The Ranger's Passionate Love by Nicole Jordan Read Free Book Online Page A

said Ashley. "I've been waiting since we broke up before he went away to college. He's had plenty of time, and so have I. You ... do what you have to do." The blond looked like just saying the words hurt her. Kyara understood.
     
    "Yeah," cut in K, her voice deadpan. "We'll only think you're a total bitch for a little while. Then it'll all be good." Kyara looked at her and was relieved to see a little smile at the corner of her friend's mouth, revealing the joke in her words.
     
    The rest of the walk went quickly, their words turned back to less dangerous topics. K's mother wanted to move in with her. Caitlin was debating going away to law school. When they arrived, they were soon far too busy laying down the gravel and hooking the massive stump up to the SUV for much talk.
     
    Soon the SUV was hooked up and the stump was ready. As a precaution, everyone went far away from the tires. Flying mud had been bad, flying gravel could be disastrous. The moment of truth was almost anti-climactic. The tires of the SUV caught right away, the weight of the extra bags of gravel in back pushing its tires deep into the now rocky ground beneath it. The stump began to move, then popped free of its hole in the ground with a loud crack of snapping roots..
     
    The volunteers sprang into action hauling the stump away and filling the hole that they had just created. Kyara worked with them.
     
    I didn't think I was an outdoorsy type , she reflected as she wiped mud from her cheek. But I could really get used to this.
     

The next Tuesday brought another surprise. The trail crew all met at Kyara's once again. As she got ready to go with them, they once again went out through the back door, where they had parked a small fleet of....
     
    "What are those doing here?" asked Kyara
     
    Jason smiled proudly at the neatly parked rows of ATVs. He was wearing gray today. He looked good in gray. His eyes shifted to match it, giving the illusion that she was somehow seeing a stormy sky inside him.
     
    "The trail is getting too long to just walk down it. Last weeks you guys spent half the evening walking. So, transportation," explained Jason.
     
    "Ashley rents them out," said K from right behind her. "Along with snowmobiles, skis, all that stuff. Right, Ash?"
     
    Ashley nodded as she walked up.
     
    "Along with the safety equipment and lessons, yeah," the blonde agreed.
     
    "Although I'm pretty sure charging horny tourists for the privileged of holding onto you while an engine vibrates you both doesn't really help keep their minds on safety," added K, her eyebrows waggling.
     
    Ashley gave K a wry look, but let the comment pass. Probably because she knows it’s true , reflected Kyara, looking again over the statuesque blonde. That has got to help her business.
     
    "Anyway, I've got everyone paired off," said Ashley, turning to Jason. "I need you to take Kyara. Remember that she's less experienced at this, so take it easy on her."
     
    Jason's eyebrows shot up.
     
    "Okay..." he said, watching Ashley carefully.
     
    "If you are used to teaching people, maybe I should go with you?" offered Kyara, still remembering the look on her friend's face from the week before.
     
    "She has to take Caitlin," chuckled K. "I've never seen anyone worse on one of these things than that girl is. She'll pull anyone right off."
     
    Ashley nodded, confirming K's statement with a little smile.
     
    "Just hold on to him as tight as you can," advised Ashley, her eyes giving the double meaning to her words. "You're going to do just fine."
     
    Kyara returned Ashley's little smile. Then, on impulse, reached out and gave her a little hug.
     
    Jason watched them, clearly having no idea what was going on.
     
    "Alright, you two, break it up," said K. "You go on any longer and there's going to be a gross run on cheap lotion at the general store."
     
    Kyara let go of Ashley, sure that the embarrassment on her face matched that on Ashley's. Based on the look on Jason's face,