Marriage at the Cowboy's Command Read Online Free Page A

heat, excitement blazed through her. She ached with needs she’d never felt for any other man, not even her husband.
    She knew what she was doing was wrong. Luke had hurt her, rejected her, hurt Daniel without even knowing Daniel existed. She hated him for all the lost years since he’d left.
    And yet there were other emotions alongside the hate. Kissing him now was like coming home after living for too many years with strangers. She couldn’t get enough. She wanted him to tear off her jeans, throw her over his shoulder and carry her into the barn. She wanted to open her legs and lie down in the hay with him again.
    She wanted too much. She always had.
    For another long second she was alone in the universe with him. Then Ramblin’ Man exploded in the trailer and Lisa yelled.
    As if he suddenly realized where he was and what he was doing, Luke’s hands fell away. He jumped free of her with an abruptness that startled her.
    Distantly, she heard Lisa soothing Ramblin’ Man in the round pen.
    Luke’s eyes hardened, and he cursed low under his breath.
    In a bewildered daze, she stared at him. More than anything, she had wanted to stay in his arms, to cling to his strength, to enjoy feeling like a woman for the first time in years.
    But that was impossible now.
    â€œTake your hands off me! Let me go!” Caitlyn whispered needlessly. The humiliating truth was that Luke had already moved away and was no longer touching her.
    He was silent for what seemed an eternity.
    What was he thinking? Did he have demons she knew nothing about?
    â€œYou kiss like a woman who hasn’t had any in six years,” he growled, glaring at her.
    She stared down at the scuffed toe of her roper boots. As always, he was uncannily perceptive. The last thing she wanted him to suspect was how she’d longed for him all through the lonely years of her marriage.
    â€œIf you want it that bad, we’d better go inside,” he said. “Or do you still prefer the loft? Frankly, it doesn’t matter to me. All I want is to get you out of my system—permanently.”
    Feeling ashamed of her reaction to him, she lashed out at him, too. “Ditto! I don’t want you touching me again—ever! I want you gone! That’s what I want.”
    â€œYou didn’t kiss me like a woman who wants me gone, sweetheart.”
    â€œI don’t know what came over me, but believe me, I want you gone.”
    â€œWell, while I figure out your finances and Hassan’s motives, I’ll figure out our chemistry, as well.”
    â€œNo! You’re going to forget that stupid kiss and go—now.”
    â€œAnd if I go, how will you solve your money problems?”
    â€œI’m too upset to think about that.”
    â€œWell, you’d better think about it.”
    â€œI can’t work with you.”
    â€œYou’d better adjust your attitude, because you don’t have a choice.”
    Looking every bit as upset as she felt, he shoved a lock of thick black hair back from his brow. “Tell you what. I’ll leave…for tonight, so you can adjust to the idea of me being around. But I’ll be gone for one night only. Then I’m moving in until we get this mystery solved and your mess figured out. You’re fifty miles from town, and, after tonight, I don’t want to waste time commuting. You’ll need to make up a spare bedroom for me.”
    â€œThe hell you say! Do you think I would let you move into my house after what just happened? I don’t want you in this state!”
    â€œDo you really want me to tell Hassan you won’t work with me?”
    Of course not. And Luke knew it.
    â€œBecause I will,” he said. “If I tell him to pull the plug on you, he’ll do it.”
    She shook her head, not wanting to believe that.
    â€œThe ranch and your horse operation will be history. I could convince him to sell everything at auction. You know what that