“Did you give him a dollar?” Cindy asked before Trisha could sit down.
“Ah, no.” Trisha glared. “I didn’t know we were playing for anything.”
“Hey Hank,” Cindy called out. “Come over here and get your winnings.”
“Jeez, do you have to be so loud?” Trisha dug in her pocket pulling out a dollar.
“That’s okay,” Hank called back, grabbing another beer. “I can’t take money from a woman.”
Trisha’s narrowed glare met Cindy’s. “How about another game, Hank?”
“Ah, shit.” Cindy cringed. “He had to go there.”
“Sure, why not. I’ll even give you some pointers.” Spoken like a typical male.
Personally, Trisha didn’t have anything against Hank. He seemed like a good guy, but good guy or not, she would take his dollar. She let him rack the balls and when he finished, she nodded toward the table.
“You want to break?” Hank asked, grabbing his pool stick.
“Nope. You won, you break.” She picked up the blue chalk, to chalk the end of the pool stick, reminding her of what happened with Jake. Putting it down quickly, she peeked his way, only to find his eyes on her, causing a flutter of butterflies to take flight in her stomach.
“Looks like you got your choice,” Hank said as he studied the table. On his break, no balls had gone in the pockets. “I think you should go for solids. The shots are easier.”
Trisha studied the table and decided he was right, but also decided to take the stripes instead, just to make a point. Hitting five striped balls in the pockets, she missed her sixth.
Hank stared at the table, then at her with surprise. “Nice shooting.” He took a long drink of beer. “Didn’t leave me much.” Hank studied the table for a few more minutes. He pocketed three balls, missing his fourth.
She almost felt sorry for him, but not enough to throw another game. Hitting the rest of her balls in, she was left with the eight ball. “I’m going to bank it off the side”—she pointed with her pool stick—“and into the right corner pocket.” Carefully, she aimed, hit the cue ball, which hit the eight ball, sending it off the side and into the right corner pocket. A few snickers filled the quiet room.
“I’ll be damned.” Hank sat there and looked from her to the table. “Guess you had to warm up.”
She smiled. “Something like that.” She glanced at Cindy who shook her head at her, then raised her beer in salute.
“Good game.” Hank reached into his pocket, pulling out a dollar.
Trisha put her pool stick back down on the table then looked up at the dollar. “Let’s call it even.”
“Want to play another one?” Hank grinned.
“Nope, think I’m going to call it a night.” Trisha smiled, wanting nothing more than to get out of there. Jake’s stares were getting to her, bad, confusing the crap out of her. “But thanks.”
*
“You look a little preoccupied.” Tim grinned, eyeing his brother who hadn’t taken his eyes off Trisha Summers, their new ranch hand. “What do you think of our two city girls?”
“They seem nice.” Jake turned his attention to his brother. “Haven’t really talked to them much.”
“Trisha seems nice, but the other one has a mouth on her.” Tim glanced toward Cindy, who still sat with Jeb.
“She’s gorgeous and your type.” Jake chuckled, but sighed when he didn’t get a response. Before his accident, Tim had been engaged to Rebecca Hardin. After about a month of intense surgeries and therapy, she had walked out on him. It had devastated his brother. Since that time, no woman fazed his brother. That was until this Cindy woman. Even though he seemed irritated by her, Tim was showing emotion toward a woman, and that was a definite improvement. When Tim didn’t respond, Jake stood. “I’m beat. I’ll see you tomorrow. It’s definitely going to be a long day.”
“Especially if you have to work with her,” Tim growled as he watched a few other cowboys make their way toward Cindy, whose laughter rang out.
Jake laughed, clapping his brother on the shoulder as he passed. Yeah, this was going to be interesting.
Chapter Five
“Eggs look disgusting at six in the morning.” Cindy yawned, pushing her plate away. “I can’t believe I’m on vacation and up before noon. This isn’t normal.”
“You better eat,” Trisha warned, taking a bite of bacon. “You’re going to be starving before lunch.”
“She’s right.” Tim walked up behind them. “No one will have time to hunt you down something to eat.”
