by Jaci Burton
Apparently they decided discretion was the better part of valor, because neither brother uttered a word.
"Are we going to discuss babies all day or are we going to do some ranch work around here?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to--"
Jenna waved her hand at Kyle. "Ignore him, Sabrina. He's always grumpy."
"I am not." Kyle glared at his sister. "I'm trying to run a ranch, not have social hour. Now let's discuss what we're going to do with our partner here."
She didn't care for the way he said partner, as if he was discussing dirty laundry instead of her. But she really was going to have to toughen up and not have her feelings hurt by every casual word or look. Damn Mark for what he'd done to her self-esteem.
"Seems pretty obvious to me," Brady answered with a casual shrug.
"We agreed she could learn about ranching, so it's our job to teach her."
Kyle shot a curt look at his brother. "No, you and Jenna agreed to this. I didn't."
Well that explained a lot. No wonder Kyle wasn't receptive to her presence. His brother and sister had outvoted him. He didn't want Sabrina here at all, which made her feel even less welcome than before.
She watched as the three siblings glared at each other, feeling like she'd somehow disrupted their family. She wanted to go where she was welcome. The last thing she wanted right now was more turmoil.
"I had no idea this was going to be such a burden for you all. Perhaps I should reconsider this arrangement." She tried to keep the emotion out of her voice, but was near tears already. It had been a long day; she was
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tired and she needed a shower. Her excitement at this new phase of her life was losing its luster.
"Sabrina," Brady said. "We agreed to this deal as a family, and we all want you here."
"Brady's right. Please stay." Jenna's pleading look was genuine, which was more than she could say for Kyle, who leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, his mouth tight and grim.
Sabrina sighed heavily, trying to quell the feeling of rejection. She'd spent too many years feeling rejected to go through this again for another three months. Ranch or no ranch, she wouldn't be abused again. "Look.
I'm not sure if that's a good idea. I really thought this would work, but I'm not staying where I'm not wanted. If you agreed to this deal, fine. But if it's going to be a constant battle between us, then I'll pull the financing and you can find yourselves another investor." She looked to Kyle and waited for a response.
Brady and Jenna glared at their brother with looks that indicated he better say the right thing. Or else. A battle of wills ensued as he returned their looks with one equally as challenging.
He sighed and walked over to her. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and despite her worry that he was about to tell her the deal was off, she couldn't help but notice how beautiful and expressive his eyes were. Full of the emotion he seemed to be trying so hard to mask under a veil of indifference. But she could see the anger, frustration, and a spark of something else. Something dangerous, yet exciting.
"We made a deal. I signed a contract. You're here, and we're going to teach you how to be a rancher." He held out his hand to her. "Welcome to the Rocking M, Sabrina."
The tears welled as the full impact of his words sank in. Whatever momentary battle went on between the siblings had passed. She really was going to learn to run a ranch. The realization thrilled her so much
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she threw her arms around Kyle and hugged him, whispering in his ear.
"Thank you, Kyle. You won't regret this."
She moved to draw away but Kyle wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. Sabrina couldn't think, couldn't breathe as his warm hands splayed against her back, holding her. Her breasts pressed against his chest, her nipples tingling with never before felt excitement.
She leaned back to look at him, certain the surprise she felt showed on her face.
Was he holding her like this to try and embarrass her? It was working, as she felt her face flame. Or was the heat she felt from another source?
His golden green eyes darkened, burning her with intensity. His arms remained around her and Sabrina couldn't make herself break the contact, completely lost in the whirlwind of emotion reflected in his eyes.
"Hey, that's not in the contract." Brady's teasing voice broke the spell Kyle weaved over her senses. Embarrassed, she pulled away and turned to Brady and Jenna.
Before she could utter a word, Brady swooped her up in a huge hug, holding her so high she had to rest her hands on his shoulders to balance.
"Put her down, Brady," Kyle said sharply.
"Why?" Brady grinned at his brother. "You hugged her. Isn't this how we welcome partners?"
