Read Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? for Free Online Page B

much easier to leave. The egg she held in her hand cracked and she dropped it in the bowl.
    ‘What’s next?’ she asked brightly.
    ‘Horses.’ Grayson seemed to anticipate her next question. ‘Not all of them. The ranch hands take care of the stud animals and the horses in training. These three are more like pets.’
    Lauren closed her eyes. God, he kept pet horses as well. What would he come up with next? A house full of orphans he financially supported? To cover her deep confusion, she tried to pick up one of the buckets. It was way too heavy for her. She bent lower to try again.
    Grayson’s hand clamped onto her naked butt. He cleared his throat. ‘You’ve got no underwear on.’
    She pressed against his fingers. ‘You noticed. I wasn’t sure if you were paying attention.’
    He chuckled as he turned her to face him. ‘I’m paying attention all right.’ He picked her up, moulding her against him and kissed her thoroughly. She moaned as he allowed her to slide down his aroused body. ‘We’ll finish this later. We’ve got all night.’
    He hefted both of the buckets, his biceps bulging, and nodded to Lauren. ‘After we’ve fed the horses we’ll eat and then –’
    Lauren couldn’t resist kissing him, cutting off his words. ‘And then, we’ll have sex.’
    He didn’t answer, his long stride eating up the ground, taking him away from her. Biting her lip, Lauren watched his retreat. She shivered, aware of the cold wind sweeping down the shadowed valley. This wasn’t going to be as easy as she’d hoped. Not only did she desire him, she was beginning to like him.
    The thought of what her father would do if she tried to introduce Grayson into her world made her pause. She wouldn’t expose Grayson to such venom in a million years. He deserved better. With that thought firmly in mind, she followed Grayson to another smaller building tucked behind the barn.
    Her booted feet dragged on the muddy ground. Sexual experience was all she could allow herself to gain from this impulsive relationship. Marriage wasn’t an option she wanted to consider. However, she was beginning to realise that Grayson wouldn’t settle for anything less.
    Grayson didn’t know it yet, but he should be grateful she didn’t expect anything from him. She never wanted to feel that she owed anyone any favours. Her father had taught her the danger of that. She had fought too hard for her independence to give it up without a struggle. Sex with Grayson was easy. Making love or making a commitment was far too dangerous.

Chapter Four
    Grayson stood by a gate to an enclosed pasture, which led out from a five-stall horse barn. He patted and stroked the huge animals surrounding him, allowing them to nuzzle his sleeves, chew on his shirt collar and slobber green slime down his back.
    Lauren frowned at the pristine field and distant hills. ‘Don’t you get bored living here?’
    Grayson turned to her, pushing away the largest horse who was attempting to stick its tongue in his ear.
    ‘Why should I? It’s a beautiful place. I like being on my own land and breathing clean air.’
    ‘But what do you do for fun?’ Lauren thought of her hectic lifestyle. The friends she met in the city for lunch, the new bars and clubs they tried out in the evenings.
    Grayson chuckled. ‘I go to the city, what do you think?’ He ducked to avoid the horse licking his face. ‘I’ve lived and worked in cities before, Lauren. I don’t choose to do it any more.’
    Lauren studied his contented expression. Was it possible to become weary of the life she loved? Would she ever be able to settle down like Grayson had?
    Grayson took her hand. ‘Let me introduce one lovely lady to three of my oldest friends.’ He brought her closer to the fence rail and patted the smallest of the horses on the nose. ‘This is Foxy. She’s the youngest of the bunch. A couple of years ago she escaped from a neighbour’s ranch and got hit by a truck.’
    Foxy whickered as Grayson