So Tough To Tame. Victoria Dahl

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СКАЧАТЬ find new work.”

      She finally let herself go and moved closer to touch his arm. “I’m sorry. Really. Let me help. Maybe...maybe I can get you hired on back at the ranch.”

      “No way. I can’t work there now, knowing what everyone’s thinking.”

      “No one knows anything! It will be fine, and I’ll get to see you every day. I’ll talk to—”

      Walker cut her off. “I can’t.”

      She nodded, but her face went tight and there was no missing the way her eyes glistened. “So you just never want to see me again?”

      “Come on. I didn’t say that. And you can call anytime you want to talk.”

      “Talking isn’t really what this is about. I don’t want to talk.”

      Right. That wasn’t what she wanted from him. It wasn’t what anyone wanted. “Thanks for being honest.”

      She rolled her eyes. “Why do you have to be this way? When we’re alone, everything is fine. As soon as I leave, you start regretting what we both want. Just take me to your place and fuck me, Walker. You told me you didn’t want to do it because you worked for my husband. Because it was his house and his ranch. But none of that applies anymore and I want you.”

      A tiny part of his brain was telling him it didn’t matter. He might as well. Everyone suspected they’d been fooling around already. Hell, even Charlie knew now. She was probably getting an earful at this very second. So what did it matter?

      A bigger part of his brain told him to sit down and shut up. “I can’t. I’m sorry,” he said softly.

      “You’ll regret this. You’ll miss me. Give it another week.” She turned away, her hair flying out in a bright arc when she spun to stalk off the porch. Walker let her go, relieved that the conversation was done. He should have been up front in the first place, instead of trying to avoid her. But hell, he’d assumed their friendship would just die its natural death. Done. Over. He hadn’t expected her to demand her due.

      He’d liked Nicole at first. He’d been flattered by her attention. He’d gotten caught up in the thrill of flirting with the boss’s hot wife.

      Damn it.

      He collapsed onto one of the outdoor bar stools and set his hat on another. For a moment, he stayed like that, head in hands, lost in indecision.

      He shouldn’t have come to the saloon and he damn sure didn’t want to be there now, but he had to go back in. Otherwise, the story would end with him leaving the bar with Nicole and not returning.

      Suddenly he was a hundred times more tired than he’d been an hour earlier. A thousand times.

      But he stood, put on his hat, pasted a smile on his face and walked back into the saloon.

      “You came back!” Charlie said as soon as he was in earshot.

      “I never left.”

      Rayleen watched him with sharp eyes, but for once she didn’t say a word.

      He grabbed a beer but only drank half of it before he shook his head. “Listen, I’m exhausted. I’m gonna go fall into bed.”

      Charlie cocked her head and studied him for a moment. “All right. Walk me home? I’m tired, too.”

      Was she trying to catch him in a lie? Did she think Nicole was waiting at his apartment? “A few minutes ago, you were leading the whole crowd in a song. You said you could go for hours.”

      “I guess I was wrong. That level of awesomeness apparently wears a girl out.”

      He could hardly say no to walking a woman home after dark, even if it was only across the parking lot. She had him roped with that one. “I’d be happy to walk you home, Charlie.”

      “Let’s go.”

      Before they took two steps, Rayleen called, “Where are you going, Ms. Thang?”

      “Beauty sleep!” Charlie shouted back. “And I have to rest up for the weekend. I’ve got men to hunt.”

      Rayleen howled with laughter. “Keep me in the loop. I’ll help you tag ’em.”

      Walker couldn’t believe it. “That woman doesn’t like anyone, not even her own flesh and blood.”

      “Aw. Everyone likes me, Walker. After all, what’s not to like?”

      His eyes fell to the dip of her collar and the faint rise of her cleavage. “Not a lot.”

      “Are you calling me flat-chested?”

      His gaze flew up to meet hers as he pushed open the saloon door. “No! What?”

      She didn’t bother answering, she just swept by him with a gorgeous laugh, the scent of something crisp and flowery trailing behind her.

      “Who was that woman?” she asked as she stepped off the porch stairs and headed toward the street.

      “A friend.”

      “Oh, playing coy. Is she a girlfriend?”

      “No.”

      “Is there someone else?”

      “Nope.”

      “Walker Pearce with no woman? That’s rare. I should make a move quick.”

      She was teasing again. Pressing him. He should call her on it to scare her off. But in his current mood, he didn’t want to scare her off.

      He’d been caught up in the idea that she wasn’t the same girl she’d been in high school. It had so confused him that he hadn’t put time into figuring out who she was now.

      She wasn’t that sweet, studious girl, obviously. Now she was a successful businesswoman, bold and beautiful and wild. Exactly the kind of woman he was attracted to. And exactly the kind who saw him for what he was: a big, dumb ride to adventure.

      He felt a little calmer now. A little less worried or maybe only worn-out from his conversation with Nicole. But he was also kind of pissed, and there was just enough adrenaline left in his veins to make him horny. And just enough regret to make him want to forget his mistakes.

      Walker didn’t know what to do with a sweet, innocent girl, but this new Charlie? Yeah, he could deal with that.

      “Are you okay?” she asked, her arm nudging his as they turned and headed up the walk to the Stud Farm. “You still look tense. Did she give you trouble?”

      “Not too much.”

      “I guess you’re used to it.”

      He tightened his jaw. “Mm.”

      “Even in school, some girl was always mad at you. You sure do cause trouble, Walker.”

      “Yeah.” СКАЧАТЬ