Rodeo Romance (Contemporary Western Romance Short) Read Online Free PDF Page B

to call Peterson over to take a look.”
    “What’s wrong with her?” Trisha frowned, thinking the horse looked fine.
    “She’s pregnant.” Jake glanced at her as he stood, brushing hay from his jeans. “Her last was stillborn and we almost lost her.”
    “Ah, poor thing.” Trisha jumped off the rail quickly when Lilly swung her huge head toward her.
    Hank laughed, steadying her before letting go. “I’ll see you guys later.”
    Jake stepped out of the stall nodding toward Hank, but his eyes were on Trisha. “You scared of horses?”
    “Never been around them before.” Trisha looked over at Lilly, who was staring at her over the fence. “They’re pretty big when standing next to one.”
    “Lilly is the gentlest horse on the ranch.” He grinned at Trisha’s doubtful look. “Go ahead and pet her. She won’t bite. I promise.”
    With the look he gave her, Trisha was sure she would do anything he asked. He had grabbed his cowboy hat off a rail and put it on, his intense gaze making her body tingle again, dammit. What in the hell was wrong with her? She wasn’t ready for this. She didn’t want this…did she? She refused to let Doug dictate her life, so fighting an attraction because of him would actually be letting him dictate her life…wouldn’t it? Snapping out of it, she realized she was staring at Jake during her inner battle. Embarrassed, she spun toward Lilly, stepped up on the rail again and stared at the horse.
    “You don’t eat fingers do you, Lilly?” She reached her hand out slowly, touching the softness of Lilly’s nose. Trisha laughed when Lilly lifted her head impatiently, nudging her hand.
    “Here, give her one of these.” Jake took Trisha’s hand in his, turning it palm up and placing a carrot on top. “Keep it on your palm so she doesn’t accidently grab a finger.”
    Trisha laughed again when Lilly eyed the carrot then took it gently from her hand. “That is so cool.” Trisha grinned at Jake. “Can I have another one?”
    Jake gave her another carrot. “She will stand here all day eating these.”
    “It tickles.” Trisha scratched her palm then held her hand out for another carrot. “One more?”
    “You’re going to make her fat,” Jake teased, but handed her another one.
    Trisha rolled her eyes. “On carrots? I don’t think so. That’s all I snack on when I’m dieting.”
    “Why the hell would you diet?” Jake frowned, looking her up and down.
    Okay, if she wasn’t already crushing on Jake, she sure as hell was now. She felt heat rise in her cheeks as his eyes gazed over her body. Before she could say anything, Cindy walked in.
    “Shoo wee.” Cindy headed toward them, holding her nose. “It stinks in here.”
    “Ah, maybe because you’re standing in the middle of a barn.” Trisha laughed, shaking her head. “You okay?”
    Cindy nodded with a fake smile. “Dandy.” She looked between Trisha and Jake, a sly grin playing on her lips. “Did I interrupt something?”
    “Jake was just showing me how to feed Lilly a carrot without losing my fingers.” Trisha looked back at Lilly petting her on the nose.
    “Oh, did he?” Cindy crossed her arms staring at Jake. “Okay, boss man. What do you have in store for us?”
    Leaning against the fence, Jake tipped his hat back staring at Cindy with a cocked eyebrow. “Two of us need to clean stalls while another one brushes down the horses.”
    “I’ll clean the stalls,” Trisha volunteered, knowing Cindy would throw a fit.
    “Have you been around horses before?” Jake asked Cindy, his stance still relaxed.
    “I’ve been around all different types of animals, Mr. McCabe,” Cindy replied, her eyebrow cocking to match his.
    Trisha frowned, her eyes moving from one to the other.
    “Good to know, but right now, I’m just concerned with horses.” Jake took brushes off a table handing Cindy one. “I’ll get her started and be right back.”
    Trisha nodded, watching them walk off. Glancing around, she headed