Page 31 of Mountain Time
“No idea,” Knox answers, before turning to face Chet. “I’m Knox, by the way. You must be Chet, the foreman.” He grabs eight nails, puts them between his lips, picks up a back foot and nails the shoe on. He clearly doesn’t care what Chet has to say.
“Yes, I am. And I’ll turn the heat down in this hot box if you’ll put a shirt on.”
Tink tink tink.Knox hammers the nails. “Whatever you say, boss.”
Itishot in here. I turned on the heat but must have forgotten to check the temperature it was set to. On second thought, this worked out really well for me. I’m enjoying the show immensely—maybe more than I should be.I haven’t been this attracted to a man in a long time.
Scratch that. I’ve never been this attracted to a man.
I watch Knox nail on the shoe and notice he has a cross necklace hanging from a chain around his neck. There is a scar going down one of his pecs and the tattoos on his ribs are back numbers, his national finals back numbers.
Could this man get any sexier?
He finishes with that foot and moves to the next. I’m fixated on the way his muscles flex and—
A throat clears. I blink and look up. I’m not sure how long I’ve been staring at the man, but he’s definitely noticed.
Oops.
“You okay there, Kace? You look a little warm.”
I can feel it now, my faceisred. On instinct, I bring a hand up to my cheek and can feel it’s on fire.
He gives me a smirk that would make the devil weep, and I have to stop myself from clenching my thighs together. I should not be this turned on—he hasn’t even touched me.
“Um, yep. I’m good. Here, Carson, I can take over.” I take my coat off and walk up to the dun.
Carson looks at me, then he looks at Knox, shakes his head, and walks away.
Great. I’m sure I’ll hear about this exchange later.
Knox finishes the dun, and I get another horse out for him. Chet has left and Knox still hasn’t put a shirt on. I guess it’s my lucky day.
“So, how was yesterday without me? Lonely? Depressing?” he asks with a smirk.
I scoff. He is so full of himself.
I’ve been reserved around him until now, but he’s about to find out I can give it right back. I was raised on a ranch full of cowboys, after all.
“Actually, it was great. We worked some cattle and, in the evening, I had dinner plans.” I watch him swing his hammer and miss, nearly smashing his thumb in the process. His shoulder muscles tense.
He doesn’t look at me. “Dinner, you say?”
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he’s jealous.
I hear the side door open and shut.
“Holy hell, it’s hot in here!” My dad yells as he walks in. “You expecting Satan to come to town or what?”
“Sorry, I had the heat turned up a little high. Knox was complaining about it being cold. The Okie can’t handle anything under seventy degrees.”
Dad looks him over and says, “Son, I don’t mean to tell a man what to do, but you probably wouldn’t be so cold if you had a shirt on.”
I snort a laugh.
“I was not—” Knox shakes his head and sighs, giving me a sideways glance. “Never mind.” He grabs his shirt to put on.
Bummer.
