Cattleman's Choice Read Online Free PDF Page A

been butter at one time.
    â€œI don’t have any milk, if that’s what you’re looking for,” he muttered.
    She gaped at him. “You have hundreds of cows on this ranch, and you don’t have any milk?”
    â€œIt isn’t a dairy farm,” he said.
    â€œA cow is a cow!”
    â€œIf you want the damned milk, go milk one of them, then!”
    She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. He scowled back. Eventually, she gave in with a sigh and put the cups on the table.
    â€œThat’s what I like most about you,” he said as she sat down gingerly in one of the rickety old chairs.
    Her eyes came up. “What?”
    He smiled slowly, and his blue eyes darkened, glittered. “You fight me.”
    Her skin tingled at the way he said it. Before she thought, she said, “You didn’t like it last night.”
    His smile faded. He sighed and lifted the cracked mug to his lips. “I was drunk last night.”
    â€œWhy?”
    He shrugged. “Things got on top of me. I started thinking about how alone I was….” His eyes shot up, pinning hers. “I didn’t expect to see you today. I thought you’d never speak to me again.”
    She fidgeted uncomfortably. “We all get depressed sometimes, even me. It’s all right, no harm done.” She touched her lower lip with her tongue. “Well, no permanent harm, anyway,” she added dryly.
    â€œWhat you told Patty was true,” he said.
    â€œI didn’t really mean that, or what I called you last night,” she said, watching him. “You’re not an unattractive man, Carson.”
    â€œPull the other one,” he said curtly and put his cup down to light another cigarette. “I’ve finally got a little money, and I’m working on some investments that will pay a good dividend. But there’s nothing about me that would attract a woman, physically or intellectually, and you know it.”
    She caught her breath. Did he really believe that? Her eyes wandered slowly over the lean, tough length of him, the powerful muscles of his arms and chest, the narrow flat stomach and long legs. He was devastating physically. Even his craggy face was appealing, if it were shaved and his hair trimmed. She remembered suddenly what Patty had said about how he’d be in bed, and she turned crimson.
    He looked up in time to catch that blush and he frowned. “What brought that on?”
    She wondered what he’d say if she admitted that she and Patty had been wondering how he was in bed. “Nothing,” she said, “just a stray thought.”
    â€œTwenty-six, and you still blush like a virgin,” he murmured, watching her. “Are you one?” he asked, smiling faintly.
    â€œCarson Joseph Wayne!” she exclaimed.
    His blue eyes searched her gray ones. “I didn’t realize you knew my middle name.”
    She toyed with her coffee cup. “It was on the deed, when I sold you that ten-acre parcel that used to be part of Uncle’s land.”
    â€œWas it?” He sipped some more of his coffee. “You still haven’t answered me. Will you teach me?”
    She went hot all over at the way he said it. “Carson, any woman who wanted you wouldn’t mind the way you are…” she began diplomatically.
    â€œThis one would,” he said harshly.
    She was suddenly jealous and didn’t know why. How ridiculous! She touched her temple with a long finger. “Well…”
    â€œI’m not stupid,” he said shortly. “I can learn.”
    â€œOh, all right,” she said with equal curtness.
    He seemed to relax a little. “Great. Where do we start?”
    Her eyes wandered over him. God help her, it would take a miracle. “You’ll need some new clothes,” she said. “A haircut, a shave…”
    â€œWhat kind of clothes?”
    â€œShirts and slacks and jeans, and a suit or