Trisha’s eyes widened slightly at the tone of Tim’s voice, while Cindy’s eyes narrowed dangerously. Trisha had seen that look many times. Looking down at her plate, she decided it was safer to just shut up and finish her breakfast.
“I will not need anyone hunting me down something to eat, Mr. McCabe,” Cindy sneered. “I will, however, need to hunt someone down to pull that stick out of your ass.”
“If you would have read the brochure, you would have known.” Tim didn’t even flinch at her words, which was impressive.
“Would everyone just shut up about the damn brochure? So I didn’t read it. Big damn deal.” She threw her hands in the air disgusted. “Because if I had, I sure wouldn’t be here. Paying to be woken up at six in the morning by a damn chicken—”
“Rooster,” he corrected.
“…and then working my ass off is not a vacation in my book,” she finished, ignoring his correction.
“Then why are you here?” Tim questioned, his eyebrow cocked arrogantly.
Something happened that Trisha had never seen before and would have sworn she never would: Cindy at a loss for words. Absolutely nothing came out of her mouth. Cindy looked at her for help, making Trisha choke on her egg.
Looking between Cindy and Tim, she suddenly wondered why she always had her mouth full when a handsome guy was present. “Ah…” she said then stopped, trying to chew quickly as Cindy glared at her. Swallowing hard, she cleared her throat. “Coming here was my idea. Or, ah, at least Cindy knew it was something I’ve always wanted to do, so she set it up…for me.” God, she sucked at lying.
“Not that it’s any of your damn business.” Cindy once again found her voice then stood, stomping away.
Cringing, Trisha watched her go. She glanced at Tim, who was also watching Cindy’s departure before turning his attention back to her. “She’s not much of a morning person,” was the only thing she could think to say.
“Apparently.” Tim took off in the opposite direction of Cindy, leaving Trisha standing alone.
“Well, that was pleasant.” She snorted, dumping her uneaten food in the trash before following everyone out the door. She had no idea where she was going. She guessed she was going to have to wing it.
“Hey, pool shark.” Hank stepped beside her with a grin. “Where you headed to?”
“Morning.” Trisha smiled up at him. “I’m supposed to help Jake, but I have no clue where to go.”
“Well, you’re in luck.” Hank motioned with his hand to follow. “I’m heading that way.”
Hank made small talk as Trisha took in the scenery. It really was beautiful. They passed men, who were hard at work, and would nod. It was definitely a busy ranch. “So are you ladies staying for the rodeo?”
“I believe so,” Trisha replied as they walked up to a large barn, the smell hitting her before they entered. It wasn’t overwhelming, but you sure knew it was a barn.
“How’s Lilly doing?” Hank walked up to a fence looking over.
Wondering who Lilly was Trisha stepped up on the fence. Kneeling, Jake rubbed the stomach of a beautiful black horse.
“Don’t know,” Jake replied, concern evident in his voice. “Just to be safe, I’m going to call Peterson over to take a look.”
“What’s wrong with her?” Trisha frowned, thinking the horse looked fine.
“She’s pregnant.” Jake glanced at her as he stood, brushing hay from his jeans. “Her last was still
born and we almost lost her.”
“Ah, poor thing.” Trisha jumped off the rail quickly when Lilly swung her huge head toward her.
Hank laughed, steadying her before letting go. “I’ll see you guys later.”
Jake stepped out of the stall nodding toward Hank, but his eyes were on Trisha. “You scared of horses?”
“Never been around them before.” Trisha looked over at Lilly, who was staring at her over the fence. “They’re pretty big when standing next to one.”
“Lilly is the gentlest horse on the ranch.” He grinned at Trisha’s doubtful look. “Go ahead and pet her. She won’t bite. I promise.”
With the look he gave her, Trisha was sure she would do anything he asked. He had grabbed his cowboy hat off a rail and put it on, his intense gaze making her body tingle again, dammit. What in the hell was wrong with her? She wasn’t ready for this. She didn’t want this…did she? She refused to let Doug dictate her life, so fighting an attraction because of him would actually be letting him dictate her life…wouldn’t it? Snapping out of it, she realized she was staring at Jake during her inner battle. Embarrassed, she spun toward Lilly, stepped up on the rail again and stared at the horse.
