Page 48 of Flippin' Cowboy
I want her. I need her. All the attraction he’d been denying for the past few weeks slammed through him like a freight train.
Dammit, why her?It was his mind’s last wail of resistance against his body’s relentless demand.
Because she’s perfect for you like no one else had ever been, he realized.Right down to the way I couldn’t just charm her the first time we met in person. She doesn’t let me get away with bullshit and I respect that. Respect her.
“Youarespecial, Winnie,” Nick stated. “You know I wasn’t your biggest fan when we started this project. But now…” He hesitated, afraid he’d revealed too much.
She gave a soft huff of laughter. “Now you want my autograph?” she finished wryly.
“Sure.”And a whole lot more, he thought but didn’t say. He added, “I want you to sign that stupid cowboy hard hat Karla makes me wear when we’re filming.”
“It’ll look funny if my autograph is the only one,” she pointed out. “Tell you what: I’ll get the rest of the crew to sign it, too. Even Karla, since it was her idea.” Winnie grinned at him, andthe tense, charged atmosphere in the car lightened palpably. “Hey, while I have you all to myself…”
“Yes?” Nick’s chest tightened at her openly flirtatious tone. His cock stirred, ready to leap into action.
His cock was apparently a fucking optimist, because she continued, “Can I get your honest opinion on those salvaged gaslight chandeliers that Mr. Stinson found for us? I know they’re from the right time period, but they’re kind of, um,hideous.”
“Agreed,” Nick said crisply. “We can definitely find something better. Let’s try that architectural salvage place in Livingston Summer recommended.”
“Junk & Disorderly?” Winnie asked. “Yeah, she found some great stuff there when she and Brock were renovating the diner a few months ago.”
They continued their nice,safediscussion for the rest of the drive back to the Snowberry Springs Ranch.
But the whole time, Nick was acutely aware of Winnie’s tempting curves just an arm’s reach away. He fantasized about reaching over, putting his hand on her thigh, then sliding it higher…
You need to chill the fuck out, he told his traitorous cock as it eagerly stiffened, ready for action.Nothing’s going to happen tonight.
He turned off the highway and drove under the ranch’s tall timber gateway. He followed the long gravel driveway to the cluster of rental cottages located several hundred yards past the main house.
After parking his Jeep in front of Winnie’s cottage, he scrambled out from behind the wheel and raced around the front of his vehicle to open the passenger side door for her.
Her eyes widened as he extended his hand to help her out. “Uh, thanks.” She sounded surprised at his gesture.
Another strike against Geoff-fucking-Schaefer, he thought grimly.I bet he never did that for her.
He wondered what else Geoff had neglected to do for his woman. Winnie deserved a man who would appreciate her good qualities. And worship her like she deserved, like fuckingroyalty.
She was standing a little close for comfort now, looking up at him with an odd expression. He fought the urge to pull her even closer and cover her tempting lips with his own.
Afraid he’d betrayed his thoughts, Nick took a step back.Safer that way,he thought.
She reached out and put a hand on his arm, halting him in his tracks.
“Hey, Nick,” she said. “Thanks for having my back tonight.”
He cleared his suddenly dry throat. “I told you I would.”
The corner of her oh-so-kissable mouth twitched. “And you followed through. I like that about you, Nick.”
“Oh, so suddenly youlikeme?” he asked, his voice husky. “What happened to hating my guts?”
Her smile was slow and filled with promises. “I got to know you better.”
“But maybe not well enough,” Nick murmured.
He reached out and traced a slow line with his fingertip across her cheek to her tempting mouth. Then he stroked his thumb over her full bottom lip, just like he’d been aching to do for-fucking-ever.
She gasped. Her eyes widened. But she didn’t move away. Or order him to stop.
