Curves and the Rodeo Star (BBW Romance - Coldwater Springs 4) Read Online Free PDF

Bernie.” She took a deep
breath. Total honesty. “I came home to find the gate open and
Shadow missing.” Before he could say anything, she continued,
“But don’t worry. Cade and I found him on Spring River
Road and brought him home. He seems to be perfectly fine.”
    “ Thanks, Emma. I‘m
glad Shadow’s okay. I’ll make sure I never make that
mistake again.” And judging by the self-condemnation in his
voice, Emma knew he wouldn’t.
    She put the phone in her
pocket and returned to Cade, unable to stop smiling. “It was
Bernie, not me. He got distracted with a phone call and didn’t
check the gate when he left.”
    “ Did you tell him
the whole story?” He cocked his head.
    Awareness rushed through
her when she realized only an inch separated them. She nodded.
“Yes. He was okay about it.”
    “ Good
call. It’s best to be honest.” He flashed a smile.
    Warmth flickeredthrough her at his praise. “I guess we should go get your
truck.”
    “ Yeah, I guess so.”
    She looked at him sitting
next to her in the SUV as she fastened her seatbelt. Dust stained
his clothes and some of his hair was damp against his forehead, but
it didn’t make him look less attractive. In fact, it made him
even sexier, because he’d helped her. Even after Wednesday.
    “ Want to stay for
dinner?” She issued the invitation before she second-guessed
herself. Inviting him to dinner was the least she could do.
    He grinned. “Sounds
good. Thanks.”
    She focused on driving
out of the gate, not wanting him to see how much pleasure his
acceptance gave her,but unable to help the smile that touched
her lips.
    They made quick work of
returning to Spring River Road. Cade jumped into his truck and
followed her back to the ranch.
    Emma parked in the
garage, checking her watch: 6.45pm. Somehow, it seemed as if it
should be a lot later, although the sun hadn’t set yet.
Joining Cade in the driveway, she knew she had to thank him. She’d
been thinking about it all the way back to the ranch.
    “ Cade…”
Her voice trailed off when he turned to look at her. His eyes
smoldered with desire.
    Her breath skipped. “I…I
just want to thank you for helping me today.”
    “ Anytime, Emma.
You know that.”
    Do I? she
thought hazily as he continued to gaze at her in that unnerving way.
Before Wednesday, she would have said yes. But since that kiss - and
the way it ended - she had no idea what was going on.
    She took a step back. “I
better start dinner.”
    He took a step forward.
“Emma.” His hand cupped her cheek.
    Her pulse pounded. His
face was so close to hers. If she rose on her toes, she could kiss
him.
    Before she could make the
decision, his lips snared hers. She parted her mouth in surrender,
not wanting to think about anything except how good it felt to have
Cade hold her and kiss her.
    His scent enveloped her:
horse, man, soap and hay. Her arms stole around his neck, and he
shifted slightly, pressing her close to his firm, muscular body.
Cade finally dragged away his mouth from hers. “I haven’t
stopped thinking about you since I watched you compete in the barrel
racing,” he admitted huskily, his forehead touching hers.
    His statement seared her
senses. If that was true… She frowned. “But what
about Wednesday?”
    His large hands caressed
her waist, then held her securely against him, as if he were afraid
she was going to run off again. He looked into her eyes. “I
think - hope - that was a miscommunication.”
    “ Oh?”
    His brow creased. “Since
I met you, I tried to keep my distance and only be your friend, but
I’m a man, not a saint.” He exhaled. “Things were
getting heated in the barn and if they developed any further…
I was trying to be romantic, dammit.”
    Warmth rippled through
her. Even though she’d mistaken his words in the barn, he’d
been trying to be thoughtful. Smiling, she kissed him softly on the
lips.
    “ Was it a
miscommunication?” He searched her face.
    “ Yes,”