Borrowed Cowboy (Shadow Maverick Ranch) Read Online Free Page A

laugh, her sassy mouth, and the way she chewed her nails when she was nervous.
    All of which spelled trouble for his confirmed bachelorhood.
    Old feelings threatened to resurface. He shoved the rising emotion back, sent it deep where it belonged. He didn’t need that shit anywhere near the surface if they ended up naked, and the way her gaze roamed his body said the odds of that happening were pretty damn good.
    Reese took a long pull from her beer before she answered. “Years don’t change who a man is, you know, deep in his soul. And don’t you dare laugh at me because I said that.”
    His soul might not have changed, but he couldn’t say how well the rest of him had fared. “I’m not the same guy you knew.”
    She shook her head, undaunted. “And I’m not the same girl. I didn’t say the years don’t leave scars, Paxton. I’m only suggesting—”
    He held up a hand to stay her. Hadn’t he had the same thought?
    “No need to get all excited.” He finished off his beer and went to get a couple more. “You’re right. While Gavin went off and became a desk jockey, leaving wasn’t an option for me. Working this ranch is all I’ve ever wanted to do. I did finish college, though. Degree in animal science.”
    She finished off her beer as he set another in front of her and resumed his seat.
    Pax couldn’t help himself. She was so goddamned pretty. He had to touch her. He caressed his fingers down her arm and took her hand, turned it palm up, let the warmth of her skin seep into his. He brushed his thumb across her skin and almost groaned at her softness.
    “What are you doing?” Her voice was quiet, breathless.
    “Not sure.” Blood rushed to his cock at a speed that left him a little woozy.
    “Hey, Pax, Jared and I…” Jade came into the kitchen and stopped in her tracks. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know we had company.”
    Reese jerked her hand out of his grasp.
    Pax bit back annoyance at the interruption when he realized Reese had never met the younger twins. They’d only been six or seven the last time he’d seen Reese, and since she and Pax hadn’t hung out at each other’s houses, she wouldn’t have had the opportunity.
    “Jade, this is Reese Jameson. She’s the woman planning Gavin and Lauren’s wedding. Reese, this is my sister, Jade.”
    Reese’s smile disappeared.
    What had she expected him to say? That she was a friend? Jury was still out on that distinction. Lover? If he had anything to say about it, but not something his baby sister needed to know. So, wedding planner it was.
    “Hi, Jade. It’s nice to meet you.”
    Jade moved forward and shook Reese’s hand. “Nice to meet you too.” She turned to him. “Jared and I are heading to a baseball game, okay?”
    He nodded. “Then what?”
    She let out a dramatic sigh. “I don’t know. Hanging out.”
    “That’s specific,” he said dryly.
    “I can’t give you details I don’t have. Who knows what we’ll end up doin’?”
    “It’d be nice if I knew. Regardless, no later than midnight,” he reminded.
    “But it’s Friday night!”
    Here we go.
    Mentally cracking his knuckles, Pax folded his arms, assuming the position of authority. “You wanna do this, now?”
    Jade shot an embarrassed glance toward Reese before continuing, “We’re almost eighteen. We don’t need this much active parenting,” Jade answered with a bit more huff than Pax appreciated.
    “You’re barely seventeen,” he corrected. “And I don’t care if it’s Christmas. Curfew is curfew. Period.”
    “One o’clock,” Jade countered.
    Reese snickered and tried to cover it up by drinking her beer.
    Pax fought to keep his expression stern. He’d played the curfew haggle a time or two. Strange, being on the other side of it.
    “Only if y’all don’t plan to go anywhere for the next two weeks.” And he wouldn’t lose a wink of sleep over grounding them.
    Jade’s hands landed on her hips so hard, he’d be willing to bet she’d have