Rough (RRR #2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

and I can tell that my sister and mother are as riveted as I am at their sheer size and roped muscularity. “She was a beautiful mare, pitch-black with powerful legs that never seemed to get tired of running. She ran in hundreds of races and the only reason she never took first place was that she was crazy-wild and threw every jockey just before the finish line. They retired her early to the ranch and used her as a brood mare. Pride of Midnight was her first colt, he went on to win the Preakness and the Kentucky Derby as a three year old, and came in second for the Triple Crown. I got grounded and usually a taste of my father’s belt across my back when I’d sneak out to the stables and ride her without permission. I rode bareback, no saddle, no bridle, just unlatched the gate to her stall, climbed up on the railing, held onto her mane and took off. She loved it and she’d run like the wind, that was the fastest horse I’ve ever seen. I think she knew that a kid like me didn’t expect her to win, didn’t want anything at all from her but to feel her muscles working like magic as I held on and we flew over the ranch land.”
    Holt seems far away and sad when he tells that story and I feel a clutch of love for him that makes my heart feel like a silver spike has lodged in its center.
    “That sounds like an idyllic childhood, except for the part about your father’s belt,” My dad says and Holt clears his throat and finishes his drink in one long swallow.
    “Not really,” He says abruptly, and he motions to the Maitre’d who nods vigorously and scurries over with a tray of champagne flutes and a bottle of Dom Perignon. “We should toast to Scarlet’s graduation, getting a degree is a great accomplishment.”
    “To Scarlet!” everyone says, lifting their glasses and sipping.
    “I mentioned to Scarlet that I have a proposition for her,” Holt says and my mother, sister, and I nearly choke on the champagne. “A job offer that will tie right in with her aspirations in Interior Design.”
    “I thought you were coming home to Atlanta to work in my design firm, Scarlet,” Holly says, her eyes narrow, but then she smiles. I can tell that she weighed my options quickly—work as my sister’s assistant or work with Holt—and she’s no fool, she knows which option I’ll pick.
    Of course I’ll choose the hot, gorgeous, huge man who has sublimely wrecked my body and heart, the man who is rough with his hands and mouth and cock, and gentle with his words and deeds. The man I haven’t stopped thinking about for a single second since the first time I laid eyes on him— duh!
    “I’m restoring the fishing lodge on the Corazon Perdido, it’s a really great old log cabin. It’s in decent shape, not a complete ruin, but the chinking and some of the logs have rotted out. I’m nearly done rebuilding the structural components, and Campbell has agreed to hire Scarlet to design the interiors. It’s certainly a project that will look good on her resume, it should only take about four weeks, and the budget is unlimited,” Holt says and I gasp, it’s a dream project and working side by side with Holt only sweetens the pot. “Like I said, it’s only for a month or so, after that I’m going up to build a log home on the Flathead River near White Fish, Montana.” 
    “You’re not considering it are you, Scarlet?” Mother says. “You belong in Atlanta, Holly has made a place for you, and Corey is there.”
    “Corey is nowhere, Mother, he and I are history. You can marry that puny egomaniac if you want him to be part of the family, I wouldn’t touch him again with a ten-foot pole. And yes, I’m taking the job, it’s only four weeks out of the rest of my life, I hope you’ll wish me well. Also Mother, stop thinking about yourself all the time and take care of Daddy, be sure he watches his diet and takes his medication,” I say and my mother looks like I slapped her or she might slap me.
    “Where will you live,