Page 31 of Wrangled Up

“Nah. I ended up eating a big breakfast Letty cooked me and helping her around the house.”

Golden sun danced over her face and illuminated one eye. For an instant, his breath caught. He studied the depths of that dark iris and each amber ray extending from the fathomless pupil.

She blinked and shifted so she was in his shadow. “Well, cowboy, the line’s moving. I’ve gotta roll along now.”

He reached in and squeezed her hand. They hadn’t made love since that night in the truck, but there was nothing uneasy about their relationship. He looked forward to getting out of bed before dawn every day just to see her in tight jeans and mud boots, sleeves rolled to the elbow as she shoveled alongside him.

“See you for the evening watering.” He tapped her door twice, and she let off the brake, inching forward even as her gaze clung to his.

When she had to twist her head to continue to look at him, she finally faced the road and drove off.

Christian shoved his hat onto his head and trotted toward his hole again. Distracted, this time. God, that prim white collar of her uniform dress against her throat roused images of him nudging it down with his jaw to gain access to her savory skin.

A slap on his shoulder made him jerk from his reverie.

Tommy Newlin grinned at him. Mud was streaked from his hairline to his jaw, as if he’d recently wiped away sweat and left behind the residue. “You got it bad for that girl, Davis.”

Christian gave him a quizzical smile. “What are you talkin’ about?”

“That little Curlilocks in the Buick. You’re head over steel toes for her.” The widower stared at Christian knowingly, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

“No idea what you’re talking about. We’ve been working together on the Langley Ranch. That’s all.” He accepted a shovel from another worker with a nod.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard that story before. Seems to me I lived it. A teen working at a fast food restaurant with a certain girl I couldn’t take my eyes off.”

“How’d that end?”

“Married her.” Tommy’s expression darkened, though he held his smile. His wife had died a few years ago after an extended illness. Christian had never asked many questions, but now he wondered if he should, for Tucker’s sake. How long did it take to move on after a man lost the love of his life?

Christian peered at Tommy, a half smile on his face in response to his friend’s.

“When they turn their heads to keep looking at you, you don’t let them go, Davis. Now get your mangy ass back into that hole. Clock’s tickin’.”

After two chili dogs, a big soda and a grueling nine hours on the road crew, Christian headed to the ranch. As he wound through the hills and valleys that led from town to Tucker’s land, he thought of Claire and what Tommy had said.

What did she feel for him, if anything?Maybe it’s time to find out.

On autopilot, he navigated the road that ran along the creek for a mile before it spilled onto Tucker’s land. Every wisp of a smile Claire had ever graced him with lined up in his head until there were dozens. Evidence that Tommy may be right?

A dark voice in the back of Christian’s head whispered that it was Tucker she loved—Tucker was the reason she was helping with the animals.

Then why have I collected so many of her smiles?

He drew his big soda cup to his lips and slurped the last through the straw. By the time he reached the ranch, he had gained a bit of self-confidence.

What could Tucker offer that Christian couldn’t? Yeah, Tucker had tons of land, a house, and obviously money wasn’t tight, if the pristine state of the outbuildings were indications. But Christian had a place to live, a steady income and more where that came from thanks to his trimming business.

He had humor and an easy-going nature that always had drawn women to him. But would it be enough to draw Claire to him? Did he want to?

Losing Tucker’s friendship wasn’t an option. Hell, Christian had long ago admitted to himself that he loved the man. Trouble was, he was starting to love Tucker’s woman too.

Clamping his fingers on the steering wheel, he squeezed until his muscles shook. Barely harnessed energy and excitement roiled through his system, snapping in his senses.

Drawing a deep gulp of the country air streaming through his truck window, he cut the engine and climbed out. He looked to the sky for an estimation of the time. In a little while Claire would bump up the drive. If he got up enough courage, he would soon find out how serious she was about him.

What if she told him “thanks but no thanks”?

No time to think of that. He needed a shower and there were a few chores he needed to see to before she arrived. Hard work—heavy lifting he didn’t want her to attempt to help him with.

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