Mountain Lion by Terry Bolryder Read Free Book Online

Instead, she had clear, healthy skin with a hint of freckles over her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. She was lightly tanned.
    She was wearing a checked shirt, as usual, but it was a little less baggy, and he could make out more of her curves. There was even a little cleavage showing at the collar. Her jeans were tucked into cowboy boots that hugged her calves.
    Maybe it was her hair? Her hair was down over her shoulders in natural blond waves, accenting her natural beauty.
    Why had he never noticed she had such a pretty face? He supposed he’d been trying not to stare at it while it was healing, because it made her uncomfortable.
    But now that he could see it and she was wearing a nervous but excited expression, he could see she was absolutely beautiful.
    Suddenly, he felt a little less sure of his ability to keep things strictly friendly after all.
    He gulped, his throat dry, and walked down the stairs. Her blue eyes shone like wildflowers under her blond lashes, and her small nose was wrinkled as she looked him over.
    “You’re all dressed up fancy,” she said, looking down at herself. “I have nothing to wear.”
    “Nonsense,” he said. “You look great.”
    Too great.
    She was supposed to be his friend. His buddy. Not a woman he was attracted to.
    He tried to stay brisk and business-like as he led the way out the front door and over to the garage where his truck was parked. When they got to it, he unlocked it with his remote and wondered if he should open the door for her.
    No one had ever told him the rules for taking a friend on a date.
    He decided to let chivalry win out and opened her door. He was rewarded with a confused stare in her blue eyes as she folded her arms over her ample chest, causing her breasts to press together in a way that made his mouth dry.
    “I could have done that myself,” she said.
    “That’s not the point,” he said lightly, handing her into the truck and then shutting the door. He got in on his side and started it up. “I mean, you could buy your own birthday presents too, right? But why not let other people do it?”
    “But it’s because I’m a woman,” she said, crinkling her brow. “Right?”
    “It’s because I respect you,” he said. “But if you’d rather I didn’t, then I’ll stop.”
    She shook her head. “No, it’s just confusing.”
    Yeah, it was.
    She had no right looking like that. Soft, pretty, and sumptuous. Her hair was long and silky and thick, making him wonder what it would feel like wrapped around his hand.
    “So,” he said, starting up conversation to distract himself. “You’ve had a few weeks working with Wayne and some of the others. Do you still hate all men?”
    She was quiet for a moment, and when he looked over at her for an answer, he caught her studying him with shy blue eyes. “No, not all men.”
    That sent a shudder up his spine. Did that mean what he thought it meant? He frowned.
    “No, no,” she said, putting up both hands. “I just mean I think of you as a friend. Like you said.”
    He had said that, hadn’t he? So why was he so irritated to hear it parroted back at him? Friends. Friends?
    Friends.
    “Did I say something wrong?” she asked, looking as nervous as he felt.
    “No… no,” he said, palming the wheel as they took a hard turn. She gripped her seat, and he vowed to drive more smoothly. As soon as his heart stopped pounding in his chest.
    He didn’t think he’d have any problem taking her out. They’d been fine on their rides. He’d really only ever been thinking about watching out for her or when they should make a call about the men who had hurt her or making sure she was getting settled into life on the ranch.
    He hadn’t ever planned to start feeling this way about her. But without the horses and nature around, it seemed much harder to focus away from the fact that she was a desirable woman and he was attracted to her.
    And liked her.
    And found her interesting and fun to be with.
    That was