Her Bucking Bronc Read Online Free

physically too. Some days she didn’t shower or eat much.
    Hannah was smart enough to recognize a downward spiral toward depression. After the bottom dropped out of her world when the love of her life died, she nearly lost herself completely. It was only the love and support of her family that saved her. She wouldn’t waste that by falling victim to it again. Losing her heart was far more devastating than losing a building.
    She would survive and she would rebuild. Cindy’s would be her phoenix, rising from the ashes to triumph. And if Dylan Bennett got in her way, she’d knock him on his perfectly shaped ass.
    He put the truck into park and glanced at her. “You plan on dogging me on this whole thing, right?”
    “Yup.” She sat up straighter and picked up her purse from the seat. “Like a cocklebur on a dog’s ass.”
    “Don’t slow me down, don’t countermand me, and don’t get in my way,” he warned as he stepped out of the truck.
    She snorted to herself as she opened the door. “Good thing I don’t listen to bossy men.”
    “Good thing I don’t care what bossy women think of me.” He appeared beside her, holding the folder and looking like a walking sin.
    She stuck her nose in the air and walked past him, but not before snatching the folder. He mumbled and cursed under his breath. For the first time in a very long time, Hannah felt alive, and that was scary and exciting. She’d be fighting with this man every day.
    This was going to be an interesting four months.
    * * * * *
    Dylan pulled into the jobsite a week later, pleased to see the demolition completed. The dust and soot forced the workers to wear masks as they took down the remaining wall and removed all the ash.
    He’d gone to the hotel each night with a black circle around his face and a white nose and mouth. He was looking forward to working on such a clean slate. The anticipation of building something from nothing was a thrill that would never get old.
    As he hopped out of his truck, he spotted the tailless cat. The damn thing was ugly as all hell, with half an ear, a scar on his left shoulder and a stub of a tail. It had wandered around behind him for days. He’d ignored it at first, but then he found himself talking to it, much to his annoyance.
    “Why are you still here?” he grumbled as he sipped at his coffee.
    The cat blinked and began cleaning his paw.
    “Do you have a new pet?” Hannah’s voice, not heard for the last seven days, echoed in the crisp morning air.
    Hell and damnation. Since she hadn’t shown up at the site, he wondered if she’d changed her mind about being involved with the rebuilding of the restaurant. Apparently not.
    “Where have you been?” tumbled from his mouth. He resisted the urge to slap his forehead in frustration. He definitely had not missed her.
    “Working with Lucas on the changes to the plans. The demolition isn’t the interesting part. Besides, I wanted you to wonder where I was.” She tapped his shoulder with what he assumed was the rolled-up blueprints. “I’ve also been ordering the new equipment to make sure it arrives on time for the opening.”
    Dylan took a big gulp of coffee and successfully scalded the hell out of his mouth. Hannah was going to turn him into an idiot.
    “We haven’t sunk one footing or hammered one nail.” He turned to glare at her. “We don’t have an opening date to plan for.”
    Hannah had her hair back in a ponytail, her eyes bright in the sunlight streaming from the east. She looked pretty. Damn pretty.
    And he didn’t want to notice.
    “Oh yes we do, and I like to plan. I have a to-do list a mile long. November 1st is opening day.” She handed him the rolled-up plans and walked toward the cleared site. He pressed his scalded tongue against the back of his teeth. The last thing she needed was encouragement to get started on her mile-long list.
    “I didn’t agree to November first. Anything could delay that date. We should plan the opening at least