So Tough to Tame (Jackson Hole 3)

Until that bastard stable manager had happened by.

Walker pressed a hand to his ribs and pushed. They were hardly sore at all tonight. The guy had gotten in a few good punches, but they’d only pissed Walker off. Like everything else these days.

But he couldn’t stay mad at Charlie. She hadn’t done anything wrong. She couldn’t understand, and he didn’t want her to.

He heard a faint shriek of laughter from the hallway and shook his head. Those women were crazy. And cute. And very, very bad.

He pulled on sweatpants and a T-shirt and was heading to the kitchen to wash the breakfast dishes when someone knocked on his door. Expecting more teasing, he opened it to find Charlie standing there alone.

“You left quickly,” she said.

“Oh, yeah?” he drawled. “Did you want me to stay?”

He’d said it automatically, and wasn’t expecting her quick “Yes.” The jolt of happiness caught him by surprise.

“We were going to talk, remember?” she said.

“Ah. Right. I’m sorry. I guess I’m not much in the mood for talking.”

“Me, either.”

Her steady gaze sent a prickling of awareness over his skin, and he suddenly remembered how torturous it had been to sit next to her and not touch her. “Do you want to come in?”

She smiled and swept into his apartment, the tumbling waves of her hair trailing the already familiar scent of her shampoo. His pulse went wild.

“I’m sorry about last night,” she said as she took a seat on his couch. “I really didn’t mean to upset you.”

“I’m the one who’s sorry. The job search and everything else has me stressed. But that’s all over. I accepted that winter job. It’s done. So I’m right as rain again.”

Her lips parted as if she meant to say something, but then her eyebrows drew together and she shook her head. “Okay. Sure. But will you at least think about what I said?”

“Charlie,” he moaned, sprawling onto the couch beside her. “No.”

“Why not?” She stretched out over him, her head against his shoulder and her hand on his chest.

“Because.”

“But, Walker...” Her fingers spread. “You’re so good with people.”

“Charlie.”

She kissed his neck. “And you like working with them.”

He shook his head.

“And you’re so damn big and amazing.”

“Okay, I’ll take that.”

Her mouth whispered against him. Her fingers found his nipple and circled it. “Walker—”

“Stop, Charlie. Just stop. How about we talk about you instead?”

Her fingers froze. “What about me?”

“I don’t know. I guess we could start with how naughty you are.”

“Oh.” He could feel her smile against his neck. “That.”