Summer's Night by Cheyenne Meadows Read Free Book Online Page B

didn't have the funds to heat it. Even if I did, I doubt I could afford the winter electric bills, so I did the best I could with top of the line insulation. I lined that with hay and straw bales, to help curb the frigid wind. There are three stalls, but the other half of the barn is an open space, where the horses can simply hang out together and not be confined."
    "Nice."
    She smiled brightly. "Thanks. I like it."
    His gut clenched with the expression and glow on her face, making her appearance shine. How he'd considered her plain, he didn't know, not when she became prettier each and every day. "Looks like we have to dig this old post up, then replace it with a metal one."
    "Yep. I have the metal post in the barn. I'll go get it when we're ready for it. In the meantime, I'll be glad to shovel."
    He stalked over, pushing on the wooden post, cringing when it wiggled under the pressure. "Definitely rotten. Let's pull the fence off it first, then work on digging it up." Night focused on the task at hand, intent upon getting the new gate up before sundown.

Chapter 9

    Summer smiled, wiping her forehead with her dirt-smudged hand. Finally. With Night's assistance and hard labor, they'd managed to pull out the old post and replace it with a new metal one, guaranteed not to rot.
    She watched the muscles ripple under his sweat-soaked T-shirt as he attached the wire fence to the new post. More than once she'd found herself staring at the man as he worked, hoping he might shed his shirt under the summer sun, and dreaming of what other physical perfections his clothing hid from her view. What she could see kept her near drooling, wanting to reach out and run her fingers over his flat stomach and around to his delightful rear, squeezing to test for buoyancy.
    Good grief. Where did those thoughts come from? Never had she lusted after a man before. Not like this. A couple hours in Night's presence and she turned into a hussy with seduction on her mind, not unlike a few heroines in the romance novels she read. She needed to face facts. Night remained out of her league, through money, status, and that splendid physique. She couldn't match him in any area. Besides, his mother was a client. Surely dating the woman's son would be a conflict of interest at worst and awkward at best.
    Digging through the cooler on the tailgate of his truck, she pulled out two iced down bottles of water. As soon as he stood, she shoved one in his hands. "Here you go."
    "Thanks." He used his shirtsleeve to wipe the dripping sweat from his face before unscrewing the lid, and drinking deeply.
    Summer watched as his Adam's apple bobbed with each swallow, finding the motion not only intriguing but sexy. I'm losing my mind. With a shake of her head, she marched through the newly hung gate, untying the lead rope that served as a physical barrier to keep the horses in the pasture and out of their work area. Hours ago, the animals grew bored with watching Night and Summer work. They stopped by the water tank, drank their fill, before heading for the shade trees and meadow grass, escaping the scalding sun of midday.
    "Thank you, Night. Without your help, I would still be struggling with that silly old wooden post." She stepped back through the gate, latching it tightly behind her.
    He glanced in her direction. "No problem." Emptying his plastic water bottle, he tossed it in the back of the truck along with his tools. "Hop in. I'll give you a ride back to the house."
    Summer didn't waste any time, climbing into the passenger seat, struggling to keep her mind on business and not on the sweaty hunk beside her. "Why don't you come in and wash up?"
    He cranked the engine. "I'm a walking dirt pile."
    She grinned over at him. "Yeah, so am I. Come in and wash up anyway."
    A smile appeared on his face, knocking the breath out of Summer. His eyes softened as did his facial features. All the more breathtaking when he showed amusement and happiness.
    "I can use the water hose."
    "I