Once Upon a Cowboy by Day Leclaire Read Free Book Online

moonlit darkness.
    "Wait here," she ordered Petunia, and moved off a few paces. No sense in roping her horse. Besides, she doubted this particular one would stand for it.
    With a quick toss, she spun the rope over her head. That part, she had down pat. Now if she could get the throwing part figured out, she'd have it made. She gave the rope a few more practice twirls. Satisfied, she snapped her wrist back. Once again the rope sailed off behind her. Once again it snagged on something, refusing to reappear. And once again, Holt's sheepdog howled in anguish.
    She turned and winced. "Tell me I didn't do that," she groaned, running to the animal's aid.
    She dropped to her knees and gently loosened the rope. The sheepdog whimpered, shoving his cold, wet nose into her hand. "I'm real sorry, Git," she murmured, stroking his thick coat. "I hope you realize I didn't do it on purpose. I just can't get the hang of this roping business."
    The dog gave her hand an encouraging lick, and with a quick apology for the delay she eased the rope off him. "Tell you what. Why don't you go stand over there by Petunia, and I'll try and rope something else."
    The dog skulked toward the safety of the barn and Cami sighed. She couldn't keep roping that poor dog. She had to get this cowboying stuff right sometime soon, or she wouldn't meet Holt's criteria. And she had to succeed. She had to.
    With renewed determination, she stood and walked to the middle of the yard. She tossed the rope into the air, spinning it in a smooth circle above her head. So far, so good. Now, a quick jerk of the wrist, and... To her exasperation, the rope flew off behind her and went taut. Something thudded to the ground and she heard the tinkling of shattered glass.
    "You crazy female! What the hell do you think you're doing!"
    Cami swiveled in her tracks. Lordy, lordy, lordy. She'd done it this time. She'd gone and lassoed her boss. And he seemed upset. Mighty upset. In fact, he appeared hotter than kerosene put to a match. Her gaze moved to the thermos rolling at his feet. Another casualty, if she didn't miss her guess.
    "The thermos?" she asked. "It's broken?"
    "Bingo, Tex," he practically snarled.
    The porch light snapped on and Gabby stuck his nose out of the door. He took one look at the damage, yelped, "Head for the hills, girl!" and darted inside.
    With a smothered exclamation, Holt grabbed a piece of the rope wrapped around him and gathered up the excess, reeling her in. He stopped once they stood toe-to-toe and brim-to-brim. "You broke my coffee!" His breath smoked the air between them.
    "I didn't mean to. Honest." She swallowed. Who'd have thought his black eyes could get any blacker? Not her. "Holt. Mr. Winston. Sir."
    "I don't take kindly to people who break my coffee. I need that coffee. That coffee's the only thing that keeps me civil at four-thirty in the morning. Fact is, it's the only thing that's going to keep me from strangling you. And. You. Broke it! "
    Her head bobbed up and down. "Yessir, I did. I don't deny it for a minute." She stared at him earnestly. "Holt?"
    "What?"
    "I'm sorry," she said with heartfelt sincerity. "Real sorry."
    "You... I..." He gritted his teeth and she watched, fascinated by the play of muscles across his jaw. "Apology... accepted," he finally bit out.
    Heavens, he was a fine-looking man. Even angry, some undeniable essence drew her, spoke to her on a subconscious level. Did he feel it? Did he sense anything at all? She stared, captivated by the jet black eyes and the lock of gilded brown hair tumbling across his forehead. Every line of his face revealed the strength and determination and drive that personified the man.
    No wonder her Momma had fallen in love with a cowboy. How could you not? Everything about this type of man appealed. Granted, the fact she couldn't turn around without seriously ticking him off might be an issue. But that would change over the next two weeks. It might also cause a tiny problem. If she found him