Saddled and Spurred (Blacktop Cowboys 2)

“Yes, it was.”

If Bran was shocked that she hadn’t gone all soft and let him off the hook, he didn’t show it.

“I’ll . . . ah, just get you that aspirin. And a pillow.” He hustled down the hallway.

She didn’t want to crash on Bran’s couch. She preferred to go home. But her head was pounding and chances were high that Bran would argue with her, which would make her head hurt worse.

He returned with a bottle of aspirin and brought her a glass of water. “Here.”

After she downed the pills, she reluctantly stretched out, tucking the pillow beneath her cheek.

Bran covered her with a blanket.

That was sort of sweet. Until she remembered he’d called her a heifer.

“Need anything else?”

“Just for you to wake me up in two hours because I have to work at Get Nailed.”

“Can’t you call in sick?”

“No. I promised Bernice this job with you wouldn’t interfere with my job there. I’m the only nail tech she’s got.”

“Then I promise I’ll wake you. I’ll be back in my office doin’ bookwork. Just holler if you need anything.”

But Bran made no move to leave. They stared at one another.

He said, “What?”

“Do you really think I’m a heifer? Meaning I’m fat, uncoordinated, and stubborn?”

Horror filled his eyes. “No. God, no. That’s what you think?”

She nodded.

“Of course you do, because that’s what I said. Jesus. I’m a f**kin’ idiot.” He stepped forward and crouched down close to her. Very close to her. “You’re about as far from fat . . .” Bran’s gaze swept over her blanket-covered form, as if he were imagining her naked beneath it. “You’re so goddamn flawlessly built with all these curves, I can’t believe you’d think I’d ever see you as anything less than perfect.”

“Oh.”

“As far as uncoordinated, you were doin’ just fine on the ATV until your hare-raising experience.”

She fought a smile.

“So next time you see a bunny? Run the damn thing over, okay?”

Harper blinked at him. Faced with the same situation again, she would do the exact same thing.

Bran bestowed that heart-stopping smile on her. “You are stubborn, I’ll give you that much.” His smile faded. “Harper. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Besides the headache?”

“Yeah. I mean, if this is too much for you, I’d understand . . .”

“You’d understand if I . . . what? Wanna quit?”

His stormy gray eyes stared back at her, but his mouth stayed shut.

“Because I had one little spill?” Harper rolled her eyes. “Please. I understand working as a ranch hand can be dangerous, but so can any other job.”

He didn’t look convinced. “Oh, really?”

“Absolutely. For instance? When I was a waitress, the dishwasher spilled soap all over the floor and I crashed into the wall and nearly broke my arm. And when I was cleaning motel rooms, the vacuum I used had a short in the cord and I almost electrocuted myself. Not to mention all the times my butt got pinched when I was slinging drinks at the sports bar. Or worse, if a guy ‘accidentally’ stuck his face in my boobs. That was far worse than taking a tumble off a slow-moving ATV, trust me.”

A dark expression crossed his face. “I hope you got sore knuckles from clocking those motherfuckers who pinched you. You shouldn’t have had to put up with that shit—”

“My point is, any type of work can be risky, Bran. No biggie. I’ll be fine, okay?” Harper squeezed his upper arm. Whoa. Talk about big biceps. She should move her hand, but somehow . . . she didn’t.

“Okay. But I’ll be watching you a lot closer. Guaranteed.”

Why did the thought of Bran watching her closely send a delicious shiver through her from head to toe?

Probably because you’re cold.

In a move that was hot, seductive, and unexpected, Bran ran the back of his rough-skinned knuckles down her cheek. “Sweet dreams, sweetheart.”

She closed her eyes, wishing he’d continue that gentle stroking motion until she fell asleep. But his touch disappeared and his footsteps faded down the hallway.

Her dream was anything but sweet.

A bucolic scene unfolded, golden rays of sun shining on lush green grass. A floral-scented breeze stirred her hair, blowing the loose strands across her face. She looked down and saw boots on her feet, dark denim covering her legs, and her glove-clad hands wrapped around the top rung of a metal corral.

A man-size shadow fell across her and she shivered, but not with fear. Warm lips landed on the side of her neck, tasting the skin up to her ear. His breath teased the sensitive area until she arched closer for more.

“That’s my girl,” he murmured in a deep, husky tone.

When she turned her head for a kiss, he denied her. He held her chin in his fingers, forcing her to face forward. “Watch,” he whispered gruffly.

A big black bull entered her peripheral vision, his c**k distended, his balls swaying with every lumbering step. Two cows stood side by side. Waiting. Their breath coming hard and fast. The cow on the left cranked her head, and made a bellowing moo before trotting off. The cow on the right just stayed in place. Waiting.

“See how she lifts her tail? Letting him know she’s ready?”

Harper nodded and Bran’s fingers slowly traced the curve of her neck to where her heart pulsed in her throat.