Gentling the Cowboy Read Online Free PDF Page B

calls. It’s probably your friend.”
    “Oh,” she said. Damn. “Thanks.” She tried, but failed, to sound happy about it.
    If that’s Lucy now, she has the world’s worst timing.
    Thanks for nothing, Lucy.
     
     
    You never really get the apology you imagine you’re owed.
    Sarah listened to Lucy’s long explanation about why she’d been away from home and had turned her cell phone off: last-minute errands; her brother needed her help with something. The whole story sounded a bit contrived, and Lucy’s contriteness was sadly lacking. You don’t let a friend drive for three days, then play hide-and-seek with them on the day they arrive.
    Lucy said, “Things have just been crazy here these last few days. I should have called you and told you now isn’t a good time to come, but I didn’t know how to say it.”
    Well, this is awkward.
    She continued, “Of course, I can’t wait to see you. You could probably stay through the weekend, but after that, I don’t know. My brother changed his mind about having someone here for the summer.”
    Because why not drive cross-country with your horse for a weekend?
    Sarah opened her mouth to tell her friend just what she thought of her when a thought struck her. Things happen for a reason, and a woman could find herself stranded in worse places. “I’m settled in here for the night, Lucy. I’m fine.”
    Lucy said, “I didn’t realize you had other friends in the area.”
    “I didn’t know it myself until today.”
    “Then this all worked out for the best, I guess. How long do you think you’ll stay there?” Lucy asked, her relief obvious.
    Until Mr. Sexy Cowboy has me physically removed from his property or I wake up, realize how insane this all is, and leave while I still have some dignity.
    “I’m not sure,” Sarah said vaguely.
    “Hopefully we can get together before you leave.”
    Still irritated with Lucy, Sarah thought, A few hours ago, I would have jumped at the chance to see you, but I’ve kind of moved on. “Sure.”
    After replacing the headset on the cradle, Sarah smiled all the way to her vehicle . Something inside her clicked into place and she felt inspired. She dug through her oversized purse for her notebook. She’d gone from having nothing to write about to not knowing how to start recording everything she didn’t want to forget about this trip. A story was already forming in her mind, tickling her imagination. A contemporary romance—a sexy one. She jotted in her notebook: Strong heroine who is willing to take risks. She yearns for something or someone she can’t have.
    Yearns. Sarah underlined the word twice. That’s a good place to start.
    “Was that your friend on the phone?” Tony asked from beside her. Sarah let out a yelp of surprise and dropped her notebook at his feet. He reached for it, but she snatched it off the ground, closing it quickly and clasping it to her chest, hopefully before he saw the first page.
    Because nothing says “I’m normal” like a list of questions regarding men’s grooming practices of their genitalia.
    “Yes,” Sarah said, the word catching in her throat a bit.
    Tony scowled down at her and nodded at her notebook. “You jotting down the directions before you forget them?”
    Looks like this conversation is going to happen at the corner of Awkward and Embarrassing. “Not exactly.” She cleared her throat. “My friend changed her mind about wanting me to visit.”
    Those green eyes bored into hers. He drawled, “Doesn’t sound like much of a friend.”
    “You think?” Sarah snapped sarcastically, letting her nerves momentarily get the best of her. Calm down. None of this is his fault. “Sorry. I guess I’m just tired. It’s been a long day.”
    In the quiet that followed, Sarah tried telepathy. See, this is where you could use an incredibly sexy bedroom voice to tell me not to worry since you have more than enough room for me. Lean in again, and I’ll know having me here will be torture