Page 19 of A Cowboy Of Her Own

“Boy… a little version of Zeke. We all call him Z-man. It’s Reid’s nickname for him.” Roark laughed. “As my Uncle Declan says, he’s a tornado.”

Priscilla laughed. “I bet Reid loves him because he’s a version of Zeke and he’s Lucy’s son.”

“Exactly. Z-man calls Reid, Daddy and he is. He adores that boy.”

“Amazing story. Okay, tell me more. Who else competes?”

“Besides me, no one. Dev retired at the top. Jax retired because he’d been injured too badly in a caraccident. He’d been on his way home from a rodeo in Idaho Falls with his wife, Bethany, and a car crossed the centerline and hit them head-on.” Roark shook his head.

“That’s awful. Were they all right?”

“No, Bethany was killed. The car behind them said the car hit them so hard, it spun theirs around, and then it slammed into a tree on the driver’s side. Jaxon’s hip was shattered. Uncle Declan flew us to Idaho. Jaxon had to have emergency surgery and while that was happening, Uncle Declan flew Bethany’s body back home. Jax was devastated. He loved her so much.”

“That’s so sad. How long ago was this?”

“Two years. Listen, I don’t want any of that in the article, please. That’s off the record. Okay?”

“All right. I won’t print that part. So, that’s all the Callahans, right?”

“That’s it.”

“Will any of you compete in the one coming next month?”

“Probably. The entire town comes out for it. You’ll have a good time.”

****

Priscilla was sure of that. She’d love to have a good time with Roark and not at the rodeo. In the tent, under the stars perhaps. She looked at him from under her lashes.Damn!The man was so hot. His black cowboy hat sat low on his forehead and his sunglasses covered those beautiful gray eyes. She wiggled in the saddle. It was going to be a long day and even longer night.

They rode on for a long while before stopping for lunch. When Priscilla swung her leg over the saddle and her feet hit the ground, she would have fallenif Roark hadn’t been there to catch her.

“Thank you. I guess sitting so long got to me,” she said as she looked up at him. He really was tall.

“You’re welcome. I figured you’d need help.” He removed his sunglasses. She watched as his gaze roamed over her face and stopped on her lips. She took off her sunglasses and his eyes met hers.

“You have beautiful eyes,” he murmured.

“I was thinking the same thing about yours,” she whispered and reached up to touch his lightly whiskered cheek.

Roark leaned down and touched her lips with his. She couldn’t stop the moan from emerging. His arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her tight against him. She pushed her hips against him and wished she could strip him naked. He growled into her mouth. She wrapped her arms around his neck and toyed with the hair at his nape. His hands moved down her back to her bottom. He grabbed her ass and squeezed then slowly raised his head and looked into her eyes.

“Fuck,” he muttered as he dropped his hands from her and then stepped back.

“Well, I’ve never had that reaction to a kiss before.” She placed her hands on her hips and stared at him.

He took his hat off and combed his fingers through his hair then resettled the hat on his head. “That shouldn’t have happened.”

“It did, though. It was just a kiss, Roark.”

He stared at her. “You’re right. Just a kiss.” His words came out in a near snarl.

“Why are you so mad?”

“I’m not mad,” he growled. He’d begun to pace in short steps as if he didn’t know where to go or whatto do.

“Oh, you’re angry that I said it first, is that it? Well, if it makes you feel better, go for it, big guy. Tell me it was just a kiss and I need to get over it.” She placed her hands on her hips again. “Well?”

“Shut the fuck up. I don’t need this shit. Eat, so we can get going.”

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