“You don’t eat fingers do you, Lilly?” She reached her hand out slowly, touching the softness of Lilly’s nose. Trisha laughed when Lilly lifted her head impatiently, nudging her hand.
“Here, give her one of these.” Jake took Trisha’s hand in his, turning it palm up and placing a carrot on top. “Keep it on your palm so she doesn’t accidently grab a finger.”
Trisha laughed again when Lilly eyed the carrot then took it gently from her hand. “That is so cool.” Trisha grinned at Jake. “Can I have another one?”
Jake gave her another carrot. “She will stand here all day eating these.”
“It tickles.” Trisha scratched her palm then held her hand out for another carrot. “One more?”
“You’re going to make her fat,” Jake teased, but handed her another one.
Trisha rolled her eyes. “On carrots? I don’t think so. That’s all I snack on when I’m dieting.”
“Why the hell would you diet?” Jake frowned, looking her up and down.
Okay, if she wasn’t already crushing on Jake, she sure as hell was now. She felt heat rise in her cheeks as his eyes gazed over her body. Before she could say anything, Cindy walked in.
“Shoo wee.” Cindy headed toward them, holding her nose. “It stinks in here.”
“Ah, maybe because you’re standing in the middle of a barn.” Trisha laughed, shaking her head. “You okay?”
Cindy nodded with a fake smile. “Dandy.” She looked between Trisha and Jake, a sly grin playing on her lips. “Did I interrupt something?”
“Jake was just showing me how to feed Lilly a carrot without losing my fingers.” Trisha looked back at Lilly petting her on the nose.
“Oh, did he?” Cindy crossed her arms staring at Jake. “Okay, boss man. What do you have in store for us?”
Leaning against the fence, Jake tipped his hat back staring at Cindy with a cocked eyebrow. “Two of us need to clean stalls while another one brushes down the horses.”
“I’ll clean the stalls,” Trisha volunteered, knowing Cindy would throw a fit.
“Have you been around horses before?” Jake asked Cindy, his stance still relaxed.
“I’ve been around all different types of animals, Mr. McCabe,” Cindy replied, her eyebrow cocking to match his.
Trisha frowned, her eyes moving from one to the other.
“Good to know, but right now, I’m just concerned with horses.” Jake took brushes off a table handing Cindy one. “I’ll get her started and be right back.”
Trisha nodded, watching them walk off. Glancing around, she headed toward another stall and stood on the bottom rail to look over. A beautiful horse stood munching on some hay. The color reminded her of Jake’s eyes. Frowning at that thought, her eyes moved down and she about fell off the rail. “Whoa.” Now she knew what ‘hung like a horse’ meant.
“That’s Devil.” Jake walked up beside her. “He’s the proud papa.”
“Proud papa?” Trisha said, still embarrassed at being caught looking at Devil’s huge… “Oh, you mean he and Lilly…” God, if she had a gun she’d shoot herself.
“Yep, they sure did.” He chuckled, grabbing two rakes and pitchforks. “Come on. Let’s get to work.”
If it would get her out of this humiliating situation, she’d do anything. With a sigh, she followed him.
*
Jake was working in one stall while Trisha worked in another. He had to give her credit, she was a hard worker and he sure liked having something to look at other than horseshit. He had a rule of not dating clients, but he was seriously rethinking that. It had only been one day and he wanted to know more about this woman, which surprised him. He chuckled to himself, remembering walking up to her when she was looking at Devil, who was the horniest stallion they’d ever owned, so she definitely got an eyeful. He almost teased her, but decided to be a gentleman and not say a word.
“Okay.” Trisha looked over the fence at him. “What do I do with it once it’s in the wheelbarrow?”
Tossing his pitchfork in the corner, he opened the gate and walked to the stall she had just cleaned. “Not bad.”
“Thank you.” She beamed with pride. “So what do I do with it now?”
“Just leave it there and I’ll get it.” When she looked disappointed, he grinned. “Don’t worry there’s more work to be done.”
