With This Ring (Denim & Spurs Book 1) by Aliyah Burke Read Free Book Online Page A

truck.
    “Not at all. We talked a bit about ranching.”
    She brushed against him as she climbed into his vehicle. His gaze fixated on her long, smooth brown legs as he envisioned them high around his waist, or hell, even over his shoulders as he…
    “Good,” she said with a smile. “He can be a bit overprotective.”
    “You’re his baby girl, no matter how old you are.” He closed the door and walked around the hood to the driver’s side, readjusting himself before hopping in the truck.
    “I’m really sorry I was late,” she said as he got them on the road.
    Christ, he could smell her intoxicating scent every single time he breathed. That perfect blend of jasmine, honeysuckle, and woman—more specifically, Samantha.
    “I understand, emergencies come up. Don’t worry about it.”
    “Okay, I’ll let it go. How was your day?”
    He stole a glance at her. She’d angled herself slightly in order to see him more. Her expression was one of actual curiosity, as if she truly wished to know.
    “Busy. I wonder some days how they ran ranches so effectively in the past. Amazing how much paperwork cattle and horses create.” He shook his head. “But I should be grateful business is so good.” A pause. “How about you? How was your day?”
    “Wonderful. A day off, well, you know what I mean.”
    He did.
    “It was good though, then Jack called about one of his horses having thrown a shoe. They’re leaving early morning, and he wondered if I could come fix it. So I did then I rode the horse over a few jumps.”
    He heard the wistfulness in her voice. He knew she missed dressage, he’d asked before. The night he kissed her. “Then you had to get back, to meet me.”
    “You make it sound like a chore, going out with you.”
    “It’s not?”
    She shook her head. “If it were, I would have said no.”
    Straight forward and she pulled no punches. Two traits he admired greatly.
    “Glad you didn’t.”
    * * * *
    Finn couldn’t much think past Dustin’s callused hand settled upon the small of her back. Lord, she must be turning fanciful because it was all she could focus on—how warm and comforting his touch was.
    He looked amazing tonight. All black, including his hat. She loved Brumby hats and wanted his. All together he looked handsome. Mouthwatering.
    She just couldn’t quite grasp what Charlotte had been thinking to do what she had done to this man. Had she a man like him waiting to marry her, no way she’d ruin it. Or so she’d like to believe.
    Dustin held her chair and she accepted with a brief “Thank you.” His long-limbed stride took him around to his own seat, and she enjoyed watching every motion. He sat and gave her a small grin.
    “What are you thinking?”
    “That they don’t have men who look like you in Maryland.” Heat surged up her cheeks. Had she truly said those words?
    The sexy smirk, which lifted the sides of his kissable bow-shaped mouth, let her knew she had. Yep, it was official, she longed to sink beneath the floor.
    “And you thought they would?” His voice, full of teasing, wove around her.
    “Yes,” she replied. “Being as how I live there.”
    His gaze pinned her. “Maybe it’s time to move back home then.”
    That timbre, heaven help her, the things it did to her. More like the man and what he does to me.
    “Pretty happy with my life there.”
    He ordered their drinks and food from the waiter before returning his attention to her. “Pretty happy indicates room for improvement.”
    She sipped her water and imagined this man to come home to daily. That would do it. “True, it does. But psychoanalyzing my life isn’t on the menu.”
    His grin did wicked things to her and her insides. She hoped her nipples weren’t visible through her silk shirt. As it was, her panties were already damp.
    Chatter was light between them as they dined on the Italian fare. They’d been a few years apart in school, and it was fun catching up.
    “We’ll have the tiramisu, two