Read Roses and Rodeo (Rough and Ready) for Free Online Page B

pocket and dialed his phone number. He said he’d be waiting at the cell phone lot for her plane to arrive. Apparently the cell phone lot was where people could park while waiting for someone’s flight to arrive and it was time to pick them up.
    “Hi, Danica,” Creed said when he answered.
    “I’m here.” She smiled as she gripped the phone. “Where do I meet you?”
    He told her which door to go to on the north curb and what kind of truck he was driving. She disconnected the call and headed for the pick-up and drop-off area of the airport, and for the first time she felt tingles of nervousness in her belly. She hadn’t seen him since the airport in Las Vegas and at that time she hadn’t planned on seeing him again.
    When she stepped out of the building, a blast of heat hit her full in the face. She wasn’t used to Phoenix heat, especially after being in San Diego, and she felt a sheen of perspiration on her shoulders and arms that were bared by her white and red striped tank top. She wore a pair of royal blue shorts and red sandals, and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail.
    A red truck pulled up to the curb. She couldn’t help a smile when she saw Creed behind the wheel.
    The moment the truck was parked, he got out of the vehicle and she caught her breath. He was even more rugged, more handsome than she remembered. He wore a white western shirt, dark blue Wranglers, and a brown belt with a silver buckle and brown boots.
    He smiled and came around to where she stood. He took the backpack and duffel from her. He looked at her like he wanted to kiss her but knew it was far too soon for that. Instead, he gave her a quick hug.
    After he set her things behind the passenger seat, he helped her into the truck.
    “Come on.” He smiled and closed the door behind her after she’d slipped into the seat. One thing about most of the cowboys she’d grown up with was that they were gentlemen. She’d missed that in San Diego.
    He strode to the driver’s side and climbed in then pulled the truck away from the curb and entered airport traffic. He glanced at her. “It’s damned good to have you here, Danica.”
    “I’m glad I came.” Her lips still tingled as she studied his profile as he looked back to the road. “What’s first?”
    “Hungry?” he asked as he guided the truck out of the airport and she realized it was after lunch.
    “Yes.” One thing she’d never had a problem with was her appetite.
    “I know a good Mexican place that I like to go to when I’m in this area,” he said. “A real hole-in-the-wall, but damned good food.”
    She nodded. “Hole-in-the-wall sounds excellent.”
    Spending so much time talking with him over the past couple of weeks made it feel natural talking with him. They picked up where they’d left off in the conversation they’d had yesterday afternoon about classes they’d both taken at the U of A and professors he’d had who were still around when she attended.
    The city view sped by as they talked and he asked her about work yesterday. Over the short course of the time she’d known him, he’d expressed a great deal of interest in her career, always asking questions and inputting his own thoughts. He was especially interested in the work she did with genotyping and cloning.
    “Do you miss the country and living on a ranch?” he asked as they pulled off the freeway.
    “Yes.” She didn’t even hesitate. “I miss it a lot.”
    He looked thoughtful. “Have you ever thought of moving back to the country?”
    “I have.” She pushed a strand of hair from her eyes. “I enjoy my career but I miss country life and ranching, and of course family.” She smiled. “Maybe one day I’ll make the change. For now I’ll stay put because I really love what I do.”
    She studied his profile. “What about you? Do you get tired of traveling and want to just go home and ranch and sleep in your own bed?”
    “Yep.” He glanced at her. “But like you, I love what I do.”
    She