What a Man Needs Read Online Free

“Cyndi. I’m so glad you could make it.”
    â€œI’m sure my sister told you that I don’t do very well around horses.”
    â€œI’m sorry to hear that, but I’m happy that you’re going to give riding another chance,” Nora offered. “Welcome to the Tanner Ranch.”
    Cynthia heard a horse’s high-pitched whinny. “I’m not sure this is going to work.”
    â€œBut you’re here to try,” Nora said.
    Cynthia nodded reluctantly.
    â€œGood, you won’t be sorry. My brother is the best with horses, and the best teacher. Let’s go find him.” She headed toward the barn.
    Cynthia reluctantly followed her. How could she have let herself be talked into this? Nora went on ahead and talked to a man with dark brown hair and hazel eyes who looked to be in his late thirties. Just their flirtatious demeanor told her they weren’t brother and sister.
    â€œThis is Forest. He’s the foreman here. Forest, this is Kelly and Cyndi.”
    The cowboy raised his fingers to his hat in a salute. “It’s nice to meet you, ladies.”
    Cyndi managed a hello, but was watching the horse in the corral. The shiny coal-black stallion wasn’t docile like the horses she’d seen in the pasture. This animal was prancing around, bobbing his head up and down, whinnying. She couldn’t take her eyes off the magnificent animal.
    Forest noticed her interest. “You’ll have to excuse Black Knight, he’s a little…stirred up.” Just then a high-pitched whinny came from the barn. “He’s going to stand in stud today.”
    Cyndi didn’t have to live on a ranch to know what that meant. “How nice for him.”
    Just then a man’s loud voice came from inside the barn. Nora said, “Don’t let Patrick’s bark scare you off. He’s a real sweetheart. C’mon.” Nora went inside.
    Patrick? Cynthia froze. No. It couldn’t be the same man, she told herself.
    Kelly nudged her down the cement aisle lined on either side with horse stalls, some empty, some with horses inside that came forward to welcome them. Cynthia could smell a sweet mixture of hay and horses in the immaculate barn.
    At the far end a tall man stood with his back to them. Even before he turned around, Cynthia knew who he was. Oh, God. This had to be a bad dream. She quickly took in his blond hair partially covered by a white cowboy hat. It was the same face, the same chiseled jaw that she’d stroked so many times last night, and the same mouth thathad done so many incredible things to her during their lovemaking. Finally she raised her gaze and looked into those blue, blue eyes.
    Cynthia fought for a breath. She needed her best acting performance to get through this meeting.
    Nora’s voice broke through Cynthia’s reverie. “Kelly, Cyndi, I’d like you to meet my brother, Patrick. Patrick, this is my boss, Kelly Reynolds, and her sister, the actress Cynthia Reynolds.”
    â€œOh, my God,” Kelly said. “You were at Morgan’s last night. You were with—” She gave Cynthia a confused look, then quickly masked it as she turned back to Patrick.
    Patrick nodded, fighting to act nonchalant. But too many emotions were churning through him, the most prevalent being anger. So his Cyndi was Cynthia Reynolds. And last night the famous actress had been looking for some entertainment. He’d just been a diversion to her.
    â€œYeah, I was at the pub. I was supposed to meet Nora, but it seemed she had a flat tire.” He glanced at his sister. “If you want to show your friends around the ranch, it’s not a problem, but I’m breeding the Keefers’ mare this morning.” He shot a hard look at Cynthia as he rubbed the mare’s nose.
    â€œShe’s beautiful,” Cyndi said. “What’s her name?”
    Patrick had trouble listening to her soft, husky voice.