A Cowboy's Charm Read Online Free PDF Page A

second fiddle to a cow but I suppose I can manage.”
    He gave her a smile, hooked an arm around her neck and pulled her closer for a swift kiss. “It really is good to have you here.”
    Callie hugged him tightly. The two of them had weathered some pretty intense emotional storms together and her feelings for him were complex.
    “It’s good to be here.”
    “Nothing much has changed in the house. Mary Peters comes a couple times a week to clean, cook and do laundry for us. I had her get your old room ready so feel free to crash for a while.”
    “I just might do that.” She was weary. She’d been too wired to sleep much before making the trip and those last couple hours had drained what was left of her strength.
    They said goodbye and Callie watched him head for the barnyard. He climbed into a black pickup truck with an extended cab and a cap that protected his equipment.
    She smiled and waved as he drove down the road. Once alone she took another good look around the property. It was all achingly familiar—the long broad porch with its collection of furniture, the expanse of lawn shaded by ancient trees, the many barns, grain bins and corrals portioned off by board fences.
    Breathing deeply, she inhaled the unique scents of the Masterson ranch. The smell of the horses, hay and the pansies that always surrounded the porch were synonymous with the sweetest memories of her life.
    The big, white, two-storied house with black shutters on long windows hadn’t changed on the surface. Callie wondered if Molly had changed much of the inside decor. She opened the door to have a look.
    The wide front hallway was dark and cool compared to outdoors. The left side of the first floor was mainly comprised of the ranch office, formal dining room and kitchen. A doorway to the right framed the entrance to the family living area. It was one big, long room with a large collection of comfortable furniture, an extensive entertainment center and a huge, open fireplace.
    Some of the furnishings were different yet the color scheme was still earth-toned mixtures of browns, oranges and yellows. The wide-screen TV was a new addition, as was a very large leather recliner that nearly shouted at Callie. She was thirsty but she decided to pass up a drink long enough to prop up her aching feet.
    The leather crackled as she eased her tired body into its plush depths. The scent of leather and spice reminded her of Rylan. With a flick of a handle on the right the entire chair tilted backward and she sighed as she kicked off her shoes and stretched out in comfort. She would just close her eyes for a minute…
    * * * * *
    Rylan found her there a couple hours later when he returned from collecting her car. Leave it to Callie to make herself at home in his favorite chair, he thought as his gaze roamed from the wild spill of sable hair down the voluptuous curves of her body to the painted tips of her toes. His cock stirred to full attention again. It had been at half-mast since he’d pulled it from her tight body. The passion they’d shared had whetted his appetite. He wanted more. Lots more, and he would have it. No strings attached this time, just pure carnal pleasure.
    His perusal slowed on the return trip for a rare study of her facial features at sleep. Her eyes were wide-set and heavily lashed. The lashes rested on a sweep of softly rounded cheeks over high bones. A small, slightly pointed nose had turned pink from exposure to the sun. His intent study halted at her mouth.
    She’d always been a tempting mixture of innocence and provocation. He’d forgotten what it was like to have her near—both exhilarating and infuriating. He could have done without the reminder. His life had been fairly uneventful the past few years and he liked it that way. When Callie was around chaos reigned.
    Now that he’d had a little time to come to terms with her unexpected arrival he’d decided to accept the fact that she was here to stay a while. Chuck and Sammy