The Lone Rancher by Carol Finch Read Free Book Online Page A

Herefords have plenty of feed and water,” Boston requested as she passed around a dazzling smile to the crowd of cowboys.
    Then she squared her shoulders and walked toward Quin. Her chin tilted and her deep green eyes drifted from the top of his hat to his chest and hips. He caught himself wondering if she found him the slightest bit attractive. Not that he cared what she thought of him, of course. He was just curious, was all.
    â€œHow nice to see you again,” she commented as she closed the gate.
    â€œThat’s what Butler said. I didn’t believe him, either.” Quin clutched her elbow and propelled her around to the back of the barn to ensure privacy. If he decided to strangle the smarmy little minx, he didn’t want her bewitched cowhands rushing to her rescue.
    She jerked her arm from his grasp and stared him down. “The last man who tried to scuttle me off, in an attempt to seduce me into accepting his marriage proposal, received a kick in the crotch,” she informed him tartly.
    â€œNo need to fear for your virtue, only your life,” he growled as he rounded on her. “How dare you sneak over to my ranch while I was away to steal Rocky Rhodes!”
    Her chin jutted out and he mentally kicked himself when his gaze dropped to the lush curve of her mouth. Anger and desire battled inside him and he hated that he found her so wildly attractive when he wanted to strangle her.
    â€œI’m sure he’s delighted, considering the intimate perks you’re probably offering him and the other cowboys who work here.”
    Her gaze narrowed to glittering green slits. “What is that supposed to imply, Cahill?”
    He gestured toward her clothing. “I’m surprised your cowboys can concentrate on what you tell them when you wear garments that fit like a coat of paint.”
    Her back went ramrod stiff, which drew his rapt attention to her out-thrust breasts. Quin’s gaze focused on the gap between the buttons of her blouse and the cleavage beneath—and hated himself for his fierce attraction to this firebrand.
    â€œYou expect me to trounce around in a cow pen in a cumbersome dress?” she hissed like a disturbed cat. “That’s impractical. Furthermore, I don’t need your approval. In fact, I couldn’t care less what you think of my wardrobe and of me!”
    Quin loomed over her, pressing her against the barn wall, trying to intimidate her. He outweighed her by a hundred pounds and was at least ten inches taller. However, it didn’t seem to matter that he could crush her like a bug. She refused to cower, even when he snarled, bared his teeth and tried to frighten her into submission.
    â€œYou listen to me, hellcat. I want my foreman back and I don’t want you to set foot on my property to lure my men to your spread again.”
    â€œBusiness is business, Cahill,” she sassed him. “I will hire whomever I want in order to turn this ranch into a prosperous endeavor. I intend to integrate my Herefords into my present herd of longhorns and breed the finest group of them with the shorthorns due in next week.” She stabbed him in the chest with her forefinger. “ You stay out of my way and off my ranch.”
    He grabbed her finger before she poked a hole in his breastbone. “And you stay out of mine, Boston.”
    She jerked sideways and he reflexively snaked his arm around her waist to hold her in place. This little snip wasn’t leaving until he dismissed her. Unfortunately, Quin forgot what he intended to say when her body slammed into his and she grabbed hold of the collar of his shirt to give him a shake.
    Quin wasn’t even sure how it happened, but he blinked in surprise when he realized he was kissing the breath out of Boston and she was kissing him right back. It made no sense whatsoever. He wanted to choke her…didn’t he? And she wanted to rip him to shreds…didn’t she?
    Before he