Page 6 of A Cowboy Of Her Own

“Yes, I’m a little bit of a klutz,” she said shoving her glasses up the bridge of her nose as she followed him up the steps to the back door. Her eyes couldn’t stay off his ass and she couldn’t ignore the way his jeans stretched tight over it.

He stopped at the door, shifted her bags in his hands, and opened it before motioning for her to enter. She stepped past him and walked into a beautiful kitchen. Stainless steel appliances sat nestled between gray marble countertops. The floor and cabinets were wide dark oak planks. A matching table sat centered in the room. She spun around to look at him.

“This is gorgeous.”

“Thanks. Follow me.” Without hesitation, he left the kitchen making her practically jog to keep up with him. They entered a large, open great room with high ceilings and the largest stone fireplace she’d ever seen. The entire front of the room was windows, from floor to ceiling.

“This way,” Roark said from behind her. She turned to follow him down a hallway where he opened a door on the left. “You can stay in here. This room has its own bathroom. My room is down the hall, last door on the right. Just in case, you want to use the hot tub. It sits on the porch outsidemy room.”

She looked up at him. “I might take you up on that, if you’re serious.”

His eyebrows rose. “Of course. That hot water does wonders for muscle aches and trust me, darlin’, you’re going to be aching if you try to keep up with me for your story.”

“Is that a challenge?”

One side of his sexy mouth rose in a smirk. “You can bet on it.” He set her suitcases inside the door. “I’m going to hit the hot tub now and then take a nap. I’m damn tired. It’s possible I’ll be out all night. If so, I’ll see you in the morning. Make yourself at home.”

“Do you mind if I look around outside and take some photos?”

Roark shrugged. “Do whatever you want.” He strode down the hall and entered his bedroom and the door closed behind him.

So much for joining him in the hot tub.Her muscles hurt too. Sighing, Priscilla entered her room and closed the door. She pulled out her cell phone, called the office, and asked to speak to Earl.

“Well, did you get in touch with Callahan,” he asked in way of answering.

“Yes. I’m at his ranch––”

“What the hell are you doing at his ranch? You’re supposed to be following him around the circuit.”

“He’s been eliminated.”

“Are you fucking kidding me? Outlaw Callahan? Eliminated?”

“Yes—”

“Holy shit. He’s the best. What happened?”

“I don’t know. Some other guy won…whatever it is they win.”

“Christ, tell me it wasn’t Burke.”

“Yes, that was his name.”

“Shit, I bet Callahan is more than pissed about that.”

Priscilla pinched the bridge of her nose and blew out a breath. Earl Sanders rarely said a sentence without a swear word in it. She was no prude but he could at least try to have the decency to dial it back around her, especially on the phone.

“I think he’s more disappointed than anything.”

“So, why are you at his ranch? I wanted the circuit story. Since he didn’t move on, I could have had you follow Burke around—”

“No! That man is an ass. I convinced Mister Callahan to let me observe him on his ranch. You know…let the readers know what a bull rider does when he’s not following the circuit.” Her pitch was met with a few seconds of silence.

“That could work. All right. Same amount of time then.”

“Wait. You expect me to stay here for three weeks?”

“Hey, it was your idea. That’s how long you would have followed him around the circuit. The belt may have been won today, but there were still other venues to go to. Roark would have participated in others just for the hell of it. I suppose, since he lost the buckle, he didn’t feel like doing any of the others. Do it this way or find another job.”

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