The Cowboy Claims His Lady Read Online Free PDF Page A

herself off and plunged into the dark, frigid pool.
    When she came up for air, she screeched with laughter. “My God, it’s c-c-cold!”
    He went to her. Unbidden, his arms encircled her waist. His torso was like a branding iron against her, but she couldn’t deny herself the welcome warmth.
    â€œIs this how you’ve gotten all your girls? Through hypothermia?” she jabbed.
    â€œNope,” he answered, looking down at her while they treaded water. “Whiskey always worked just fine. But I figured you’d be a tough pony to tame.”
    â€œHa!” She pushed his head into the water and swam away.
    To prove her point, she held on to the wheel, this time longer, then cannonballed him.
    â€œYou know,” she said blithely, swimming on her back, “this is fun. I’m actually getting used to the temperature of the water.”
    â€œUnfortunately, once you get out, you freeze all over again.” His gaze followed her.
    â€œCan’t wait.” She splashed him, he nearly splashed back.
    She laughed and was almost grateful when he took her waist again and warmed her.
    â€œI have a confession,” she sputtered, wiping the water from her eyes. “You wouldn’t know it from what I do for a living, but I was a tomboy as a child. I always wanted an older brother, too. To do stuff like this. Now I kinda feel like I have one.”
    He pressed her closer. “I hate to tell you this, but I have no intention of being your older brother.”
    She looked at him. The moonlight sparkled across the water and upon the droplets that clung to his chest hair. He seemed sexier by the minute, and yet, no warning bells went off in her head.
    She feared it might still be the whiskey.
    â€œNo, really,” she insisted. “That was a compliment. I always wanted some guy friends to pal around with. I thought after five years of marriage that I’d get some companionship from my husband,but, boy, was I wrong!” She smiled and gave him a little splash. “This has been just what the doctor ordered.”
    â€œGood,” he answered in a husky tone, just staring at her.
    â€œWhat?” she asked, her words lazy and maybe even more inviting than she had intended.
    â€œHow’d you meet him?”
    â€œWho?” she asked, suddenly blank.
    â€œYour husband.”
    She almost laughed. “At a book reading. Can you imagine anything more dull? That should have been the first warning, huh?” She treaded water. “Then, after that, he decided to write the Great American Novel, and like the infatuated fool, I did everything I could to support him. Even when he took all the money I had to give with my little business, I still believed he deserved more. I always thought he needed to travel more, to prop up his surroundings so he could write. I had to be the perfect helpmate, and that meant to give and give and give ’till I and everything else was spent. But I wasn’t going to end up alone and poor like my mom.” She released a wry smile. “So since I’m alone now, I work 24/7, so I won’t be poor, too.”
    A long pause reigned when the only sounds were the creak of the wheel and the soft splash of falling water.
    To relieve the tension, she flicked some water athim. “So how d’ya like that for a sisterly confession?”
    â€œNothing sisterly about it.”
    â€œNo?” she asked, raising her damp eyebrows. “You think I’d confess that to a date? I don’t think so. That’s for brothers only, pal.”
    His stare only grew more intense. Even in the dimness of the moonlight, she could see his gaze tracing every shadow of emotion that swept past.
    â€œCan’t be my little sister,” he instructed, his voice low, like a seductive growl. “Impossible. Because, first of all, I already have one. Her name’s Becky.”
    â€œI’m sure she’s lucky—” she stammered,