Counterfeit Cowgirl (Love and Laughter) Read Online Free PDF Page A

spoiled woman at that. Her type wasn’t for the likes of him, a man who would give up a fine education to return to a broken piece of land in the heart of North Dakota. No, she wasn’t his type at—
    “Ah-hum.”
    He heard her clear her throat and turned reluctantly toward the bathroom. She was peeking around the door, the aged towel still wrapped about her torso like damp cheesecloth. Her hair was wet and swung past her shoulder.
    It took him a moment to find his voice. “Yeah?” was the best he could come up with.
    “I have a small problem,” she said stiffly.
    In his bathroom there was a half-naked, drop-dead gorgeouswoman who was strictly off-limits. He’d been celibate for half an eternity, and she had a problem?
    “I’d suggest you get dressed before you expound on it,” he said.
    Her lips pursed and her brows lowered. “Do you think I’d be talking to you in a towel if I could get dressed?”
    Now here was an interesting turn of events.
    “You can’t get dressed?” he asked, feeling his heart rate bump up a tad.
    “My clothes…” She paused for a moment, looking irritated and so damned alluring he wanted to weep. Why did the snooty ones always get him all stirred up? “They’re wet.”
    He thought about it for a moment. “Wet?”
    “Yes.”
    “How—”
    “That’s none of your affair.”
    He shook his head and approached her, putting a hand on the edge of the door. “Let me in.”
    “No,” she said, holding him out.
    Frustration made him push harder until she finally relinquished her hold and he was allowed a glimpse inside.
    “Miss Nelson?”
    “What?”
    “Why did you put your clothes in my toilet?”
    Their faces were very close. Hers was pink, but whether from embarrassment or anger was anybody’s guess.
    “Mr. Fox.”
    “Yeah?”
    “You are a moron.” She said the words sweetly.
    He grinned. “But I’m not the one who put my pants in the toilet.”
    “I didn’t…” Apparently she’d spoken more loudly than she’d planned, for she lowered her voice and tried again. “I didn’t put them in there. They fell.”
    “Ahhh.” He nodded. “And the…” He motioned toward his own chest, for her bra was floating at the top. It was palepink with a tiny ribbon between the cups. He noticed, though he wished he hadn’t. “Did that fall, too?”
    “No,” she said, and forced a beatific smile. “I threw that in. I figured, as long as the rest was there…” She shrugged.
    Nice shoulders.
    “Really?” he asked.
    She glared at him. “I need some clothes!”
    “I bet I’d really tick you off if I asked why, huh?”
    “Go!” she growled, then cleared her throat and tried again. “Would you please be so kind as to go out to my car and get my suitcase?”
    He frowned and leaned up against the doorjamb. “Maybe if you ask nice. But, hey, I don’t know. I mean, you almost burned down my house.”
    There was a long moment of silence.
    “I’m sorry about the fire,” she said reluctantly.
    He shrugged. “You insulted my ranch.”
    “Listen!” she steamed, but he held up a hand and canted his head at her. She simmered down quickly, though the fire in her eyes didn’t dim a whit. “I’m sorry if I said something to offend your tender sensibilities.”
    He studied her face. It was golden tan, seamless, cameo perfect “I like the way you talk. Where did you say you was from?”
    She gritted her teeth at him. “Are you going to get my clothes or not?”
    “I’m thinking,” he said.
    But she was, apparently, past watching him think. Swinging the door open, she marched out of the bathroom, past the tottering calf, and toward the front door.
    Ty caught up to her just before her hand touched the knob. He slid easily between her and the door. “I was just kidding you.”
    “Mr. Fox?”
    “Yes, Miss Nelson?”
    “Have I called you a moron yet?”
    “Twice, I think.”
    “Good. Now if you’ll please get out of my way, I’ll retrieve my suitcases.”
    “I’ll get