02 Buck Naked by Desiree Holt Read Free Book Online

during all those years of hell-raising. He’d opened a bank account, knowing he wouldn’t be able to ride the circuit forever. Although he’d spent a lot on equipment and liquor, he was smart enough in some corner of his brain to stash as much as he could in that account after every rodeo.
    He’d changed his name back to the English one his father, Duke Montgomery, had given him and set out to realize his ultimate dream—owning his own ranch. Two years spent as a hand on a ranch in West Texas, a place he’d never been in before, gave him a good base of knowledge and a lot of space between the man he’d been and the man he’d become.
    Finally, with cash in hand and enough experience to know what he was doing, he’d picked a place where people weren’t likely to know him and put down roots. The rage at what had been done to him still simmered slowly in a dark place of his mind, but he kept it tucked away or he’d go crazy. He constructed a new person, a new personality. And moved forward with his plans.
    What he never expected was Amy Stark and the compelling, undeniable attraction that flamed between them. Each time he saw her, the desire only grew stronger. And it was more than sexual heat. There was an undeniable emotional thread tugging the two of them together. Something he’d never felt for any of the many other women who’d filled the landscape of his life. He was sure if she knew the truth about him, she wouldn’t think him worth even a twitch of her eyebrow. But as much as he tried to convince himself to walk away, it didn’t seem to be an option.
    He had two choices. Ignore her, and to do so he’d have to be rude and crude in order to conceal his real feelings. But Amy was a woman who was a respected member of the community, who came from a family with a long line of history in the area. Treating her that way would only make him an outsider here before he’d hardly gotten started. Or he could try to set aside his past and follow through on the lightning that struck them with such force. He knew that was taking a big chance. He was hardly deserving of her. And then there was the man he’d bumped into who thought he looked familiar. How often was that going to happen?
    But he could no more deny their chemistry than he could stop breathing.
    He looked up at the starlit sky and, for the first time in years, wished he remembered the old prayers his grandfather had taught him.

Chapter Four
    Amy took one last look at herself in the mirror, checking the long peasant skirt and embroidered top she wore. Casual and feminine. That’s what she’d aimed for. Golden hoops dangled at her ears and three bracelets jingled on her arm. She’d used her most expensive lotion and perfume after her shower. Having accepted where tonight would lead, deciding to take the risk, she wanted to make herself as tempting as possible. If this whole thing went down in flames, the way her relationships seemed to have a habit of going, and the way she feared the situation with Buck would go considering his hot-and-cold signals, she at least wanted to look her best when it happened.
    Finally, she gathered her purse and her sweater and headed out to the great room. She didn’t want to give Matt an opportunity to cross-examine Buck, but she also didn’t want to put herself in that spot either. Would it look too stupid if she waited outside?
    But both Matt and Reenie were sitting in the great room, one pretending to watch television, the other reading a book. Their greeting to her was so studiedly casual as to be laughable.
    “Okay.” She held up a hand. “Here’s the way it is. I’m going out on a date, I’m well over twenty-one, neither of you are my parents and I’m not answering any questions. Oh, and I don’t know when I’ll be home, so don’t ask.”
    “Why, Amy,” Matt teased. “Us old folks are just settled in for a night at home.”
    “Yeah, with your eyes glued to the door.” She walked over to stand in front