Ropin' Trouble (Cowboys of Nirvana Book 2) by Rhonda Lee Carver Read Free Book Online Page A

emotions—delight, inquisitiveness, coziness, and calm. She was alive for the first time in too long. As she stepped to the middle of the room she caught her reflection in the wall mirror. She was smiling and there was color to her cheeks. The country air was doing her some good already.
    Turning on her heel, she bumped into the end of the bed. It took up nearly all of the space, but it was the focal point. The luxurious, red satin comforter draped across the bed like paint. The decorative pillows of all different sizes and colors were piled high .
    She crawled into the bed and pushed her way through the mountain of pillows, some falling over the side. Leaning against the rustic headboard made of an old barn door, she stared out of the large picture window that had a magnificent view of the trees. She inhaled deeply and relaxed.
    The house was romantic and charming, but seemed almost out of place for Cara. This would be a prime location for lovers, newlyweds, but not her, and yet… she wanted to crawl deep into the covers, naked, and have sinfully naughty dreams.
    When the sun disappeared behind the gray clouds and the shadows feathered across the interior walls, Cara dragged herself from the satin haven. She searched for a light switch, finding it by the door. She flipped it on and the crystal chandelier above the bed lit up. She loved the difference from the elegance of the fine crystal to rustic furnishings.
    The kitchen consisted of a small counter, microwave, stove, and a fridge. The cabinet was stocked with food, just as Dade had promised. Fresh fruit, cans of soup, pasta, and lots more. On the wall hung a phone with extensions for the kitchen, administrative offices and life skills coach. She’d almost forgotten Dade’s directions. She picked up the receiver and dialed the extension next to scheduling. She was put on hold and Mozart played on a recording. Humming along, she scanned the treehouse again.
    She smiled. Everything was at her fingertips. What more could one person need?
    After answering a few quick and painless questions, she hung up the phone and stepped out onto the small balcony in back. Just below she spotted an outdoor shower.
    Outdoor shower?
    Apprehension crawled down her spine. Shower in the open? That was a huge step out of her comfort zone.
    Relax, Cara. Who would see? She was here alone—no neighbors.
    Going inside, she opened her suitcases. After unpacking, she planned to enjoy the peace and quiet, which was unlike the loud silence at home. 
    Grabbing her book, she crawled into bed and fluffed the pillows to lean back on. She sighed in contentment. “This is the life.”
    It’d been a long time since she’d actually relaxed. She already felt different in an unexplainable way.  The change was doing her a world of good and she had a feeling that was only the beginning.
    ****
    Ben zipped his jeans and headed across the room to the coffee maker, pouring himself a large mug. Once he slurped down half of the dark roast, he checked the clock on the wall. Eleven-fifteen. Cara should be with Dade by now.
    He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and sighed. After getting home last night from his brief encounter with Cara, he’d crawled into bed but didn’t sleep a wink. He’d almost called Dade when the sun came up to tell him that he would go and get Cara, but he didn’t want to take the risk that she’d see him and change her mind. She could run away, just as she did last night. He wasn’t used to scaring women away, and it was quite the opposite of how most women flocked to him. He’d take it personally if he didn’t have a gut feeling that she treated all men like they were the walking plague.
    He knew there came a point he needed to recognize that he was attracted to a woman he didn’t even know—well, only a little. This was against his personal rules, but he couldn’t help himself. He was drawn to her. Or was it the thought of her that he liked. He couldn’t really be attracted to