The Rancher's Marriage Pact Read Online Free PDF Page B

into the office. He brought his attention to her hands, imagined those slender fingers raking across his chest, then traveling lower to the nagging place down south that craved some female attention.
    Shaking off the images, Dallas thought it best to talk, not fantasize about her being naked beneath him. “How long have you been a vegetarian?”
    She dabbed at her lips then set the napkin aside. “When I started college, I was determined not to gain the typical freshman fifteen. And honestly, when I was in my teens, I was somewhat...chunky.”
    He couldn’t even imagine that. “Are you kidding?”
    â€œIt’s true. I wasn’t obese, but I was anything but thin. My family moved around a lot and I tended to use food to compensate for the fact I didn’t have time to make friends. Before I knew it, I was a regular porker who lived on cheeseburgers and fries.”
    â€œThe only way I’d believe that is to see some pictures.”
    She shook her head. “No way. Besides, I think I probably destroyed all evidence.”
    He downed the last of the beer and pushed the mug away. “You said you moved a lot. Why is that?”
    â€œI was a navy brat. We were rarely in one place for any length of time.”
    â€œDo you have any siblings?”
    â€œAn older sister. She’s living around the corner from my parents in Idaho with her husband and three kids. My folks are so proud.”
    â€œThey’re not proud of you?”
    She rimmed a fingertip around the edge of the glass. “Let’s just say they don’t understand my creative nature. Or at least my father never did. He preferred I become a nurse or teacher.”
    â€œA traditionalist, huh?”
    â€œMore like a taskmaster. It was always his way or the highway.”
    He could relate to that. His father was still controlling his life from the grave. “My dad never liked me devoting all my time to the rodeo. That made him a damn hypocrite since he met my mother on the circuit.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œYeah. She was a barrel racer and he was a bulldogger.”
    â€œBulldogger?”
    â€œSteer wrestler.”
    She frowned. “Why would you want to wrestle a steer? That sounds rather dangerous.”
    He chuckled over her lack of comprehension. “Sorry. I’m just surrounded by women who lived with rodeo cowboys. Most of the time they think they know more about it than I do.”
    After downing the last of her drink, she took off her jacket and laid it in her lap, revealing a sleeveless silk top that sparked his imagination. And suddenly he started to sweat.
    â€œWell, you’ll never have to worry about that with me,” she began, “because obviously I know nothing about the rodeo. Not that I’m averse to learning. I’m a quick study.”
    Just seeing her bare arms, and a hint of cleavage, brought to mind a few lessons involving his second favorite sport. “I’m a good teacher.”
    Smiling, she bent her elbow on the table and supported her cheek with her palm. “When is my first lesson?”
    He wanted to suggest tonight, but the fact her voice sounded a little thick led him to believe she might be feeling the effects of the alcohol. “You name the place and the time, and I’ll be there.”
    After a moment’s hesitation, she straightened and stared out at the horizon. “This place really surprised me. I was expecting a lot more desertlike terrain, not all this green pastureland. The scenery is really beautiful.”
    So was she, and the fact she didn’t seem to realize that only elevated Dallas’s opinion of her. “Yeah, when the sky turns orange at sunset, it makes all the mesquite trees look good.”
    She sent him a smile. “Where are you going to put the lodge?”
    â€œOn the east side of the property. We’ve surveyed about five acres that will be dedicated to Texas Extreme.”
    â€œHow