Sabrina was mortified and so shocked she couldn't speak.
The look Kyle gave his brother should have frozen him on the spot, but Brady seemed oblivious to it.
"Um, excuse me." Sabrina smiled uneasily at Brady. "Could you put me down now?"
"Sure, honey," Brady said with a laugh as he set her feet on the floor, his eyes alive with mischief. "I for one am glad you're here. Now I'm not the financial whiz around here, seeing as I have more horse sense than
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dollar sense, but I know we have money problems and I know you coming along right now is perfect timing." He threw his arm casually around Sabrina's shoulders and looked over at his brother, smiling devilishly. "Like a dream come true, isn't she?"
Sabrina watched for Kyle's reaction. He grunted in response to his brother's comments, but said nothing.
"Well I'm in total agreement with Brady," Jenna said as she struggled to her feet. She held out a slim hand. "Welcome to our home and to the Morgan operation, Sabrina."
"Yeah, ditto. Welcome," Brady said exuberantly as he turned to Sabrina again, his arms spread out.
"Don't even think about it," Kyle interrupted. "You already about crushed her once with a hug. Just stick to a handshake this time."
Brady shook his head in disappointment. "Damn," he said with a twinkle in his eye as he held out his hand. "Guess a plain old handshake will have to do for now. Looks like the hugs are reserved for Kyle alone."
He winked at her and turned innocent eyes on his brother.
"This is a business partnership, Brady, and nothing more." Kyle shot a warning look at his little brother.
"Uh huh. Whatever you say. Well, gotta go check the horses. Later,"
he said to Sabrina. He grinned at her and walked out the door.
Sabrina hoped Brady didn't think there was anything between her and Kyle. She had acted before thinking when she hugged Kyle, and now wished she could take it back. Where had that come from? She should know better than to make a spectacle of herself like that.
"Well, I need a nap. All this shopping has worn me out." Jenna rubbed her lower back.
Kyle gave his sister a hug and kissed her temple. "I'll bring your shopping bags over as soon as I've finished up with Sabrina."
Jenna nodded and turned to Sabrina. "If you want a tour, or if there's anything I can help you with, don't hesitate to ask. My husband, Luke,
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and I live in the small house next to this one, and the door's always open. It'll be nice to have a female around." Shooting a teasing look at her brother, she said, "Way too much testosterone on this ranch, if you ask me."
"Thank you, Jenna." Sabrina liked Jenna already. Friendly, with a great sense of humor and obviously loved both her brothers very much.
Sabrina envied her in so many ways. She didn't have any brothers or sisters. Maybe if she had she wouldn't have felt so lonely all those years.
After Jenna left, Kyle turned to Sabrina. He stood at the doorway, leaning casually against the frame. Was there a move the man made that wasn't sexy? Even standing still he exuded a sexuality and heat she could feel from across t
he room. Maybe it was the smoldering look he gave her, like a banked flame waiting for a single spark to ignite it into a firestorm.
She cleared her throat. "I guess I should get my things out of the car and unpack. Where will I stay while I'm here?"
"You'll stay in the house, of course. Brady and I are the only ones here, though he's rarely around. He either hangs out in one of the cabins or in the bunkhouse with the hands, playing cards all night."
"Does anyone else live in the house?"
"No. Just Brady and me." His gaze wandered over her, a questioning look in his eyes. "Is that a problem?"
Just Kyle. Sabrina thought about being alone with him. Of course it was a huge house and it wasn't like they'd be sharing a bedroom. But still, they'd be alone. And Sabrina found him attractive, of that there was no doubt. But thinking about it and doing something about it were two different things. She'd let a man control her for too long, and that was something she'd never let happen again. It was time for independence and that meant no men, either. She had to stand alone for the first time in her life.
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"No, that won't be a problem." She'd just have to forget she was sharing a house with a gorgeous, virile man. The thought both frightened and interested her at the same time. She had lived with a man before.
