Read Certified Cowboy for Free Online Page A

fool her just like Rex had.
    Kenny broke into a run as they neared the cabin.
    “I’m gonna see Cleo and the pups!”
    The barn door banged shut as Kenny rushed inside, and Johnny turned to her, concern etched on his chiseled face. “Kenny seemed nervous when you first got here, but he’s starting to open up.”
    Rachel tensed. She didn’t intend to answer questions about her past.
    Even more unsettling was Johnny’s masculine presence. And the scent of his body was so intoxicating that she could hardly breathe. What was it? Some woodsy smell and sweat? It shouldn’t be so potent or inviting, but for some reason, it stirred desires she’d thought crushed to death by Rex’s brute force.
    “What’s wrong, Rachel?” Johnny asked. “Why was Kenny so scared when you first arrived?”
    “He’s just shy around new people.” Her defenses rose and she whirled toward him. “Why did you give Kenny that hat like yours?”
    He narrowed his eyes in confusion. “He liked mine so much I thought he’d enjoy having one of his own. Is something wrong?”
    No, it really was very nice. Touching even. But neither of them could get accustomed to it. “I appreciate you being kind to him, but you can’t give him gifts without asking me first.”
    “I’m sorry,” Johnny said. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”
    Rachel recognized the sincerity in his voice and felt like a heel. “It’s just that he can’t get used to receiving gifts from you or anyone else. Especially things that I can’t give him.”
    He gave her a devilish smile, a leftover of his rodeo days. “It’s just a hat, Rachel, nothing more.”
    Rachel’s mouth thinned. “I don’t want him hanging false hopes about staying here or…”
    “Or what?” Johnny asked.
    Rachel didn’t know how to explain her reaction without revealing the truth. And the truth could be dangerous for them all.
    “I just don’t want him to become too attached,” she finally admitted.
    “Because you don’t plan to stay?”
    God help her, she wanted to stay. She was tired of running, but what choice did she have?
    “I…don’t know,” she said quietly. “I just don’t want Kenny to get hurt.”
    Johnny folded his arms. “I would never hurt your son or any of these boys.”
    Rachel believed he wouldn’t intentionally harm him. But allowing Kenny to idolize him then to be torn away from him one day could crush her son.
    She started to turn away, but Johnny caught her arm. “Rachel, tell me what’s wrong. Let me be your friend.”
    The moment his fingers closed around her wrist, a shudder coursed through her as unbidden memories of Rex nearly snapping her wrist in two as she’d tried to walk away from him crashed back.
    “I don’t need a friend. I can take care of myself and my son.” She jerked her arm away, then rubbed at her wrist and stepped toward the barn to get Kenny.
    “Everyone needs a friend,” Johnny said in a gruff voice.
    Rachel shook her head, unable to voice the fears gnawing at her. She couldn’t share the truth, couldn’t let him or anyone into their lives. If Rex saw her with Johnny, even if nothing personal was going on between them, he’d go out of his mind with jealousy. He’d done it before.
    He might even attack Johnny before he killed her.
    And just like before, the police wouldn’t believe her. Not with Rex’s connections.
    So she turned and ran inside the house. She’d call Kenny in a minute. But first she needed a moment to calm her raging emotions.
    Maybe she should leave the BBL tonight. Johnny was already suspicious. He might have already run a background check. If not, and if he decided to look into her past and discovered the warrant for her arrest, he might turn her in to the sheriff.
    Then she’d go to jail and her son would never have a chance.
    But the moment she entered the cabin, she froze, her lungs choking as the scent of another man’s cologne wafted toward her. Not Johnny’s woodsy scent, but an expensive brand