The Cattleman (Sons of Texas Book 2) by Anna Jeffrey Read Free Book Online

his palm and kissed her, sli pped his tongue into her mouth. Her arms came around him and they didn’t part until they both ran out of breath.
    “When you kiss me like that, I believe you,” she said softly.
    “We’ll be together forever,” he said equally softly and looking into her gentle brown eyes. “You’re the only one who likes me for what I am.” He kissed her again, slid his hand between her thighs and cupped her sex . “Listen, Miss Magpie, this pretty little thing has been neglected. Are we gonna talk all night or are you gonna let me catch up? I gotta leave here at four o’clock.”
    She threw back the covers, opened her thighs and for the next two hours he gave her his undivided attention.
     
     
     
    Chapter 4
     
    June, Three months later…
     
    Pic roared down the Double-Barrel Ranch’s driveway headed for Mandy’s house in town. They had a date to celebrate her birthday. He had bought her a special gift that he planned to present after they enjoyed a good steak dinner—or as good as they could get in the neighboring town of Stephenville anyway. Then they would go to the rodeo and maybe the dance afterward. His Mandy was a country gal all the way to her bone marrow. She loved rodeos and dancing, as did he.
    Following that, they would go back to her house for dessert. The thought set off a twitch in his shorts. They hadn’t seen each other in weeks. To say he was, er, anxious was an understatement.
    Just ahead of him, partially blocking his path on the single-lane road, a bright-green Volkswagen Beetle sat at a crooked angle, half on, half off the pavement. How it had gotten past the private security dude who often parked in a copse of trees and bushes near the front gate, Pic didn’t know. He stomped the brake and yanked the steering wheel, avoiding a collision.
    Coming to a halt on the shoulder, he saw no driver. He shoved the gearshift into Park, stepped down from his seat and started toward the car. The end-of-June heat hit him and instantly, he began to sweat. He was wearing a starched, long-sleeve dress shirt and the temperature hovered around a hundred.
    A straw hat with the biggest floppy brim he had ever seen and big red flowers around the crown popped up from the far side of the VW. “Got a problem?” he called out, nearing the car. A trickle of moisture trailed down his spine.
    The woman under the hat grew taller, but not by much. “Oh, thank God. I have a flat tire. I don’t know how it happened. I was just driving along and the steering started acting funny.” Her voice sounded soft and breathy.
    Pic made a mental groan. He was already late.
    Except for her head and shoulders, the woman’s body was hidden by the Volkswagen. Nor could he see her eyes, covered as they were by huge sunglasses with black lenses. He stole a glance into the VW. A license plate he didn’t recognize. A suitcase, a couple of backpacks and several plastic boxes filled the small backseat. “This is a private driveway, ma’am. Are you lost?”
    She caught a quick breath and pressed a palm against her chest. “Oh, my gosh, I hope not.”
    “Where you going?”
    “Just a minute.” She opened the Volkswagen’s passenger door and pulled out a bag that looked like a fishing net. She pawed inside it for what seemed like forever while he stood roasting on the black pavement in the heat and humidity.
    Finally, she dug out a piece of paper and raised it with a gesture of triumph. “Found it.” She beamed a huge smile showing perfect bright white teeth. “I’m looking for the Double-Bar L Cattle Company. It’s a ranch. I thought this was the right road.”
    “Yes, ma’am, it is. I’m with the ranch. What I can do for you?”
    She came around the front end of the VW revealing a white form-fitting top that looked even whiter against her olive skin. Held up by straps that weren’t much more than strings, it stretched across an ample chest, showing deep cleavage and distinct nipple impressions. No