Send Me a Cowboy by Joann Baker Read Free Book Online Page A

ever does, do they?”
    ******
    Katie was surprised when John brought her a
tray a half hour later. She’d been settled in a room that was
bigger than her whole apartment. It was definitely better decorated
in warm, earthy colors of golds, rusts, and browns.
    “Ms. Carter was going to feed you some beef
broth and crackers but I talked her out of it. A growing girl needs
something more substantial.”
    Katie wanted to bury her face in her hands
and cry at his flippant comment. Was that his way of saying he
thought she was fat? And that such a simple meal would never be
enough for someone her size? She willed her stomach not to growl
when she caught a tantalizing whiff of grilled steak. She was
starving. “I’m not hungry, but thank you.”
    John’s eyes narrowed at her words but he
didn’t say anything. Instead, he put the tray on the bedside table
before turning to face her.
    “That was not a comment about your
weight.”
    Katie couldn’t meet his gaze. Having this
conversation with him was even more mortifying than having him think she was fat.
    When she didn’t respond, John ran an
impatient hand through his thick hair. “It was a comment about your
age, damn it. You’re only twenty-nine.”
    “Almost thirty.”
    “I’m thirty-nine.”
    “So.” Katie’s brow wrinkled in confusion. Why
was he talking about age?
    “So, that’s ten years difference in our
ages.”
    That unblinking, intense stare almost robbed
her of a smart retort. She had no problems with their age
difference. She disliked dating men her own age. Most of them were
too immature to maintain a simple conversation. Or was that simply
another of John’s warnings that he wasn’t available?
    “Is the vet married? Maybe he’d like to go
out with a younger woman.”
    She almost smiled when she heard him give a
little growl.
    “Sit up.” Without giving her time to comply
with the brisk order, he hooked his arms through hers, pulling her
into a sitting position against the upholstered headboard. The thin
cotton of the t-shirt he’d loaned her stretched across her chest,
revealing the fact that she wore nothing beneath. She hastily
pulled up the covers to hide her evident arousal, tucking the
fluffy comforter beneath her arms.
    She nodded toward the tray of food. “I really
don’t want anything.”
    “Well, I do.”
    That was the first time that she noticed
there were two plates on the tray. With the delicious smelling fare
so close, Katie’s stomach apparently couldn’t hold out any longer.
It growled, the sound loud in the quiet room.
    To his credit, John didn’t smirk or even
crack a smile. He pulled a leather chair over to the bed and took a
seat. Along with the mouthwatering steak, there were bowls of
steamed broccoli and buttery baked potatoes. Two glasses of water
and a heaping bowl of fresh fruit completed the meal.
    John didn’t say anything even though Katie
sensed he wanted to. He cut off a small piece of steak and held it
up to her lips.
    “Eat.”
    With an obedience quite outside her nature,
she opened her mouth and took the small morsel inside. Flavor
immediately burst on her tongue and she tried not to moan. She
couldn’t prevent her stomach from growling even louder than
before.
    He cut another piece, a bigger piece, and
took a moment to chew it before cutting another piece for her. As
she took the second bite, he finally spoke. “I don’t like it when
you lie to me, Katie. I don’t like it when anyone does.”
    She had to swallow before she could answer.
“I didn’t lie.”
    “You’re hungry. Any sane person would realize
that. It’s late in the afternoon and we skipped lunch.”
    He gave her some broccoli then took another
piece of steak for himself.
    “You don’t have to feed me,” Katie said, even
though she was loving every minute of it.
    He smiled and it was so wicked that Katie
wanted to sigh. “No. I don’t.”
    They were silent for several moments as John
continued to feed her.
    “I see Marcia gave