Page 2 of Her Grumpy Cowboy
“You ordered horse feed.I’m delivering it,” I say, working to keep my voice pleasant.He’s still a paying customer.
He reaches to take it from me, but I sidestep him and follow Michael into the tack room.I add it to the pallet.After I’m gone, the feed will be opened and stored where it will be safe from rodents.
“Thanks.”Michael claps me on the shoulder.It’s the slightest touch of his fingers against my shirt sleeve.
He passes Walker on the way out of the tack room.His boss growls something at him in a low voice.It sounds almost like he’s threatening Michael, but I don’t know what that would be about.
I give them a minute by pretending to tie my sneaker.When I stand, Walker is still standing in the doorway of the tack room.His frown deepens, something I can’t read flashing in his deep brown gaze as his eyes roam my curvy body.
I feel warm all over and glance down, seeing my shirt is tucked up and showing off my fluffy belly.After the accident, I discovered yoga.It helped with the anxiety and even made me mindful of my body, but I still don’t feel at home in my own skin.
Quickly, I yank my shirt down so he can’t see anything else.Because I like the way he looks at me.I like it so much that I want to strip off my shirt and show him everything.Then I want to do the same to him until we’re two very naked people.
He finally drops his gaze and moves over.He still blocks just enough of the doorway that when I try to leave, he’s in my personal space.For a second, I think he sniffs my hair as I pass by him then I realize it’s just my silly imagination getting away from me again.
He follows me to the truck, stomping in his big boots as he does.I don’t know why he’s so mad today.But it’s not my job to figure it out.I just have to get this feed delivered before that storm starts.
Weird, Michael isn’t back at the truck like I expected him to be and I didn’t pass him on my way out of the barn.I reach for the next bag of feed and Walker’s tone makes me pause.“Stop.”
He reaches around me and takes the feed bag.“You don’t do this shit around here.”
He doesn’t wait for me to say anything.He just hefts it up, wincing slightly as he carries it into the barn.His sexist attitude shouldn’t be surprising.This is the deep South and sometimes, men from ranching communities have different expectations when it comes to women.Still, it’s disappointing to see Walker like this.
I grab a bag and follow him.I keep my voice loud as I ask his back, “Who do you think loaded it?Women are not some delicate little flowers that have to be protected by the big, strong man.Maybe try stepping into the twenty-first century.”
He stops walking abruptly, and I gulp.I think I’ve just poked the beast.
2
Walker
All day,I’ve been waiting for this delivery and it has nothing to do with getting horse feed to prepare for the coming autumn.It has everything to do with the curvy woman who haunts my dirtiest fantasies.
Yeah, I purposely waited until I knew the weather would be bad to call the store.Everyone knows that Sam has a bad back and it acts up when the air pressure changes.I could only hope that he’d talk his sweet daughter into coming down here.He doesn’t know that every time he does that, he’s sending her into the lion’s den.
Every time I see that juicy ass, all I want to do is pounce.I want to knock her to the barn floor and maul her like the animal I am.I’d lick her until she screamed out my name.I’d wedge myself between those pretty thighs and show her everything this dirty cowboy has to give her.I can almost hear her breathy moans in my ear, and I have to silently will my cock to go down.
You’re too old for her anyway.At thirty-six, I’m not exactly ready to be put out to pasture.But she’s only twenty and so damn innocent if the blush staining her cheeks is anything to go by.Every time she opens her pretty mouth, all I can think about is ways I’d like to fill it.I can’t tell her that so mainly I end up grunting whenever she’s around.Seems like the best of options.
As soon as I hear her truck, I’m scrambling out of the barn.I have to walk casually so it doesn’t seem like I’m a kid on Christmas morning.
She’s greeting Michael who looks far too pleased to be around her.As soon as she’s gone, his ass will be mucking out stalls.Because that beautiful curvy woman is mine.No one looks at her but me.No one appreciates the fine sway of those hips but me.No one gets to kiss those lips but me.
The possessive thoughts might be out of line but I’m too irritated with my new ranch hand to bother with them.Besides, they are true.
“What are you doing?”I demand the moment she steps into the barn.She’s carrying one of the bags of horse feed.They easily weigh fifty pounds each and seeing her carry it is pissing me off.I’d bet anything her father let her load it too.How the hell that man can work her so hard is beyond me.
“You ordered horse feed.I’m delivering it,” she answers.Her voice is cool and detached.Not at all like when she was talking to Michael and it was filled with warmth.
I try to grab for it because even if she’s not struggling under the weight of it, I still don’t like it.If she lived here with me, she’d never have to do the hard work.I’d make it so that she could spend her days taking it easy.Sitting on the front porch and sipping iced tea while she grows round with my babies.Damn, I love that image.
She darts around me and heads to the tack room behind Michael.I watch them add the bags to the pallet.The moment, Michael puts his hand on her shoulder, I see red.He doesn’t get to touch her.No one does.
I bark his name, and he hustles over.In a low tone, I tell him that he’ll be supervising the day hires with repairing the south fence.Disappointment flickers in his gaze but he wisely doesn’t look back toward Jenna and he doesn’t argue with me.
The moment he’s gone, I turn my attention to the blonde beauty in front of me.Her blue t-shirt is tucked up, giving me a peek at her curves.I want to drop to my knees right now and feast on her.
Her cheeks warm under my appraisal and I can’t help but wonder if her panties are damp.Is she aching between those thick thighs?Would she let me cure that pain for her?
