Picking Up Cowboys by Lori Soard Read Free Book Online

long-strided steps.  His fingers brushed against the tender curve of her ear as he tucked a strand of hair behind it.  Catherine barely repressed the shudder that tried to rack her body.
    “You really need to be more careful.”
    Guilt rampaged through her, white-hot as a branding iron.  Now.  She should tell him the truth now.  To let him go on believing she was pregnant would only lead to bigger lies.  He was going to be furious as it was.  She had let him believe his misconception for nearly a week.
    “Gage--”
    His green eyes had turned the smoky-green of the fog enshrouded side of a mountain, his gaze dropped to her lips.  Catherine felt the moisture against her bottom lip before she realized she’d moistened it with a nervous flick of her tongue.
    Now he probably thought she was trying to entice him into kissing her...when it was the last thing she wanted.  What she really wanted was to clear the fabrications between them. 
    “Catherine, you’re beautiful.”  He pulled loose the same strand of hair he’d just put in place and rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger.
    “Gage, it’s really important that I talk to you.”
    “There’s a glow about you.”  His smile was as warm as melted butter.
    Catherine groaned and reminded herself of the importance of honesty.  “Listen, Gage--”
    His lips made contact with hers, driving the breath from her body and blurring the momentum of her confession.
    Fire danced gracefully across her soul.  This moment.  This man.  This kiss were all she knew, all she wanted to know.  Catherine lifted her arms to cradle his neck and raised on her tiptoes to move closer.
    Her heart craved adventure.  There was adventure in his kiss, an experience unlike any she’d ever known.  Danger and safety all at once.  Gage nuzzled her lips with his own, gently parting them to allow him more intimate access.  It was like she’d been missing a part of herself and suddenly she was complete.
    When Gage ended the kiss, Catherine couldn’t prevent the whimper that escaped her.  He leaned his forehead against hers and drew in ragged gulps of air.  Why had he stopped?
    When he finally pulled back and she could look into his eyes, they were guarded.  “I’m sorry about that.”
    “Sorry?”  Why was he sorry?  It had only been the most impressive experience of her somewhat predictable life.
    Gage’s thumb hooked out and toward her midriff.  “The baby’s father.  I’m assuming he’s planning on marrying you.”
    Catherine’s head began to pound.  Pinocchio had been right.  A noose tightened until it was as plain as the lie on your face.  Or something like that.  Tell him, now!
    Gage pressed a quick, detached kiss to her lips.  It lacked the combustibility factor of the earlier kiss.  “I need to try to make it into town, is it okay if I borrow the truck?  I have to send a fax to my office.”  Gage glanced at his gold Rolex as if on a deadline.
    “Sure.”  Great!  Now she’d blown the opportunity to tell him.  He was obviously anxious to get into Durango.  She’d plan a nice dinner instead.  Soften him up with good food, wine and music and then lower the whammy.
    “I’ll get some supplies.  More snow is forecast.”
    “Welcome to winter in Colorado.” 
    Gage chuckled.  “Not something I ever truly missed.”
    Gage gave her a cheery wave and strolled out of the room.  Catherine listened as his footsteps clattered down the stairs, skipping the squeaky third one from the top and the dull thud of the front door closing behind him.
    She rubbed circles on her temples with two fingers.              Deception had never been her strength.  It made her a nervous wreck.  Her body shook at the thought of the confession she planned for tonight and her stomach protested the emotions clogging it. 
    Something had to be decided about this unwanted partnership.  There had to be a way to convince him to sell out to her.  Or at the