The Rancher And The RunawayBride: Part 2 by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page B

lifestyle has taken a turn for the worst in the past couple of months. In a way, that’s
     sort of humbling. So I wasn’t trying to make you uncomfortable. I guess the real message
     is that I admire you and what you’ve done here.”
    Brady grimaced. Admiration. He knew what that was like. He’d been on the giving and
     receiving end of it. Hero worship. Rita didn’t want to be another stray, and he didn’t
     want to be a hero.
    But he couldn’t tell her that, just as he couldn’t tell her that he’d left the table,
     not because he’d been insulted, but because her description of him had hit too close
     to home. He did make it a habit of taking in strays, but that wasn’t how he saw her.
    Even though she was an employee, even though he knew better, he wanted her. In his
     bed and in his life. Both were dangerous, the latter very close to deadly. He knew
     the risks involved. He knew how bad the heartache could be. He’d been down that road
     before. Yet something about Rita made him want to try again. Something made him dream
     about her, want her, need her in the most fundamentally, soul-stirring way.
    “Brady, I…” Her voice faltered.
    He didn’t dare turn around. He didn’t want to know what she was thinking right now.
     Something that would remind him he was just an old cowboy with a thing for a young
     woman who wouldn’t look at him twice on a bet.
    Facing the barn, trying desperately to ignore her, he reminded himself it was for
     the best. When she was ready to move on, he would let her go. That’s how these things
     happened.
    Despite his intense effort not to notice, the scent of her shampoo teased him. He
     could feel her presence right behind him and knew she was close…close enough to touch.
    “There aren’t many old-fashioned gentlemen left,” she said. “You’re one of the good
     guys.”
    Involuntarily, he spun toward her. “I’m not a gentleman,” he said through gritted
     teeth. “I’m not a good guy. I’m just a man, like every other man. I have flaws, and
     you better get your butt to your room before you witness one of mine.”
    Her eyebrows pulled together in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
    “Dammit, Rita. Don’t make me spell it out.”
    Her blue eyes were nearly black in the porch light. “You’re going to have to. I apologized.
     Isn’t that enough?”
    “It’s not about what you said, it’s about what I want. Go home, little girl. Run away
     and play.”
    She raised her chin. “I’m not a child. I’m a grown woman. Stop treating me like your
     little sister.”
    “It beats the alternative.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “You still don’t get it?”
    She shook her head.
    She didn’t have a clue. If he hadn’t been so furious and frustrated, he might have
     laughed. As it was, something inside snapped from the pressure. He glared at her.
     “Then, let me explain it. I’m not a good guy at all. You drive me crazy. Every damn
     day you’re out here in your jeans and your T-shirts, flaunting curves that—” He curled
     his hands into fists as words deserted him. “I know it’s wrong. That’s not the problem.
     I can’t seem to resist your jokes, your laughter, your quick mind. I want you naked
     in my bed. I don’t think that qualifies me as a gentleman, do you?”
    Her mouth dropped open. “You think I’m attractive?”
    “That’s all you got from that? What the hell do you think I’ve been talking about?”
    “I don’t know. I’m not pretty.”
    He closed his eyes and groaned. “Yeah, right.”
    “Brady, I—”
    He cut her off. He knew what she was going to say, and he didn’t want to hear. He
     didn’t want to be let down easy. “Just go inside, Rita. Go to your room and leave
     me alone. I won’t mention this again. You don’t have to worry that I’m going to embarrass
     you or inflict myself on you.”
    “I wasn’t worried about that at all.”
    He looked at her. Her blue eyes had widened and her cheeks