Donovan's Bed: The Calhoun Sisters, Book 1 by Debra Mullins Read Free Book Online Page B

think?”
    “You bought this horse from Cutter?”
    “You bet I did.”
    She closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. Things had just gone from bad to worse. “Well, Mr. Donovan, you just bought yourself a passel of trouble. You can expect this to happen anytime you’re in town.”
    “You plan to steal my horse whenever I come to town?”
    Her eyes flew open, and she scowled up into his grinning face. That darned dimple conflicted with the wicked laughter in his eyes, giving his face a mischievous cast that she found all too attractive. “Don’t be ridiculous. No one stole your horse. Senseless used to belong to me, and he has a tendency to think this is still his home.”
    Donovan glanced from Senseless, to the bay filly in the corral that was almost his exact match, and back to Sarah. “He used to be yours?”
    “Yes. My mother and I had to sell Senseless three years ago when my father died. We needed the money. First we sold him to Mort Tanner.”
    “Mort? Short guy, blue eyes, hangs out at the saloon?”
    “Yes, Mort.” Sarah took a deep breath. “Well, that didn’t work out. When Senseless was ours, he developed a liking for my mother’s molasses cookies, so he ran away from Mort all the time and ended up here. We finally had to give Mort back his money, and we sold Senseless to Cutter Johnson, who was much farther away. We thought that might solve the problem. And until now, it did.”
    Donovan was frowning at her. “So you mean to tell me that anytime I come to town, my horse is going to wander over here?”
    She twisted her hands together. “Probably. That’s why I named him Senseless.”
    He stared at her for so long that she had to battle the urge to shift her feet like a schoolgirl caught playing with her mama’s jewelry. Finally he just shook his head. “Woman, since I met you, all sorts of crazy things have happened to me.”
    A flush slowly warmed her cheeks. “Surely you don’t blame me for this.”
    He shrugged. “I’m just saying life has gotten a lot more interesting since you started chasing after me.”
    Her jaw dropped. “I never—!”
    “You did,” he asserted, the corners of his mouth twitching.
    “Mr. Donovan, you know that’s business!”
    “And what’s with this Mr. Donovan stuff? You can call me Jack, after all we’ve meant to each other.”
    “I barely know you!”
    “And I’ll call you Sarah,” he continued, as if she hadn’t spoken. “Though Sassy suits you better. ‘Specially after that kiss you laid on me the other night.”
    “That I laid on you ? You were the one…”
    “You sure are pretty when you get riled.” He caressed her cheek, making her protests fade to incoherent splutters. “Makes me want to carry you off to the nearest hay pile and see how hot you can get.”
    “Mr. Donovan… Jack…” she spluttered.
    “I like the way you say my name.” He stepped a little closer until her breasts just touched his chest. “I bet there’s a hay pile in that stable over there, isn’t there?”
    Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. He seemed to give off some kind of heat that enticed her closer and made her want to forget that he considered her good enough to bed, but not good enough to marry. Already her breathing had gotten faster, and she took a step away, hoping the distance would help her regain some control.
    “That kind of talk is inappropriate, Mr. Donovan .”
    “Come on, Sarah.” His voice deepened to a gentle coaxing. “You and I both know that there’s fire inside you just dying to get out. I don’t know why you’re so afraid of it.”
    “I’m not afraid of anything, least of all a man who dresses like an outlaw and has no concept of social graces.”
    “Social graces, huh? At least I know who I am, sassy girl. Can you say the same?”
    She clenched her hands into fists. “Please take your horse and get off my property. And I’ll thank you to keep your innuendoes to yourself in the future.”
    “Innuendoes, hell! I was