From This Moment On by Debbi Rawlins Read Free Book Online Page A

to take that water bottle, too?”
    “Thanks.” He passed it to her. “Seems you’re always waiting on me. We ever get over to Kalispell, I’ll have to buy you dinner.”
    Her lips parted and she darted another look at his chest.
    For a second he got excited that she might be interested in going on that drive, then just as quickly regretted mentioning Kalispell again so soon. Though she didn’t tell him to get lost, just went back into the house with the mug and bottle, even left the door open a little so that was a good sign she’d come back.
    Skipping the steps, he jumped off the porch and hurried to his truck. If he remembered correctly, the white T-shirt had a small stain and the hem was frayed but it would do. He found it wadded up on the backseat, shook it out and sniffed the armpit area just to be sure. Yeah, it was clean enough.
    He pulled the shirt over his head, stuck his arms in the sleeves, tugged down the hem and heard the seam tear. He looked down. It wasn’t just the seam but a large hole in the front. “Well, shit.”
    Muffled laughter brought his head up. Watching him from the porch, Nikki tilted her head to the side. “I hadn’t seen that style yet. It’s a good look for you.”
    “Hell, I don’t care. I’d wear it like this if I were headed home.”
    She shrugged. “Wear it now. I don’t care, either.” She frowned slightly. “Or go without a shirt,” she said, and averted her eyes.
    He hid his smile by yanking the T-shirt off. She could shrug and toss her hair as though she was indifferent all she wanted. Right now she was so easy to read it almost felt as if he was cheating. “I bet Matt would lend me one.”
    She turned so sharply to him, her ponytail whipped to the side. “Can we just go and get this over with?”
    “We can.” He got rid of the shirt and closed the truck door. “Try not to be jumpy. Animals can sense your mood.”
    “Well, great because—” She shoved her hands deep into the pockets of her jeans and stared down at her track shoes. “You know, don’t you?”
    They started to walk. “I’m not sure what you mean,” he said, his gaze snagging on her slender neck.
    “That I’m afraid.”
    “I suspected. Is it only horses?”
    She kept her head down. “Bulls. I hate bulls, too. I saw Matt ride once... Never again. I wish he’d quit the circuit and stay here.”
    “That’s the plan, isn’t it?”
    “No, I mean, quit right now. He’s scheduled for five or six more events this year.”
    “I’m pretty sure Rachel feels like you do. Bull riding can be a dangerous—” Trace cut himself off. It was too late. He saw her shoulders tense. What the hell was wrong with him? “Matt is good. And he’s careful. He’s got you and Rachel in his life now. He’ll finish his career in one piece.”
    “I hope so,” she murmured, hunching her shoulders forward and sounding small and fretful.
    Trace slipped his hand around her nape. She shot him a startled look, but he just smiled, left his hand right there and massaged her tense muscles as they continued to walk.
    She moved a little closer to him, which kicked his heart rate up. He kept kneading and rubbing her soft warm skin and by the time they reached the stable, she’d started to relax. They hadn’t made it inside yet when one of the horses whickered and she went stiff again. She stopped, probably would’ve jerked away if he hadn’t been caressing the back of her neck. The pulse below her jaw beat wildly.
    “Wait right here, okay?” Trace moved his hand to her chin and urged her to look up at him. “I’m going to make sure Lester is done brushing Diablo.”
    “Who?”
    “He’s a kid who works here.”
    She stayed motionless, only her eyes moved to sweep a gaze inside the dim stable.
    Trace didn’t want to let go. He’d give just about anything to let his fingers trail down to her collarbone, slip beneath the scooped neckline. Just a little...he only wanted to feel more skin. Hell, he wanted more