Page 70 of Sold on You

That’s it. He relaxed, his eyes closed, then chuckled to himself as he realized how erotic their conversation sounded.

Maybe it wasn’t so bad his sister had given him the gift certificate for the massage with Lisa for his birthday. He’d had one hell of a week at the ranch, and this was just what the doc ordered.

He’d have to admit to his little sister she’d been right—the massage was the perfect birthday present. Just what he needed.

He wasn’t sure how he felt about Lisa’s teasing, but it was feeling good enough that he could ignore it for the most part.

“Turn over, Carter.” Lisa moved her hands away from his shoulders. “Scoot down and lie on your back so that your head rests on the table.”

To tell the truth, he didn’t want to turn over. He wanted to lie right where he was and let her keep going.

Moving was hard.

He had to order himself to just do it before he raised his head from the donut-like face rest. He managed to shift under the sheet and scoot down without revealing anything he didn’t want on display.

Lisa was cute with lots of sexy curves, but he had no plans to let things go anywhere with his sister’s best friend. It was bad enough that it was all he could do to not let his thoughts wander where they shouldn’t be going.

When he was on his back and she’d removed the face rest from behind him, he closed his eyes again and relaxed. He hadn’t let himself do that in a long time.

As she worked on his shoulders, he tried to let his mind drift and not think about things like running the ranch, and the fact that he had a new cook coming in. Kit Beaumont had been a last resort pick after he’d fired Lester. The third cook in a row he’d lost for one damned reason or another since Cal died. After Lester, no one but Kit had applied for the job.

Carter’s office manager, Grace, had gone ahead and hired Kit. So now he had some fancy chef from L.A. coming to the ranch today. Might already be here. He didn’t know how long the new cook would last, but maybe she would get them through a couple of months—before she decided ranching life and feeding a bunch of cowhands and staff weren’t for a city girl.

Not only had his cook bugged out, but several other issues had cropped up during the past three weeks. One of his mares had nearly died while foaling twins; the neighbor’s Brahman bull had escaped his pen and trampled the fence between Carter’s ranch and Johnson’s place. Now some of Carter’s prized Angus cows might be giving birth to half-Brahman calves in nine months or so.

Carter’s gut clenched as he thought of his Border Collie, Lucy. A bobcat had torn up the dog bad. Thank God he’d reached Lucy in time to rescue her from the wild animal, and the vet had been able to save the sweet ol’ girl’s life. Lucy was staying with his brother, Bear, a veterinarian, until the dog healed.

Lisa massaged one of Carter’s arms from his biceps to his wrist. “Relax.” It was as much of an order as it was a request.

Carter hadn’t realized his muscles had tensed until Lisa pointed it out. He did his best to do as she instructed, but it wasn’t easy. He focused on the mint and rosemary scent of the massage oil and the feel of it on his skin. The only thing he would change was that New Age mood music for some good ol’ George Strait.

Lisa moved her hands down his body, her fingers skimming the sheet, a little too close to his cock.

Carter’s body jerked and he opened his eyes and shot a look at Lisa.

She flashed him a wicked grin. “Just making sure you’re still with me.”

“I haven’t gone anywhere.” He knew his words came out in an impatient grumble, but her grin broadened. It looked like she was enjoying this too much.

“I’ve always wanted to get my hands on Haylee’s oldest brother.” Thankfully, Lisa moved lower, away from the family jewels. “And now I have.” A rumble rose in his chest and she laughed. “You’d have a lot more fun in life if you’d just loosen up.”

Carter scowled.

That wasn’t worth answering.

He’d heard it too many times already. Everyone who mentioned it talked about his age and asked why he hadn’t found anyone yet.

Damn, but he wished they’d stop asking. It would happen when it happened.

She leaned closer when he didn’t respond. “You’re not getting any younger, Carter McLeod.”

He decided that continuing to ignore her was the best idea and he closed his eyes.

She gave a soft laugh and moved away. He had to get his cock to ignore her, too, so he thought about Grandma McLeod. Yup. That was all he had to do and instant shrinkage.

“You’re always so stiff.” She spoke again, a gentle teasing in her voice. “When are you going to finally let yourself relax?” She worked more of his muscles, continuing to talk while he stayed silent.

“I’m fine.”

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