McLeod, Anitra Lynn - Dirty Cowboy (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) Read Online Free Page B

bulge in the front.
    “Damn. They never looked that good on me.” He admired the way the fabric molded to his muscular legs, then sighed. “Naked or clothed, you seem to be mighty distracting.”
    “I can cook.”
    “Yeah?” Everett hooked his finger into the waistband and pulled Dalton close. “What do you know how to cook?”
    “Stew.” Dalton wrapped his arms around his shoulders. “I’ll take care of supper while you clean up.”
    “I thought you liked me this way.”
    “There is nothing I like more than a dirty cowboy, but I know it bothers you. Now go.” Releasing him, Dalton gave him a little push toward the spring.
    “Dirty cowboy? You were the one laying in the dirt.” As soon as the words left his mouth, Everett wanted to slap himself upside the head.
    Despair turned right around and ate up all the hope in Dalton’s eyes.
    “Aw, damn. I didn’t mean—” Knowing that whatever he said would probably only make matters worse, Everett shut his mouth, cupped the back of Dalton’s head, and kissed him. Not hard, not demanding, but very soft, like an apology without words.
    Everett knew it was the right thing to do when Dalton relaxed against him. Still, Everett was afraid to leave him in such a tender state.
    “I’m not going anywhere.” Dalton locked his gaze on Everett’s. “Go wash up. I’ll be here when you get back.”
    Reluctantly, Everett left Dalton and moved toward the spring. He couldn’t stop himself from looking back. Each time he did, Dalton waved. When he reached the spring, he looked back one more time. Pure panic surged when he didn’t see Dalton anywhere.

Chapter Five

    As if the fires of hell were lapping at his heels, Everett ran back to the clearing. On the verge of screaming more pathetically than that broken-legged cow had earlier, he clamped his lips shut when Dalton came around from the edge of the wagon with two pans and a good hunk of beef in his hands.
    “You forget something?” Dalton asked.
    Standing there dumbstruck with relief, but loath to give away the depth of his feelings, Everett nodded. Calm and cool, he climbed up into the wagon and rummaged until he found some soap. He rubbed his face, felt about a mile of stubble, but he wasn’t about to shave in the dark and slit his throat.
    While telling himself that Dalton wasn’t about to run off, especially not when he didn’t have any boots, Everett returned to the spring. Stripping down, he climbed into the water, which was surprisingly warm.
    After cleaning his body, he pulled his filthy clothes into the water and gave them as good a scrubbing as he could. Maybe it was a blessing that it was dark. He really didn’t want to see how much filth came out of his clothes after all this time on the prairie. Since he wasn’t going anywhere for awhile, he decided to give his boots a cleaning, too.
    “Everett?”
    His heart gave a funny little jump when he heard Dalton’s voice. “Yeah?”
    “I need some water.”
    “Well, come on over. I’ve got plenty.”
    Dalton slipped through the screen of trees. “I didn’t want to sneak up on you again.”
    “I appreciate that.” A sliver of moon slipped out between the clouds. Silver light caused the clearing to glow and gleamed against the blond strands in Dalton’s hair. If he were a more fanciful man, Everett might think Dalton was some kind of mythical creature, what with his stunning looks and odd way. Whatever he’d done to earn time with him, Everett was grateful.
    “Do you want me to help you scrub up?”
    Everett considered. “Naw. I’m appreciative of the offer, but if you get in here with me, I have a feeling we won’t have supper until tomorrow morning.”
    “That would make it breakfast.”
    “Yep.”
    Dalton stood there for a while, watching Everett with his head tilted to the side. “You look different wet.”
    “No doubt!” Everett laughed. “Now that I’m no longer a dirty cowboy, you still gonna want to bunk down with me?”
    “Do