Rawhide and Roses by Maddie James Read Free Book Online

down a notch or two. He’s got some mighty high standards for himself and expects the same for everyone around him. Except for me, of course. “She winked. “I’ve tanned that boy’s hide more times than he cares to remember.”
    She turned to Mack as if dismissing her. “Take these boxes out the back door. I’m packing up the meat now. His Highness is probably getting antsy to get on the trail.” She fluttered about the kitchen, as well as a woman of her size could. “Miss Kim and I’ll see if there’s anything else she’s gonna need...heck, I might even give her a few pointers. On the cooking, that is, not Thaddeas—she’s gonna have to figure that one out on her own—but I doubt she’s gonna need ‘em.” She eyed Kim again and smiled. “No, don’t think she needs any help a’tall.”
    Kim watched Mack heft a box of food on each hip and exit the door without a backward glance. She looked to Sarah whose twinkling eyes stared back. Then chuckling to herself, Sarah turned away and started for the pantry.
    “Nope, don’t think she’s gonna need any help,” she muttered under her breath in a sing-song fashion as her hips swayed in rhythm to her tune.
    Somehow, Kim didn’t think she was talking about the cooking.
    ****
    From the view he had across the corral to the back of the house, Thad decided that Mack must have taken Kim under his wing. Damn. That was all he needed. If both of those damn-blasted women turned their charms on Mack, he’d be a goner for sure. One was enough. He hadn’t seen Mack act so giddy since...well, since the one that left him high and dry about four years ago. Broke his heart, until she’d showed up almost a year later with one hell of a surprise—Mack’s infant son, who he was now raising alone.
    He could see already that he was going to have to remind Mack of that one hard-and-fast rule. The women were hands off. And he was going to have to watch that Jillie. She had an eye for Mack if he ever saw one.
    Hands off. He’d do well to remind himself of that. The thing was, if he ever laid hands on Kim Martin, it would probably be to strangle her, even though he could be sorely tempted to do a lot more than that. Even if Kim Martin was trouble, she was obviously a desirable woman—and one he wouldn’t allow himself to break his code of ethics for.
    He had a business to run, money to make. And romance was not on the agenda. But had the circumstances surrounding their meeting been different, he might welcome getting to know the gutsy blonde just a little bit better....
    Turning, he finished tightening the cinch on his horse and gave her a pat on her rump. He checked the saddle bags for the necessary provisions for the day: lunch and a canteen, sunscreen and binoculars, and a rain slicker. Then slowly, he turned back to the scene to his left. Mack had spread two large canvas manties out over the ground, showing Kim how to place the boxes of food in the proper places to balance the loads. As Thad walked up the row of mules already packed and ready to go, he checked the load of each to make sure they were secure, but kept a precarious eye on Kim as he drew closer.
    The denim jeans she wore did little for her figure, but as she bent over helping Mack reposition a box of meat, he found himself staring at her from underneath his dipped hat. She had tucked the old shirt she wore—one somebody left behind a few years back—deep into the too big jeans and had managed to cinch in the waist, showing off her hour-glass figure. As she moved across the manty, picking up and placing items, Thad felt a slow warmth begin in his abdomen. The heat of desire. Recognizable, but unwelcome—and an all too unfamiliar feeling. Quickly, he turned away, back to the mule carrying their personal equipment. He rechecked the cinch of the decker and shook away the slow, easy warmth that wanted to penetrate his vulnerability. He wouldn’t let it.
    But then slowly, he let his gaze again drift back to her.