She and Mark were married for almost eight years. But then again, she never felt a spark of attraction with Mark like she did with Kyle. Marrying Mark was more about escaping her mother than it was about love.
At eighteen, what had Sabrina known about love? For that matter, what did she know about it now? Not much.
"I hope you brought different clothes than what you're wearing," Kyle said as he looked her up and down. "Sexy little dresses aren't really the uniform of the day on a ranch."
Despite his attempt at insult, she couldn't help the ripple of awareness at his husky tone. He said her dress was sexy.
"Of course I have more appropriate clothes with me."
"Fine. Let's go grab your things and get you settled in."
Sabrina followed Kyle outside to her car. She surveyed the ranch with a renewed interest.
It may not be permanent, but at least temporarily she owned part of this beautiful ranch. She wanted to get out and explore the property, already anxious to see the barn and the animals, and of course to ride a horse. She'd finally learn to ride a horse. Sabrina was so excited she almost ran up to Kyle and hugged him again out of sheer gratitude, but held herself back.
Something felt so right when he wrapped his arms around her, his touch sparking a desire she'd never felt before. But Sabrina couldn't afford to be thinking that way, certainly not about her new partner. This was a business arrangement and that's the way their relationship would stay, despite these new feelings awakening inside her.
She'd worked hard to get here, and nothing was going to stand in the way of her goal.
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Chapter Two
"There are five bedrooms upstairs," Kyle said, looking over his shoulder. "You can choose whichever one you like."
She tried to avert her eyes from the firm butt attached to the man ascending the stairs ahead of her. But it was hard not to appreciate such an incredible body encased in tight jeans. He was carrying the bulk of her luggage, which Sabrina knew was incredibly heavy. And he wasn't even slightly out of breath.
He waited for her at the top of the stairs, gesturing down the hall to a series of doors on each side of a long hallway. "Take your pick."
Sabrina walked past Kyle and peered into each of the rooms, then selected one at the end of the hall. It looked like a cheery bedroom, containing a large four-poster bed covered with a lavender and yellow flowered bedspread and matching decorative pillows. A huge dresser and mirror were placed against the wall across from the bed, and nightstands on either side held small purple lamps. Two large windows with sheer lace curtains bathed the room in light. The soft beige carpet felt thick and comfortable.
It was nothing like her former bedroom. With Mark, it was designer sheets, nothing frilly. Austere, sterile, no knick-knacks, and absolutely no plants. The hardwood floors were always cold. Art deco on the walls--
only the best and most expensive, of course, even if it was ugly. Nothing out of place or sitting on top of the dresser. And definitely no color.
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No color, no life, nothing cheery or happy. Strict, devoid of emotion, and empty. Sabrina thought wryly that the description not only matched her former bedroom, but also her former life.
Not anymore. This room was everything she had wanted before, but wasn't allowed to have. The splashes of flowery art on the walls and myriad plants interspersed throughout the room warmed Sabrina's heart in ways she couldn't have explained to Kyle.
"This room is fine, if that's okay." She turned to Kyle, who had been silently following her room to room. A slight frown formed at the corners of his mouth.
"It's all right with me," he said flatly, although he seemed disturbed by something.
"If you don't want me to stay in this room, any of the others would be more than acceptable."
Had she picked the wrong room, and if so then why hadn't he just chosen one for her?
"I said this room is fine." He carried the luggage through the door and placed it on the bed. "The bathroom is through the doorway to the left of the bed."
Sabrina followed behind him and peered with delight at the charming, oversized claw-footed tub and antique sink, their shiny brass fixtures a lovely complement to the pale cream of the porcelain. And more lush beige carpet, making Sabrina want to slip her shoes off and wiggle her toes through its depth.
It was definitely a woman's bathroom--with a matching cream vanity across from the tub, and an extra closet in the bathroom for towels and linens. The tub sat underneath a large bay window overflowing with flowering plants, and Sabrina could picture herself reading and enjoying the sunlight while bathing. It was perfect.
