanted to come home to her every single night and wake up to her every morning.

“There are always things happening on a ranch, especially a ranch of that size. We have men working almost around the clock. The work is always there, but not the accommodation.”

“I noticed a few cottages at the edge of the property.”

“And there are more houses, deeper in the woods. We have men who have been with us for decades and have established their homes at the ranch – men who have built a family life. There are one or two of them who live by themselves, but that’s the exception, not the rule.”

“What about the ones who are just passing through?”

“They are grateful for a week’s wage, a place to bunk for the duration and plenty of food to eat. And of course, the experience working at a large ranch can do for them.”

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