Asha King Read Online Free Page B

extended his hand, big, calloused palm reaching toward her. She looked at it for a moment, then back at him, and at last relented and accepted it. He gave her hand a firm tug and reached down with his other one grasping under her arm to drag her up. Moments later he had her settled in front of him on the big horse. With no saddle, she had nothing to grip and knotted her free hand in Bud’s mane, letting out a sudden squeak as the horse started moving.
    Adam’s arm came around her midsection, holding her firm against him as they started the awkward trek down the hill.
    And then another heat altogether overcame her that had nothing to do with the sun.
    She breathed deeply, focusing on trying to stay put on her own instead of relying on him. His free hand was around the rope-reins, urging the horse with care down the hill. Awareness prickled through her, feeling him there holding her close. It was stupid and irrational, but her body responded, electricity seemed to charge through her at the contact.
    “So.” She cleared her throat and tried to get her brain on straight by distracting herself with conversation. “I kind of lost those horses. And by ‘kind of’, I mean ‘completely.’”
    “They went to the gate,” his deep voice rumbled near her ear, sending shivers down the sensitive flesh of her neck. “Dewey’s got ’em.”
    “Okay.” Her body’s urge was to lean back into him and enjoy the strength and security of his arms; her mind, however, thought that was insane and insisted she remain rigid, even if it was less comfortable.
    “You need to loosen up.”
    She glanced back sharply and bumped his chin. His gaze was steady ahead, not bothering to meet her eyes.
    “You need to move with the horse, not against it, when you’re riding,” he advised. “It’s safer and easier.”
    Dani swallowed a lump in her throat and tried to relax, allowing herself to lean into Cooper and loosen enough that she went up and down as Bud moved. Thankfully, they didn’t have far to go; the gate was soon in sight. He urged Bud to a stop beside it and then climbed off the horse’s back first. For a moment, she clutched the horse and prayed it didn’t spot grain and decide to take off on her. When Adam offered his hand, she gladly accepted and let him help her to the ground.
    When she’d settled on her feet again, Dani brushed loose hair from her forehead and tried to straighten her back. Cooper’s hand lingered on her arm for a moment and a sudden blush rolled through her, aware she looked like something the horse dragged in—literally. “Well, um, thanks. I guess.”
    Cooper released her and grasped Bud’s halter to lead him. “You should probably stay for the lesson.” He cut her a critical look. “Saddle up Bud and learn what the hell you’re doing.”
    Whatever confused, girlish feelings that had briefly flared up died as her temper fumed. “I don’t want to ride, especially not with you ordering me around.”
    “Fine. You want to increase the risk of injury by not learning, be my guest, princess. And next time, I’ll happily leave you out in the field if it’s that much trouble.” He led Bud through the gate and into the paddock.
    Dani’s nails dug into the hat in her hands. She thought long and hard about trying to tear up the stupid thing but she’d just look like an idiot, so she stormed off in the other direction, climbing between the gaps in the fencing to get out. She crossed the paddock, still pissed off, and ducked through another fence to head for the house.
    I need a shower. And I need to make a Cooper Voodoo Doll. If I can pop online and find the guest post from that voodoo mamba, I can probably remember how to put one together. And then I’ll throw the doll down a hill into a pile of manure and see how he likes it.
    And maybe I should’ve thanked him for the ride back down.
    Yeah, that would’ve been a good idea—sometimes she didn’t think all that clearly and forgot her manners. Her