The Cowboy and the Angel Read Online Free Page A

deep in thought, he couldn’t help but be mesmerized by her eyes, a deep shade of emerald green he’d never seen before.
    This was exactly the kind of distraction he hadn’t wanted to deal with. By the middle of the barrel racing event, he found himself concerned about the pink tinge her skin had begun to take, her hat doing little to protect her pale skin from burning. While part of him warned him not to feel any concern for this woman bent on ruining their reputation, he refused to even consider letting her suffer. It just wasn’t in him to ignore someone in need.
    He pulled his horse to a halt behind her as she focused on the pen of bulls. “You might want to find some sunscreen.” He couldn’t help being a bit amused when she jumped and moved away from his gelding as he dismounted. “Don’t like horses, huh?”
    “You just surprised me.” She flipped her hair back from her shoulder, and he could read the lie in her eyes.
    Tiny beads of sweat clung to her upper lip. Working in a newsroom obviously hadn’t prepared her for withstanding this kind of heat in long sleeves, and he bit back his condescending smile. She pressed her fingers against her cheeks, testing the burn.
    “Ow!” She pulled her hands away from the tender skin. “I didn’t realize I was so bad.”
    “Let me guess, you don’t have sunscreen?” He arched a brow.
    “Well, I didn’t exactly plan on staying out here all day.”
    “Just a quick morning attack?” he filled in.
    “Interview,” she corrected, giving him a dirty look.
    “If that’s what you want to call it.” He motioned for her to follow him as he led the horse toward one of the trailers. “Here.” He reached inside and handed her a bottle of lotion. “Your cheeks and nose are getting the worst of it, but be sure to do the back of your hands, too.”
    She sniffed at the sunscreen and squeezed some onto her fingertips, rubbing it on her cheekbones and nose. She hissed as the cold lotion hit her cheeks. “I guess it’s worse than I realized.” She eyed him warily. “Why are you being so nice all of a sudden?”
    Derek shrugged and leaned against the trailer. “Maybe I just don’t want you to accuse me of mistreatment.” He fought the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
    Angela glared at him. “Thank you.” She tossed the bottle back at him. He quickly moved in front of the horse and caught the bottle in midair.
    “This ole boy doesn’t mind, but most horses will spook if you throw things around them,” he warned. He looped a halter around the horse’s neck and buckled it.
    He moved closer to her and was immediately assaulted by her peach-vanilla scent. How in the world could she still smell so enticing after being in this heat all day? “You really don’t know much about rodeo, do you?”
    “Do I look like I know anything about rodeo?”
    “More so than you did this morning. I do miss your other pants, though.” Derek winked and laughed when she glared at him, tucking his thumbs in the front of his chaps. “So, why take this assignment?” He wasn’t even sure why he asked. Something about her drew him in. In spite of her obvious dislike of him and his chosen career, he wanted to get to know her better, to find out what would make a woman like her brave the unknown for a news story.
    “I’m not sure.” She dipped her head, looking toward her boots before meeting his gaze. “I knew it would be a controversial topic.”
    “And you like that?” He could hear the logical voice in his head insisting he walk away from this conversation now, turn his back and get as far from her as he could. He ignored it. “Controversy?”
    “I guess. It gets ratings, and I like those.” She shrugged slightly but a hint of a smile curved the corners of her lips.
    She looked innocent, young, and fresh with the sunburn coloring her cheeks and her eyes lit up with excitement as she talked about her job. He could just make out a faint smattering of adorable