Last of the Red-Hot Cowboys by Tina Leonard Read Free Book Online

one has a conscience and the other group not so much. Trace’s conscience slows him down at times, makes him methodical. But nobody likes a challenge better. The Horsemen were rivals of theirs in high school, and then college. Half the Horsemen—that’s the name those of us in the town gave them—dropped out to start their own business. The Outlaws went off to serve together, and when they came home, they opened up their training center—direct competition. Ever since then, theHorsemen have struggled with their business, as you may have noticed by the condition of their barn. It’s their own durn fault. Everybody knows they’re not as straight-up as the Outlaws. Trace and Company work their asses off. Oh, hell, girls.”
    She pulled over, and Trace’s black truck pulled alongside.
    â€œJudy,” Trace said when she’d rolled down her window, “send Ava to my truck. I want to talk to her.”
    â€œNo way.” Judy shook her head. “If you think I’m letting one of my chickens go off with a bona fide wolf, you’re not thinking straight, Trace Carter.”
    â€œSend her over, Judy. Ava, time’s wasting and the sun’s going down. Move along.”
    â€œArrogant ass,” Ava said under her breath. “I’ll go see what he wants.”
    â€œAre you sure?” Judy asked. “I don’t like the look in his eyes.”
    They studied the cowboy glaring out his window at them. He wore a black hat and a dark scowl, and Ava favored him with a frown to match his.
    â€œIt’s okay,” Ava said. “I’m not worried about the look in his eye. Or anything else.”
    She got out of Judy’s truck and jumped in the passenger side of Trace’s. “Do you always boss people around?”
    He waved at Judy and headed down the road. “Pretty much. Will that be a problem for our partnership?”
    â€œPartnership?” She wished he wasn’t the type of scoundrel who made her body take notice. Not just take notice, but admire and desire. “As I recall, we have nothing near a partnership.”
    â€œDo you have one with the Horsemen?” he asked, his tone soft and somehow dangerous.
    She looked at Trace with disgust. “Really? You couldn’t just ask Judy what you wanted to know? You had to use me as your pigeon?”
    He laughed. “And a cute pigeon, too.”
    â€œWhy do you care, anyway? You turned us down.”
    â€œThat’s true. And I haven’t changed my mind. I just think you and I can come to a different set of terms.”
    â€œI doubt it very seriously.” Something inside her hoped they could. “You’re just trying to thwart Judy.”
    â€œJudy needs to be thwarted. At times Judy is Judy’s own worst enemy.” He turned down a lane shrouded by big, leafy pecan trees.
    â€œWhere are we going, anyway?” Wherever it was, it looked peaceful—and too secluded.
    â€œWe’re going to the pond. I do my best thinking at the pond,” Trace said cheerfully.
    â€œI didn’t know you did any good thinking at all.”
    Trace shook his head, his grin huge. “Can I give you a little advice?”
    â€œNone that I’ll welcome.”
    â€œDon’t listen to everything our darling little mayor says. Judy is the most wonderful woman in the world, and she’s a master of a thousand faces. She has all kinds of tricks up her sleeves. Men lose their cool around Judy, and she darn well knows it.”
    â€œBut not you.”
    â€œThat’s right. Not me.” Trace grinned hugely and parked his truck near the lake. “Now, hop out and grab those two fishing rods. And if you’re in as good a shape as you claim, grab the bucket of worms, too.”
    She didn’t get out of the truck. “I’m not going fishing.”
    He opened her truck door, pulled her out of the truck. Appeared to give her weight consideration as