Read Rocky Mountain Miracle for Free Online

descend toward hers, inch by slow inch. She could see lines etched into his face, the shadow on his jaw, his long eyelashes and the intent in his hungry eyes.
    â€œDon’t you dare.”
    â€œI have to.”
    â€œI said no. Very decisively.” Maia pulled her head back to keep his lips from touching hers. She’d be lost if he kissed her with his sinful mouth. She was taking no chances.
    â€œYou are a such a coward. You’re running.”
    â€œLike a rabbit,” she confirmed.
    â€œYou haven’t asked me why I was in jail. Is that the reason you won’t take me home with you?”
    His hands were making slow circles along her spine. His erection was pressed tightly against her stomach. She ached in places she didn’t know could ache. “I haven’t asked why because it isn’t my business,” she said, breathing a sigh of relief when the song ended. “I have to play.”
    Cole let her slip out of his arms because if he held her any longer, he was going to throw her over his shoulder and take her out of there to any place he could have her to himself for a long, long time. He managed to make it back to his seat without breaking anything. He took a long pull on the beer. It was warm and did nothing to cool the fire racing through his veins.
    Cole watched her through half-closed eyes, already staking his claim on her, making certain the other men in the bar knew she belonged to him. No woman had evergotten to him before. She seemed lost in her music, unaware of him when he was burning for her.
    His cell phone beeped, and, scowling, he glanced down to identify the caller. “What is it, Jase?” Cole demanded, his eyes on Maia. If she smiled one more time at the lunkhead in the front row, he was going to have to smash his beer bottle right over the man’s head.
    For a moment there was silence, then a harsh, tearing sob. “I trusted you. You knew I cared about him. You knew Celtic High mattered to me.”
    Cole went still. “What are you talking about, Jase? Calm down and tell me what’s going on.”
    â€œThe bay. He’s all torn up. What’d you do to him?”
    â€œI didn’t do a damned thing to him,” Cole bit the words out in anger before he could stop them. “I’ll have the vet there in an hour.” It was over an hour’s drive to the ranch, but he could shave off minutes. He couldn’t blame Jase for accusing him. The kid had been taught not to trust anyone, but it still hurt. Much worse than that, Cole couldn’t help his own suspicions. He’d investigated the kid’s past, looking for red flags, cruelty to animals, anything that might indicate the old man had passed on his sick genes, but he’d found nothing. Still, the doubt crept in.
    â€œHe’s in too much pain,” Jase said. “He’ll have to be put down. I can’t do it. I tried, but I can’t do it.” He was sobbing openly. “He went through a fence and he’s really torn up. There’s wood sticking in his chest and stomach, splinters buried in his belly and legs. Some of the cuts are down to the bone. I can’t put him down, Cole.”
    â€œListen to me, Jase. I’ll be there in an hour with the vet. Get Al and the other hands to help you. Take Celtic High to the big barn where all the equipment is. The vet willneed light to work on him, and that’s the most sterile environment we have. Tell Al to keep that horse alive.”
    â€œBut, Cole,” now Jase sounded like a young child seeking reassurance, “he’s suffering.”
    â€œI didn’t do this, Jase. I wasn’t even there.”
    â€œI found your work glove in the snow by the fence.” Jase sounded apologetic. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I knew you went to town.”
    â€œI’ll be there in an hour,” Cole repeated. “Get Al and stick close to him until I figure out