Page 7 of My Cowboy Date
Wilder walks toward me, his jeans snug and riding low, and I strongly suspect wise me is going to be ignored.
Chapter 4
Wilder
Wet hair. Flushed skin. Makeup smudged. She’s so damn beautiful. And now that I’ve tasted her lips, I know I’ll walk around hungry until I can have more. When I reach her again, I drape the towel over her head, gently drying her hair.
She reaches to take it from me and my hands cover hers. We both go still. Coming through what I’ve experienced in life, I’ve learned to read people. Aspen wants me but her heart isn’t on board with that idea.
And I want this woman, but I want her to be emotionally engaged. I couldn’t have her and then not keep her. But I’m smart enough to sense that if I tell her that, she’s going to pull so far away from me she’d practically be in another zip code.
She dries her clothes the best she can and then we go talk to Albert. He doesn’t say anything for a long moment, then he finally says, “There’s a fence out back that needs to be fixed. I might be inclined to listen a whole lot better if that were repaired.”
Aspen’s shoulders slump but she straightens them and pastes on a smile. “Where are your tools?”
Fuck, no.I put my arm out in front of her to prevent her from moving forward when Albert starts telling her where they are.
“A man shouldn’t use a woman. It’s not right trying to take advantage like this.”
“Wilder,” Aspen starts to protect.
I know how eager she is to get the contract but double fuck no. I won’t stand by and let anyone use her.
Albert stares hard at me. I stare back.
Then he throws his hands up in the air. “Alright, let’s talk business.”
Aspen launches into all the reasons why signing a contract with our ranch would be the most beneficial to him and I’m impressed by her insight. She’s bringing up ways to improve the feed & seed’s business and increase his profits if he chooses the ranch.
By the time she’s done, Albert’s nodding. He reaches for a piece of paper and scribbles a number on it. “This is my lawyer. I’ll let him know your contract will be coming in. Once he goes over it, I’ll sign.”
Smiling, Aspen stands and shakes hands with him.
As we’re leaving, Albert says, “Some slick ass named Peter called me, wanting to do business. When I told him to come out and finish digging for me and then we’d talk, he said he’d find someone to hire to do it.” He grins slyly. “I’m going to let him come out and fix the fence, then tell him I picked someone else to sign a deal with.”
I’m laughing as I join Aspen and when I tell her what the older man said, she laughs. “I took the deal away from Peter.” She does a dance step on her way to the truck.
Once we’re driving back toward the ranch, she says, “He used to laugh in a condescending way when I’d talk about business ideas. Said he was the expert in making deals and maybe I should do something else with my life.”
“It seems to me that’s the way life goes too often. A man with limited ideas and brains wants to hold down someone who’s better and smarter.”
“Thank you,” she says. “You’re a good guy, Wilder.”
“I am.” I push out my chest in an exaggerated move. “I’m a good guy who’ll treat you with the respect you deserve.”
“Does that mean you don’t want to get in my pants?” she asks with a wink.
“Not so fast, honey. I can respect the nookie too.”
She laughs and we talk about other things, never running out of stuff to say. The trip back to the ranch flies by and after we arrive, I’m reluctant to part ways, but she says she needs to get some things done.
As she’s walking away, she stops then turns to face me, “You can call me tonight, if you want.”
IfI want?I’m already dialing, honey.“I will.” I watch her walk off with that gentle sway of hips. Hips that I want to hold tightly to and let our bodies unite.
She’s out of sight now and I go back to work feeling like the rest of the day drags by. When my work is done and I’ve taken a cold shower thanks to some dirty thoughts about Aspen, I’m walking into my bedroom as my phone rings.
I check the screen. It’s her. Heart pounding, I sit on the edge of my bed. “Hey. I was going to call you in a second after I’m dressed.”
