Cinderella's Big Sky Groom by Christine Rimmer Read Free Book Online Page A

battered boots, sweat-stained hats and shearling jackets. Lynn smiled at them, murmured two names in greeting.
    The men stopped in their tracks. They stared at Lynn, mouths slightly agape. Ross would have laughed—if he hadn’t wanted to kill both of them with his bare hands. He knew what they were thinking. He’d thought it himself. She looked good. Too damn good. Like something a man could start in with and never get enough of.
    One of the cowboys gulped. “Uh, Miss Taylor? ”
    She laughed that throaty, maddening laugh. “Yes, Eddie, it’s me.”
    â€œWell. Uh. Hi, there.”
    They both tipped their hats.
    â€œHello yourself,” she said. She asked the other one, whose name was Tom, how his sister was doing.
    â€œLindy’s feelin’ better now, Miss Taylor.”
    â€œWell, I’m pleased to hear that. You tell her to take it easy. Pneumonia’s nothing to fool with.”
    â€œI will, Miss Taylor. I surely will. And you have yourself a nice day…I mean, night.”
    â€œThank you, Tom. Same to you.”
    They both tipped their hats again, this time in Ross’s general direction. He gave them a curt nod. And then—finally—they went on by.
    She turned to him. “It always makes me smile. This is only my second year as a teacher at Whitehorn Elementary, but still, everyone in town, even the people I went to high school with, call me Miss Taylor.”
    It didn’t seem all that damn funny to him. Thosecowboys had better call her Miss Taylor, as far as Ross was concerned.
    She was still smiling. “Tom and Eddie work the Birchley place. That’s north of town, between the No Bull Ranch and the—”
    â€œI know where the Birchley spread is.” He didn’t, not really. And he also didn’t need to hear another word about Tom and Eddie, who should learn not to stare at a woman as if they damn well had never seen one before.
    She moved a step away from him. “Is something wrong?”
    â€œNo.” He fisted his hands at his sides—to keep them from reaching out and pulling her back. “Not a thing.” He dragged in a slow breath and ordered the bulge in his pants to subside.
    â€œAre you sure you’re all right?”
    â€œI’m fine. And we really do still have to talk.”
    â€œWell, I know, but—”
    â€œWe could stop by my house….” Once the suggestion was out, he could hardly believe he’d made it.
    And apparently, neither could she. “Your house?” Her enchanting face showed both dismay—and excitement.
    â€œIt’s not that far. You can have one last cup of coffee. Then I’ll take you home.”
    â€œI…” She hesitated. He knew with heart-stopping certainty that she would tell him no. But then relief hollowed him out as she finished, “I’ll still need to get my Blazer.”
    â€œFine, then. I’ll take you back to the school as soon as we’re finished.” He glanced at his watch. Still early. Good. “It’s only a little after seven.You’ll be home by eight-thirty—nine at the latest.” One more hour. Or two. No harm in that.
    Yes, all right. It was playing with fire. But damn it, he hadn’t felt like this in…
    Come to think of it, maybe he’d never felt exactly like this in his life. And he’d been alone for too long now. Had he been lonely? All right, maybe he had. He’d thought he wanted it that way. But tonight, just for a little while, he only wanted this magic to continue.
    Magic. Yes, that was the word. All the talk of fairy godmothers and spells had gotten to him. She had gotten to him, with those innocent blue eyes and that red dress, her tart tongue and that maddening perfume.
    He knew himself. Knew that whatever this feeling was, it wouldn’t last. But for right now, for an hour or so, he just didn’t want to let her go.
    Lynn’s thoughts were moving