Page 59 of A Cowboy Of Her Own

Priscilla giggled. "No. That just…comesto me."

Roark groaned. "Okay… that was bad." He chuckled. "Talk to me, darlin’."

"Um, okay. Let’s see. I love you. I love when you nibble on my neck and take my bottom lip between your teeth—"

"Priscilla?"

"Yes?" she said in a whisper.

"Baby, you're supposed to be talking about what you want to do to me, not what I do to you."

"Youdohave experience in this!"

Roark muttered. "I don't and at the rate this is going, I never will."

Priscilla burst out laughing. "I'm sorry, love. Do you want me to try again?"

The conversation went on and on abouthowto talk dirty, but it never actually got around to them talking dirty. They hung up after telling each other goodnight. She couldn't wait to go home. Home, sheliked the sound of that. Home to her cowboy.

****

A week later, Roark entered his house to grab a drink of water. He filled a glass with ice then water and took a long drink. It was damn hot and the fridge in the barn was empty. When he finished quenching his thirst, he’d take some out with him, and restock it. When he lowered the glass, he saw the brown envelope lying on the table that the mail carrier had delivered but he didn’t have time to look at it right now. He figured it was the magazine containing Priscilla’s article and he was anxious to see it but he just had too much to do right now. He had already read the draft, so he knew it was good. When his cell phone rang, he looked at the screen to see it was Jaxon calling.

“Hey, Jax,” he said in way of an answer.

“Did you see the article?”

“Not yet. Is it good?”

“Good? Why the hell did you tell her about me?”

“I didn’t think mentioning the guest ranch would bother you.”

“Not that. The part about Bethany.”

Roark’s heart hit his stomach. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Jax.”

“Read the fucking magazine. You had no right, Roark. No right at all.” Jaxon hung up without another word.

Roark stared at the blank screen for a moment trying to make heads or tails of what Jax was talking about then walked to the table and reached out a shaky hand to pick up the envelope. He opened it and pulled the magazine out then flipped the pages until he came to the article. Skimming over it, he clenched his jaw when he read aboutJaxon, about how he’d lost his wife and how it still emotionally affected him.Son of a bitch!

Roark flung the magazine across the room then pulled his cell phone from his pocket and called Priscilla.

“Hey cowboy! Do you miss me? The office is throwing me a goodbye party. It won’t be long now and I’ll be coming home to you.”

“Don’t bother,” he growled.

“Don’t bother what?”

“Coming back. How could you do that? Jaxon just called me. He’s so upset and it’s my fault because I trusted you. You promised, Priscilla.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she whispered. He knew her coworkers were nearby but didn’t care.

“The hell you don’t! Is it or is it not your article?”

“Yes, but—”

“There are no buts,” he shouted. “We’re done. I can’t believe I trusted you. You lied to me. Goodbye.” He hitEnd,drew his arm back, and threw the phone across the room, hitting the wall and breaking the screen.

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