"It's a lovely room, Kyle. Thank you."
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"You're welcome." His eyes were dark and unfathomable. She had sensed them on her, watching her as she walked around the room. But instead of making her feel uneasy or self-conscious as she always had when Mark had his eye on her, knowing Kyle was watching didn't bother her at all. In fact, she kind of liked it. How strange she should feel that way.
"Where is your room?"
With a slight smirk, he motioned for her to follow him. "This way, I'll show you."
But instead of walking out of her bedroom and back into the hall, Kyle led her to a door at the opposite end of her own room. He opened it and Sabrina realized why he had frowned when she chose this bedroom.
It was an adjoining one to Kyle's.
She remembered looking at this room when she was choosing her own. A king sized bed of dark walnut dominated the room, and Sabrina thought the decor was quite masculine. She wondered why he hadn't told her it was his room. Then she wouldn't have picked the one right next to it.
And now, a single door separated her room from his. He leaned against that door as he smiled enigmatically at her.
"Why the adjoining rooms?" she asked.
"My room used to belong to my parents. The one you picked was my mother's sanctuary. When we were little she kept our cribs in there so she could hear us cry at night. After we got older she used it as a sewing and reading room, and kept an extra bed in there." Kyle smiled. "My dad used to snore and sometimes it was more than mom could handle."
The memories sailed unguarded across Kyle's face. Sabrina glimpsed fond recollection coupled with pain and loss.
She looked at Kyle uncertainly. "Would you like me to stay in a different bedroom?"
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Kyle shrugged, once again masking his emotions. "Doesn't matter to me where you sleep. This room's as good as any other." As he headed out the door of
her room, he added, "Go ahead and unpack. I've got some work to finish, so we'll meet later and take a tour of the rest of the house."
She watched him leave, then sat on the bed and opened her suitcases, still feeling a bit uneasy about her bedroom being so close to Kyle's. But why? Because it felt too intimate. Almost as if they were actually sharing a bedroom.
And you have way too vivid an imagination, Sabrina. About things she had no business imagining.
The afternoon sun peeked above the top of the windows, compelling her to look out through the gauzy haze of the sheer lace curtains. A calm settled over her as she viewed an incredibly lush green valley peppered with hills and tall trees. What it must be like to view land as far as the eye can see and know it belonged to you.
She just needed to relax, get acclimated, and blow away the incredible stress of the day. She began to unpack, and slowly that feeling of rightness came over her again as she took out her clothes and hung them in the closet. It was almost as if she belonged here.
But she didn't. She shook her head and mentally admonished herself for getting comfortable. It wasn't going to do her any good to feel at home here. This wasn't her place, and it never would be. It was nothing more than a temporary stop on her way to independence.
Then again, as she surveyed the cheery bedroom and felt the warm sunshine streaming in from the windows, for the time being, it was home.
K K K
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Kyle cursed as he crawled out from under the truck, finally finishing the task he'd begun earlier that day. If he could reach his own rear end with his foot, he'd kick himself in the ass for allowing Sabrina to choose her own bedroom. What the hell had possessed him to do that? He knew there was a possibility she'd choose the adjoining room to his.
And why hadn't he pointed out which room was his? She probably wouldn't have selected the one right next to him if he had.
Well it could have been worse. She could have chosen his room.
That idea conjured up all kinds of intimate thoughts. Kyle pictured her silky blonde hair spread out like a fan across his pillow, lying naked on his bed, her body gleaming in the moonlight shining in through the French doors of his bedroom. Her full breasts would be showcased in the light, nipples erect and begging for the touch of his tongue. Her feet flat on the bed, legs spread, moisture clinging to her pussy lips as she trailed a hand there, opening herself up to him, inviting him in. He felt the familiar tightening, visions of tangled limbs and sweat-soaked bodies heating his blood. His cock went rock hard in an instant, his balls aching for release.
