So Not a Cowgirl Read Online Free Page A

for you than that pot of cut up cow.” She shuddered just at the thought.
    He glared at his sister, who glared right back. “This is a ranch, for God’s sake. We raise cattle here. We eat beef here.”
    “ You didn’t hire Tanya to cook, Bro.” Mandy ladled some stew into her bowl and passed the ladle to Drew.
    Clearly annoyed he couldn’t argue with that comment, he nodded toward Tanya. His glance settled on her spiked red-and-white polka dot sandals with wrap-up ankle straps. “Did you see her shoes? What kind of footwear is that to wear on a ranch? Walk around on gravel?”
    Offended at his attack on a pair of her newest and cutest heels, Tanya raised her leg up so he could have an even closer look. She watched his nostrils flare at his couldn’t-help-himself male interest, and then she slowly wiggled her foot at him.
    “ I always wear high heels. They make my legs look good, and they make me feel good. What I wear has nothing to do with my work skills. So get over it.” She wiggled her foot one last time for good measure before lowering her leg.
    He bristled, although he seemed to have trouble pulling his gaze from her leg.
    “ I made apple pie for dessert,” Mandy inserted, drawing Drew’s attention again.
    He went back to glowering at his sister. The air between them sizzled with tension and Tanya felt as if she were intruding on something personal. So she slipped from her chair, snagged a second rice cake, and announced, “I’m going to put up the curtains we bought. See you later, Mandy.”
    She stopped in the middle of the room to add, “Wait until you see the shoes I planned to wear tomorrow.” Then she pranced toward the doorway, purposely adding sway to her walk because she knew Drew was watching her.
    As soon as she was around the corner into the hallway, she heard him practically growl, “Mandy…” Not wanting to hear their argument—which would probably be about her—she speed-walked out of the house.
    To her disgust, she nearly twisted her ankle halfway across the ranch yard. Thankfully she didn’t break the heel off her new shoes. Sore ankle or not, she vowed to never let the gruff cowboy know that he just might be right about her choice of footwear.
    The sky had already darkened for the night and Tanya had put up not only the new living room curtains but also the ones in the main bedroom by the time she heard Mandy open the front door. She’d had a long talk with her brother, something that kind of concerned Tanya. She really didn’t want to be a problem between them.
    Mandy looked flushed when Tanya spotted her, pissed off, too. She warily asked, “So, am I fired already?”
    “ You most certainly are not! He’s even promised to bite his tongue about the whole vegetarian thing.” Mandy hesitated before adding, “He’s still annoyed with the footwear matter. But that’s his problem, not yours.”
    Mandy headed for the kitchen and snagged a bottle of beer from the apartment-sized refrigerator. “Worked up a thirst. Do you want one too?”
    Tanya nodded and when they had both taken their first swig, she went to curl up on the corner of the thick, really comfortable sofa. She watched Mandy ease down into the matching over-sized chair by the stone fireplace. “Are you all right?”
    With a sigh, Mandy bobbed her head. “He can be such a pain in the ass sometimes.” She met Tanya’s gaze with a telling look. “Well, on my ass sometimes.”
    Taking a long drink, Tanya mulled over the admission. One time a couple of years back Mandy had casually mentioned during another of their girl-talk/drinking sessions that her older brother occasionally spanked her. They’d never really discussed it after that. But Tanya couldn’t help but be curious now, especially now that she would be working here at the ranch.
    Trying to sound casual, she asked, “He spanked you?”
    Mandy wiggled a bit and pursed her lips in annoyance before answering, “Yes, the wretch did.”
    “ I’m