Tattoos and Transformations by Melody Snow Monroe Read Free Book Online

get down before we discuss my sex life?” He burst out laughing. “I’m sorry, darlin’. I was just speaking my mind. Sure thing. My mouth is zippered closed.” She loved his outlook on life. True to his word, he didn’t bring up Morgan again. She scrambled down the mountain without another incident.
    He helped her into the truck. “I’ll give you a few days to recuperate before asking you out again.” He winked.
    “Thanks.”
    He started the engine. “However, I do have a plan if you’re amenable.”
    “What’s that?” He always did love to scheme.
     
    45
    “Perhaps tomorrow, you could come real early in the morning to our ranch and set up your easel to paint some flowers.” She laughed. “Why would I want to do that?”
    “The light’s the best in the early morning.” Who was this guy? “I mean, why would I want to come to your ranch?” She had thought only Morgan worked the ranch and that Clint stayed there while he ran his landscaping design business, but now wasn’t the time to bring up the distinction.
    He glanced over at her. “Not too bright, are you?” Had he not been driving, she would have punched him in the arm.
    Instead, she slapped the dash. “Tell me.”
    “Because when Morgan leaves the house in the morning and runs into you, the fireworks will fly, and I want to see the explosion.” 46
     

Chapter Five
    This was the dumbest plan Dakota had ever agreed to. She was bundled in a thick fleece pullover and sitting on a low stool in front of her easel about fifty feet from Morgan and Clint Callen’s front porch.
    She had to admit, the flowers were spectacular as was the stone pathway that led to the front of the house. So far, neither man had shown up, but Clint had texted her that Morgan was about to go riding on the range.
    To make it appear as though she was an invited guest who really wanted to paint flowers, she’d already made the sketch and taken a few pictures. Because the light wasn’t the best, the photos lacked detail.
    The side door opened and heavy boots stomped their way down the steps. To pretend Morgan didn’t exist would be dumb. She inhaled to steel her nerves and looked over her shoulder. She casually waved.
    “Hey, Morgan.” Returning to her picture, she dabbed her brush into the yellow paint and stabbed the canvas.
    As expected, he charged over to her. “What are you doing here?” He stood so close she could smell his animal scent. She placed the brush into her storage cup and looked up. “Long time no see.” Her heart was racing so fast she was sure he could see it beat beneath the sweater.
    He leaned closer. “Dakota? That you?”
    She couldn’t believe he hadn’t recognized her, especially since Clint claimed he told Morgan about her transformation. “The one and only.” She lifted her chin and smiled.
    “Jesus. Clint said you’d changed, but I wouldn’t have guessed.”
    47
    “So it seems.” She stood in the hopes he’d remember her now.
    “You passed me the other day and said nothing.” His gaze dropped to the right. “The girl in the yellow dress?”
    “Yup.”
    “Well, shit.”
    His vocabulary seemed to have deteriorated in the last few years.
    “Clint suggested that I add some flowers to my collection of paintings.
    I’m sure Jade told you that I’ve taken over her studio and am turning it into an art gallery.” She had a ton of flower close-ups, but she’d not hung them yet. Technically, she wasn’t lying. “I hope you don’t mind if I paint these.”
    He shot a look at her painting as if to verify her story. “No. No problem.” He nodded to what she’d done. “It looks great.” He was just saying that. She’d only painted half a flower. “The grand opening isn’t for another two weeks, but stop on by any time to see my new digs. You’d hardly recognize the bottom floor. ”
    “Sure.” His gaze shot to the ground. “I gotta go.” He stomped off, slapped his hat against his thigh then jammed it onto his head.