Read Stony Creek Cowboy [Stony Creek] (Siren Publishing Classic) for Free Online Page B

and they told her now not to be alone with that man. Her face awash with gratefulness and surprise, she turned to look at Jackson.
    “Jackson, you are right on time. I assume you know Len.” She conspiratorially looked at him.
    The men eyed each other with a barely perceptible undercurrent of tension.
    “Jackson,” was all Len said with a nod. “Didn’t know you had met the doc here. He then turned back to Billie and gave her another salacious look as though memorizing her body. It sent more shivers of unease down her spine. As he turned on his smile, he said, “Well, perhaps another time. I look forward to seeing you soon, Doc.” With that, he narrowed his eyes and glared at Jackson as he left.
     
    * * * *
     
    Jackson had just pulled up to the curb by Barry’s Feed store. His father had sent him into town on an “emergency” run for his mother. Apparently, she suddenly had to have an extra bag of high-protein grain for her flock of chickens that couldn’t wait until her husband Bill had a moment off. Coincidentally, it just happened to be right across the street from their sexy new neighbor’s office. He wondered if his mother was up to no good.
    Sam and Phillip had done a really good job with the old building. An example of post-modern architecture, it had nice stonework decorating the front and roofline. Just as he was admiring the built-in flower boxes in front, he noticed an unwelcome visitor go through the front door. Jackson had never like Len Drexel. He treated his horses and women the same way, badly. Without thought, Jackson jumped out of his big black dually and walked across the street to follow Len in. He stood in the doorway listening with unabashed interest, quickly moving to controlled anger that Len was showing interest in his woman. His woman? Where did that shit come from? Why the heck was that thought becoming more and more appealing to him? He must need to get himself some. However, he decided to figure it out later and deal with the situation at hand, because one look at Billie told him that she was upset. He was going to kill someone. That someone had been Len. Instead, he had invited her out to lunch.
    “I must say that I have never been so happy to be ignored in my entire life,” Julia said with a smile. “Jackson, you are a naughty boy. Come over here and give me a kiss.” Jackson dutifully walked across the room and graced her cheek with a peck.
    “I will be right back. Just need to use the restroom and we can take Jackson up on his lovely offer of lunch, okay?”
    “Yes, ma’am,” replied the man smiling openly at Billie.
    As soon as Julia left, Billie leaned back against the beautifully painted wall that Phillip and Sam had made. She found herself consumed with taking in the very tall and masculine man that was in front of her. He practically emanated sexual energy and power. How could she go from fear to lust in ten seconds? Looking at the handsome man before her, well, it obviously was possible. Her mouth suddenly feeling dry, she struggled for something to say.
    “It seems that you are going to be forever saving me from situations. I haven’t felt this well protected in, well, forever. A girl could get used to this, Jackson.” She practically glowed at him.
    “Just call me your masterful hero and we can call it a day!” he said suggestively.
    “Funny, cowboy. No, really, thank you. I didn’t care for him. He made me so nervous. I am not exactly a wimpy girl, but there was something in the way he looked at me that didn’t feel so great.”
    “I hope you don’t feel that way when I look at you,” he said with a laugh.
    “Heavens no! Not even speaking the same language, I feel so different.”
    Jackson turned his suddenly heated stare to capture her eyes. He walked over to her, and in a husky voice, he asked, “How do I make you feel, then, if not afraid, Billie?”
    He leaned toward her and ran a finger along the side of her neck. The gentle rubbing of his