The Rancher's Untamed Heart by Nicole Jordan Read Free Book Online

harassing a rancher?
     
    I twisted away from his stroking hand before I actually caught fire from his touch and tried to pull away from his other hand, but apparently keeping me where I was was no more difficult than lifting a hay bale or restraining a sheep, both of which I'd seen him do with ease.
     
    "Please let me go. I'm really fine," I said.
     
    "Yeah?"
     
    "Yeah! Really, quite fine. Just a snake. Never been better."
     
    He let me go, but he looked me in the eyes for the first time, and he smiled at me. His eyes were so blue, surprising with his dark hair. He smiled almost in slow motion, a lopsided grin that finally stayed put as he looked me over, hooking his thumbs into his belt loops and relaxing for the first time since I'd met him. He didn't look angry or wary, he seemed to simply savor his amusement at my unprofessional behavior.
     
    "Never?" he asked. "Never, ever?"
     
    Ten minutes ago, I wouldn't have believed he could tease anyone. If I'd known that a shriek and a stumble were all it took to get him to actually talk, I would have developed a sudden-onset fear of sheep three hours back. It would have been difficult, as there's not much that's less terrifying than a bored ewe, but I suppose I could have been intimidated by the sheer number.
     
    Damn. I was already babbling inside, already aching for him to touch me again. I bent down to get my clipboard, and when I stood back up, I might have been crazy, but I'm pretty sure I saw him check out my ass. His eyes jerked towards the ceiling when I could see his face, at least, and if that wasn't the reaction of a man caught taking a peek, I don't know what is.
     
    It's a pretty good ass. I might check it out too, if it weren't mine. There are better posteriors out there - I was three feet away from a man with a sterling example - but mine is high and firm and pleasantly round.
     
    Damn, I've really got to keep it together. This is so unprofessional, but I'm somehow finding it difficult to care with his eyes on me.
     
    I turned quickly and march away, using my pen to point at haybales absentmindedly. When I reached the exit, I wheeled around and came close to running into him again, I didn't realize he was so close. Once I'd turned, I could smell him, the spicy scent of his sweat and aftershave mixing together.
     
    "Right!" I said, "Okay! I think we can be done here for today. Everything looks really good. Really tidy. I don't think you're hiding anything. Not that you would, of course. Why would you hide anything?"
     
    Get it together, I told myself. You're babbling like an idiot. I paused to get my thoughts together.
     
    "This routine inspection is stupid. If I'd wanted to hide anything, the hands would have had plenty of time to go take care of it while I led you around the barns. It's an insult to me and a waste of government time and money," he said, crossing his arms and staring at me.
     
    I sighed. Nothing like being told you shouldn't have a job to cut through a haze of arousal.
     
    "Well, I need to come back in a day or two to do a more formal inspection, like you're used to. This time it will take more than two hours, but you'll have more notice."
     
    I hesitated. His arms were still folded across his chest. His shirt was straining a little, and I couldn't help but wonder what his muscles were like underneath it. From how tight he'd held me, and how firm his chest felt against my back, I had the impression that they were glorious.
     
    "Do you have any questions?" I finally asked.
     
    "No. Don't come tomorrow, we'll be too busy," the tall man replied.
     
    "Friday it is! I'll put you down for noon so that I have the entire afternoon to spend on your place. Will that be okay?" I asked.
     
    "I suppose it will have to," he said, twisting his full mouth and shrugging his shoulders. Again, I watched the cloth pull and ripple over his lean muscles.
     
    Suddenly, I'd had it. I'd had it with his snide looks and sullen attitude, ignoring me and