Read Sweet and Wild for Free Online Page B

tight.
    “I know. He said maybe you’d be his
girlfriend again.”
    Quinn was torn between wanting to
disappear because she was so embarrassed by the thought of Robby discussing her
around Craig and Marisol, and outrage that he planned to get back together with
her. And discussed it with his brother and niece.
    She shook her head. “Not that I’m
planning,” she muttered and looked out the window, watching the prairie go by.
    No one spoke again until Craig pulled up
in front of the main house at Long Knife Creek. Quinn said a quick goodbye and
got out of the vehicle; grateful to be into the fresh air and away from the
emotions she couldn’t escape when in such close quarters with Craig.
    Craig climbed out of the SUV and before
Quinn could reach the stairs to the house, he took her arm to stop her.
Everything inside her seized up, her breath, her heart, the adrenaline, it all
gathered up like a tight fist. She glanced at his hand on her bare skin. It was
already a rancher’s hand, tan and rough. It hadn’t taken long. He’d been gone
from that life for so long, but had slipped right back into it. Then she lifted
her gaze to his frank, blue eyes.
    “What’s wrong?” he asked quietly.
    What’s wrong? How can anything be wrong
when I’m standing close enough to smell your cologne? That I can’t even look at
you without wondering what it would be like to kiss you or feel your arms
around me?
    She slowly released her breath.
    “Nothing.”
    “It’s not ‘nothing’.” His voice was as
gentle as his touch. He didn’t let go of her and she didn’t pull away. It might
be the only touch she’d ever get from him. She wanted to savor it.
    “I don’t like Robby talking like that.”
    “You two aren’t planning on getting back
together?”
    Quinn drew in a quick breath and held
his gaze. All she could do was shake her head.
    “Good.”
    That one word did more to make her heart
speed than any kiss ever had.
    Craig’s hand slid away and dropped to
his side. “Thank you for coming today.”
    Quinn wanted to relax, but her whole
body was rigid. She managed a smile. “I’m glad I could help. Sunny will make a
good mount for Marisol.”
    “We’ll see you tomorrow,” Craig said
softly.
    With one last lingering look, Craig got
back into the SUV. Quinn could barely move as he pulled away. She snapped back
to reality when she saw Marisol staring at her through the tinted window, her
hand up in a wave. Quinn returned the gesture.

Chapter 4
     
    Quinn woke before the sun crept over the
eastern horizon. She bypassed breakfast, grabbed a bagel and headed for the
barn. Before retiring for the night, Jacob had asked her to do a barrel racing
demo and lessons during the day, so she wanted Piper groomed and ready to go.
She’d go the whole nine yards and show the guests what a rodeo queen looked
like.
    She fed Piper and the other horses when
Lance and Robby put in their appearance. Immediately she sent them out to clean
the paddocks and the big outdoor arena where the demonstrations would take
place. She and Becky, one of the other grooms, took brushes and combs to the
horses and Quinn finished up by polishing her show tack. By then, the sun
hovered over the hills and the rest of the ranch was stirring.
    She snuck back in through the rear
entrance and headed to her room for a shower before coming down for a full
breakfast.
    Thea, the ranch’s fantastic chef, big
sister type and surrogate mother rolled into one, sat with three of the
California guests and summoned Quinn to join them. Thea had been with the
Emery’s from the time Quinn’s parents died. She had been her mother’s best
friend and stepped in when Quinn and Jacob needed her. She was the closest
thing to a best girlfriend Quinn had.
    Quinn gave the ladies a quick smile.
They seemed as unlikely as anyone to be vacationing on a dude ranch. A little
too glamorous for the rigors of riding and chasing cows.
    “I hear Jacob is getting you to show off
today,”