Sing for Your Supper by Jaime Samms Read Free Book Online

character.”
    “Good enough to let you know I’m an easy fuck?”
    Fuck. Think you’d have learned your lesson, Anderson.
    I didn’t need to turn or look at him to feel the chill. “You’d like that.”
    Maybe . Maybe not.
    My breath came fast and hard, and damn if it didn’t turn me on, hard as I tried to not to let it. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” I snatched the fork out of his hand and tossed it in the wheelbarrow. Hard to storm off pushing a creaking old barrow, but I managed. “Rain’s comin’ We’ve got horses to look to.”
    “You make friends with that grey yet?” he asked as he sauntered into the barn behind me, as though nothing had happened.
    I swallowed my pride and played his game. “Not enough to ride. Not yet. He’s bitchy.” I turned a glare on Jim as he took a saddle off the rack. “Wonder where he gets it.”
    He actually chuckled. “He’s dad’s horse. Ornery since he doesn’t get out any more.”
    “That little red head looks likely,” I mentioned, wanting to keep my balance under his gaze. I could talk about horses. Just about anything else seemed to slide into innuendo I wasn’t quite sure either of us were comfortable with.
    Jim nodded. His eyes narrowed slightly as he sized me up, probably deciding if I was small enough to ride the delicate animal. “She could use the exercise.”
    Why did I get the feeling he was reluctant to let me ride the pretty little mare? She was friendly and seemed easy-going. “You have another ride in mind, just say the word.”
    “No. Ride Kallie. She doesn’t get enough attention since—She needs to get out.”
    Since what?
    He picked out a saddle for her and dumped it on me.
    “Let’s move out, then.”
    The saddling up progressed in silence. Jim avoided looking me in the eye, and, oddly, also avoided looking at the little red horse I was saddling. He greeted his own with a warm word and quiet, undivided attention. He ignored the red.
    “Ready?” he asked at last, as he swung up into the saddle. He tossed a speculative look at the sky. I followed his gaze. The clouds glowered down, a menacing weight above us.
    The ride was quick, thankfully, though we didn’t escape the rain. The little red proved as sure footed and agile as she looked, and she didn’t show any signs of minding the rain. The other horses came willingly, answering her nicker long before they came to Jim’s calls. She confidently led the way back to the barn, stepping proud around the puddles, just like a lady.
    Wiping down a dozen wet horses took more time than bringing them in had. That task was accomplished mostly in silence, as well. By the time we were done, I was exhausted. My arms ached, and I had to wonder where the fabled Jeb and his willowy, good-with-the-animals nephew were.
    “So.” Jim tucked the curry combs and brushes away as I handed them over. “It’s late.”
    My stomach growled, on cue, and he snickered.
    “I could probably rustle something up.” He looked at me a little sideways. “Unless you’d rather clean yerself up and head into town and the diner.”
    I considered that.
    Matt would not have walked away if he wanted me there.
    For a few, silent minutes, he watched me, his gaze cool, appraising.
    “No. The diner was all right for a night. Not really substantial enough to satisfy, though.”
    Jim’s gaze slid down my body and he nodded. “C’mon, then. We’ll take the truck.”
    “Sure.”
    And be stranded. Just what do you think will happen, stud?
    I shut out the little voice and followed Jim to his pickup.

Chapter Seven

    Sounds of running water from the shower filled the tiny cabin and I tried to distract myself from thoughts of soapy water running down those long, muscled legs by looking around. There wasn’t a lot to see. As I’d suspected, Jim wasn’t much of a pack rat. There were book shelves, loaded down with classics— Shogun, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, War and Peace , with cracked spines all. I pulled a copy of