Curves and the Rancher Read Online Free PDF Page A

long
driveway and parked outside the house. Should she tell Luke that he
really didn ’ t need her to come over
every week to take care of his accounts? Disappointment flickered
through her. She enjoyed visiting him at his ranch, sharing a meal,
his company, and his kisses. But how long could she keep doing it
without getting her heart bruised if he didn ’ t
return her feelings? And, she admitted to herself, she did have
feelings for him. They had gradually crept up on her over the weeks.
She knew without a doubt that she was half way in love with him and
it wouldn ’ t take much to tip her over
the edge.
    The door opened before
she had a chance to knock. Wearing his usual ranch outfit of jeans
and a long-sleeved cotton shirt, Luke gave her an easy smile. Well,
she wasn ’ t going to tell him today
that he didn ’ t need her to come over
every week. Not when her pulse pounded by just being around him.
    “ Come
in. ” He held the door open for her
and ushered her inside. She followed him to the kitchen. Why did he
have to be so attractive?
    “ I
made Cobb salad and picked up some fresh bread from the bakery. ”
    “ It
looks delicious, ” Cassie said, aware
of a faint rumble in her stomach. She ’ d
finished an early shift at the diner, and breakfast was a distant
memory.
    Luke moved efficiently
around the kitchen, placing salt and pepper shakers on the table
before joining her at the table. She enjoyed the tasty meal, as well
as his quiet, reassuring presence and light conversation.
    “ I ’ ve
got a little more work for you today, ” Luke said when he ’ d cleared away
their plates and set down a steaming cup of coffee in front of her. “ Do you have any other appointments
this afternoon? ”
    “ No. ” She chided herself for thinking he ’ d
already been creating accounting work for her. If he had, then how
could he come up with extra-extra work for her?
    He smiled. “ I
thought you might like to stay for dinner tonight. ”
    Cassie smiled back.
Dinner. With Luke. “ I ’ d
like that, ” she murmured. Picking up
her coffee mug, she hoped he couldn ’ t
see her hands trembling slightly.
    She couldn ’ t
remember what else they talked about while they sipped their coffee.
All she could think about was what might happen tonight…after
dinner. Would he kiss her at the end of the night? Really kiss her? Or - and she almost blushed just thinking about it - would
he ask her to stay the night? What would her answer be?
    The afternoon drew on and
Cassie’s thoughts continually drifted to the evening ahead.
    She was surprised to find
that for once, it was hard to focus on the numbers in front of her.
Even taking into consideration the extra work he had asked her to do,
it still took her an hour longer than it should have, thanks to Luke
starring in her fantasies. And she definitely wasn’t going to
charge Luke for the time she’d spent day-dreaming about him.
    She clicked save on the
accounts program for the final time and went in search of Luke. It
was four o ’ clock. Too early for
dinner, but maybe she could give him a hand getting it started.
    “ Luke? ” She called out in the direction of the barn. With a few flowers
growing here and there, and maybe a little herb garden, the grassy
area outside the back door could look very pretty.
    Cassie walked toward the
barn, drinking in the open space and peacefulness she always found
here. “ Luke? ”
    He appeared in the
doorway of the barn, dusting his hands on his faded jeans. “ Finished
already? ” he asked with a grin.
    She nodded. “ I
thought I could help you with dinner. ”
    His eyes crinkled as he
looked at her. “ That would be
great. ”
    They walked back to the
house, Luke shortening his stride to match hers. “ How
does chicken cacciatore sound? ”
    Her arm almost brushed
his and she had to swallow before she could answer. “ It ’ s
one of my favorites, ” she admitted
shyly .
    “ Mine
too. ” He smiled down at her.
    Once in