“Okay, what’s next?” Trisha glanced at another stall. “That one?”
“Yeah.” They headed that way when he noticed he hadn’t given her rubber boots. Grabbing a pair, he handed them to her. “Here put these on, just in case you step in it.”
Taking the boots, she laughed. “Yeah, I was really careful since these are the only shoes I brought. Shoes on or off?”
“Leave your shoes on in the boots.” He turned toward her and wished he hadn’t. She was bent over, her sexy curved ass practically parallel to his hardening cock. “Damn.”
“What?” She looked around at him, still bent over.
“Nothing.” Jake jerked off his hat swiping at the sweat pouring from his forehead. This was going to be a long-ass day. When she straightened, he sighed. “You ready?”
“Always.” She smiled, holding her pitchfork.
He groaned, even knowing she meant she was ready to shovel horseshit, the man and his cock heard something entirely different. “Go ahead and work on that one.”
Trisha nodded, stomping toward it with the boots, which were too big on her. Adjusting himself as she disappeared, he once again wiped the sweat from his face. “Son of a bitch.”
Chapter Six
Trisha had finished her third stall when Cindy breezed her way into the barn. “Isn’t it time for lunch?” She glanced around the barn.
“Don’t know.” Trisha pitched out a forkful of soiled hay.
“Hey!” Cindy jumped back.
“You got it.” Trisha snickered, tossing out another forkful.
“You sure are chipper.” Cindy wrinkled her nose as the smell surrounded her.
“You know, I really like doing this.” Trisha stopped and leaned on the pitchfork.
“You’re shoveling horseshit, Trisha.” Cindy’s expression said she couldn’t believe she had to remind her of that fact.
Trisha shrugged then went back to work. “It’s freeing. I’ve done a lot of thinking.”
“You’re strange.” Cindy snorted, shaking her head before looking for Jake. “Hey, Jake!”
“What?” he called out from a stall.
“Isn’t it time for lunch now? I do believe certain labor laws protect people who work on dude ranches,” she called back.
“I guess we could stop for some lunch.” He glanced down at his watch.
“Slave driver.” Cindy leaned against the wall waiting for them. “You better watch it. I’ve been kno
wn to quit a few jobs on the spot.”
“And why doesn’t that surprise me?” Jake grinned, wheeling a pile of shit past her. “I don’t take you as the ‘do as you’re told’ type of person.”
“He’s got me all figured out, Trish.” Cindy laughed then moved quickly when the smell from the wheelbarrow hit her.
“No one has you figured out.” Trisha laughed then bent, trying to take off her boots. “Ah, I think I’m stuck. Help me get these boots off, Cindy.”
“Love ya, Trish,” Cindy replied, but shook her head. “But there is no way in hell I’m touching those nasty boots.”
Jake walked toward them. “Jump up here. I’ll help you.”
Trisha jumped up on a pile of hay and lifted one of her feet. When he tugged, she had to hold on. “It’s really stuck in there.”
Jake widened his stance. “Hold on.”
Trisha held tighter to the bale of hay as she glanced toward Cindy who was staring at Jake’s ass with approval. Rolling her eyes, she turned her head toward Jake just as he jerked hard. The bale of hay tipped, causing her to plow into him, her legs automatically straddling his hips. Embarrassed, she struggled against him, but stopped when he moaned.
“Did I hurt you?” Trisha struggled harder to get back on the bale. Finally, he lifted her with his large hands setting her down hard.
“No.” His voice was hard as he turned away. “I loosened it. You should be able to get it off.”
Watching him stomp away, she frowned and could have sworn she heard him cursing. Hearing noises coming from Cindy, she glanced her way and thought her friend was having some kind of seizure until Cindy looked up. She was laughing so hard she couldn’t talk, but she sure could point and laugh her ass off.
“What is wrong with you?” Trisha struggled again, but finally got the damn boots off. “I think I hurt him. I mean I know I’m a little heavy, but he looks so strong.”
“Trisha.” Cindy tried to get her attention, but Trisha kept talking. “Trisha!”
