Montana Cowboy (Big Sky Mavericks Book 2) by Debra Salonen Read Free Book Online Page A

gearshift into reverse. "Beau will miss me, but...sure. Where and when?"
    "Six. I'll pick you up."

CHAPTER 4
    S erena tossed the third try on her bed, shoved her hands on her bare hips and let out a growl of frustration. "What the heck? It's only dinner."
    With a gorgeous man who kissed like liquid sex. If she could bottle that, she'd make a fortune. But she couldn't. So dinner, polite conversation, a little give and take of history, and maybe, just maybe, the sizzle she'd felt earlier in the day would trigger an invitation to do the twiddly delicious , as Macklin might say.
    Her brother-in-law was the cleverest, naughty-minded man she'd ever met. Nobody could make her blush quicker, which, of course, was his stated goal.
    She looked from her closet to Beau and back. "One more try."
    The little black dress. "Too common."
    The red halter dress. "Too summery. It's almost fall. And it gets cold here at night."
    Beau let out a low groan and plopped to the floor.
    Maybe the black pencil skirt with the Forever 21 sweater her mother tucked in her suitcase before she left. Boots. Tights. No runs . Good.  
    She posed before the freestanding mirror that had been in her parent's bedroom for as long as she could remember. The cherry wood matched their antique set, but this was the only piece that remained in the family. A double bed didn't fit her needs or her brother's lifestyle. The dresser and wardrobe were too heavy and dark for Serena's taste.
    Sad, she thought. Their history broken up because people wanted more elbowroom at night and more Ikea lightness during the day.
    "All right. This will work. Don't you agree, Beau?"
    The dog lifted his big head and blinked, waiting for more instructions. She walked to him and knelt on one knee. "I'll kiss you good-bye now so you don't get white hair all over my skirt."
    He flopped to his side for a belly rub.
    She wouldn't mind a belly rub...along with fondling several other body parts. "Lord," she murmured. "Austen Zabrinski has turned me into a sex fiend."
    I will behave myself in public. She didn't have any choice. She hadn't been in town long enough to know the players—in particular, those who might have a say in her permanent position at the school. She'd accepted a probationary, part-time auditory specialist position for two reasons. First, it was the only opening the Marietta School system had available, and second, she knew she'd need time to get her herd settled and braced for winter. From everything she'd read and discussed over the phone with other Montana alpaca breeders, winter was going to be far different from the snow and cold of northern California. Her parents raised her to practice responsible animal husbandry. But even if they hadn't, her soft heart broke any time any of her 'pacas were hurt or in pain.
    Woof.
    The deep bark made her jump sideways and bump into the corner of the sleek, modern dresser. "Ouch, Beau. Darn it. A little warning next time, please."
    The big dog shot past her like the projectile from a potato cannon.
    "Beau. Hush." Once downstairs, she clamped one hand on Beau's collar and opened the door with the other. "See? It's Austen. Stop, now."
    The barking ended once Beau sniffed Austen's outstretched hand. Serena never scolded Beau too much. After all, she'd wanted a big dog once she realized the menace she'd considered an online nuisance became a physical presence that went through her garbage to procure information she'd been scrupulous about keeping private.
    "That's a good watchdog you have."
    "He is. My brother and brother-in-law found him at a shelter. We think he's purebred Great Pyrenees. He's wonderful with the animals. Super gentle and very loyal. He takes his job of protecting me quite seriously."
    "Your brother and brother-in-law? They're gay?"
    She nodded, thankful his expression didn't appear the least bit judgmental.
    "Where do they live?"
    "Portland. They were in Medford, but Peyton—my brother—got a job with a start-up technology