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

someone he had never met, not formally, could he?
    Finishing off his coffee, he rinsed out his cup and laid it in the dish rack.
    He had his work cut out for him.
    In the bathroom, he brushed his teeth, shaved, and finger combed his too long hair. He was in need for a cut when he got a chance. Pulling on a blue flannel shirt that he grabbed from the chair in the corner, he slipped into his worn boots and tugged on his hat, heading out the door, whistling. The sky promised rain.
    Usually he’d walk over to the staff kitchen to grab some grub, but this morning he headed straight to the barn. Hard work would ease some strain. He was anxious for Cara to get to Nirvana, and that was against his normal calm nature. This woman had him in knots.
    He felt sorry for her, nothing more, and that’s why he’d told the other fellas to stay clear of her. Ben planned to pay special attention to Cara. The men respected each other and without question, they agreed.
    Ben didn’t know her story, but he knew she had one. No one acted timid unless they’d been given a reason. Hell, maybe he was wrong in thinking her innocent and incapable of taking care of herself, but she’d struck his protective side and, even if he wasn’t sure why, he knew he had to find out.
    Once inside the barn, he removed his hat and his shirt and went to work.
    He wasn’t sure how much time had passed but he’d stacked the last bale of hay and pulled off his gloves just as he heard footsteps outside. He turned as Dade appeared through the barn door.  “Back already?” Ben said sarcastically.
    “Yup, already. I had other transports to do, too” Dade chuckled as he dropped down on a nearby bale and stretched his legs. “She’s tucked in tight. You weren’t kidding. She’s as timid as they come, but sure pretty. Why are you taking the extra time for her?”
    Ben grabbed a cold water from the cooler and threw it to Dade, then opened another for himself. “Nothing special.” He drank half in one gulp. Since last night—really since he saw her picture—her eyes had haunted him. The manual labor hadn’t helped much.
    “Well, good luck, my friend,” Dade said.
    Dropping his gloves onto the workbench, Ben pulled his shirt from the hook and tugged it on. “It’s not about luck, pal. It’s about understanding.” He started for the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    By the time Ben reached his cabin, his jeans grew uncomfortably tight. He couldn’t get his mind off Cara. Knowing she was at Nirvana made him anxious to see her. He’d never been this excited before. Was this a sign that he wasn’t ready to leave the ranch?
    He could go see her now, but the rules were that they let the heartbreaks have a night of getting accustomed to their lodging. The heartbreaks came for peace and quiet, to learn to love nature, and they’d get that in their treehouses.
    He wondered what she thought of the treehouse. No one had ever complained of the lodgings that he knew of. 
    Grabbing a meal from the freezer, he removed it from the box, vented the plastic cover and stuck it in the microwave. He’d settle for a nuked meal instead of going to the kitchen for something to eat where he’d certainly run into staff. He could see them now, sitting around the table chatting and joking about the new heartbreaks. He just wasn’t in the mood.
    Finding a leftover biscuit, he slathered it with butter and shoved it into his mouth just as the timer beeped. He grabbed his heated lasagna, headed into the main area, and sat on the edge of the bed. He eyed the steaming pasta and lost his appetite. He discarded it on the nightstand along with yesterday’s cup that had crusted milk inside.
    He wasn’t even in the mood to eat.
    He should clean his cabin and decided he’d do that task later. No one would see his mess anyway.
    There was something else that had him in loops. He itched to see Cara.
    And the enthusiasm hardened parts of his body.
    His cock became painfully stiff in