Joshua and the Cowgirl Read Online Free PDF Page A

enjoyed the chance to spend an evening with grown-ups. “But, Mom, I don’t have any homework. Couldn’t we stay a little longer?”
    “Not tonight.”
    “Joshua, why don’t you walk Garrett and Casey home?” Mrs. Mac suggested.
    Garrett stared at her as if she’d suggested they fly to Acapulco together. “Really, that’s not necessary,” she said hurriedly.
    “But it would be my pleasure,” Joshua said, that spark of mischief back in his eyes. “I’ll get my coat.”
    As soon as he’d left the room, Garrett whirled on Mrs. Mac. “It is less than a hundred yards to our house. I walk it alone every single night. Why did you suddenly decide we needed an escort?”
    “It’s always lovely to make a man think he’s needed, Garrett. You really should remember that.”
    “This man is
not
needed,” Garrett said, her voice strained.
    Mrs. Mac regarded her with barely suppressed amusement. “Interesting,” she observed.
    After nearly ten years of working for the perceptive, outspoken cattlewoman, Garrett knew exactly what was going on in her head. “What’s interesting?” she inquired reluctantly.
    “The way you two get along.”
    “We don’t.”
    “Exactly my point. Why is that, I wonder? You always get along with everybody. You’re the most even-tempered person I’ve ever known. That’s why you do so well with the hands. Not every woman could overcome the hands’ natural distrust of female leadership, but the hands know they can count on you to be cool and objective under the worst kind of pressure.”
    Garrett squirmed under the penetrating gaze. “I guess I was due for a change.”
    “Hmm.”
    “Don’t start with me, Mrs. Mac.”
    Mrs. McDonald looked as innocent as it was possible for an eighty-two-year-old maverick to look. “It was just an observation, my dear. There’s no need to get huffy. Besides, it just proves my point,” she said complacently.
    “I am not getting huffy.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    Garrett scrambled to get into her coat. Half dragging Casey, she was almost at the door when Joshua reappeared.
    “Leaving without me?” he inquired lightly.
    Garrett sighed. “Of course not.”
    He beamed and an unwelcome shiver of anticipation zipped through her. When his hand settled in the middle of her back, it took everything in her to keep from jerking away. She would not give him the satisfaction of knowing that his touch affected her in any way. Nor would she create another scene in front of her highly impressionable daughter. As it was, Casey would be asking far too many discerning questions the instant they were alone.
    Outside, with the crunch of snow under their feet, she took some satisfaction in the thought that the walk was ruining those expensive shoes of his. By the time they’d reached the door of the cozy house she and Casey shared, she had almost relaxed, lulled by the clear, starry beauty of the night and by Joshua’s undemanding silence.
    “Thank you,” she said grudgingly.
    His eyes twinkled. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
    Casey’s mouth opened and slammed shut at a quick prod from Garrett’s elbow. “Some other time,” Garrett said.
    Casey, who apparently had a greater sense of discretion than Garrett had ever had any reason to believe, slipped inside, leaving the two of them alone on the stoop.
    Before she realized his intention, Joshua’s hand was snug against her neck and his lips were against hers. The feather-light caress was undemanding and as potent as wine. Garrett’s senses reeled, even as her anger rose. She opened her mouth to tell him just what she thought of his arrogant presumption, but he cleverly silenced her with yet another persuasive touch of his lips.
    This time, lost to the hunger of the kiss, there was no denying the warmth that spread through her, the undeniable invitation in the way her body swayed toward his. For one tiny, fleeting moment she allowed herself the pure, feminine enjoyment of that greedy, demanding, thoroughly