Claimed by the Cowboy (Sons of Chance #3) - Vicki Lewis Thompson Page 0,16

his lean hips were tucked into a worn pair of jeans that she knew from experience would be soft as a baby’s blanket from being washed so often.

Jack made quite the picture standing beside his large black and white Paint, but she needed to stop ogling him and get this show on the road. A couple of pickups were parked beside the barn, so she drove her Bronco down there and pulled in next to them.

She’d dressed with care for this riding lesson. Fortunately she had all the right clothes. Despite knowing nothing about riding, she’d wanted to fit in with the cowboy culture and had bought boots, jeans, western shirts, and even a hat that lay brim-side up on the seat beside her.

Early on she’d learned that cowboys — and cowgirls — cherished their hats and were particular about how they were treated. No self-respecting cowboy would leave his hat for long brim-side down. A good hat belonged on a rack or brim-side up, to protect the shape the owner had given it.

Picking up her gray Stetson, she left her keys in the ignition and climbed out of the Bronco. She settled her hat on her head as she walked over toward Jack. Jack the horseman. Amazing though it seemed now, she’d never seen him ride.

Picturing him mounted on that black and white Paint, his snug jeans defining all his attributes as his thighs gripped the saddle, Josie grew faint with desire. In that moment she realized that Jack would have to be the gatekeeper when it came to forgoing any sex between them. Faced with his manly self in full cowboy mode, she simply wouldn’t have the willpower.

His dark gaze gave nothing away as he glanced at her. “You’re right on time.” He gave no indication that he’d noticed she had on her sexiest jeans and a fitted shirt.

She’d chosen the outfit carefully, because whether he made a move or not, she hoped he’d want to. If he wanted to and exercised great restraint, that was kind of an exciting prospect. She liked being forbidden fruit.

“I told you I’d be here.” She sounded much crustier than she felt. Inside she was one gooey marshmallow of unsatisfied needs.

“Okay, then.” He pulled the brim of his black hat down over his eyes. “We can start in the corral if you want, but Destiny’s a very calm gelding, so I think you’ll be fine if we go out on the trail.”

She managed to tear her gaze away from Jack long enough to look at the horse he’d chosen for her — a tall brown and white Paint with a white blaze down his nose. “So his name’s Destiny?”

“I chose him for his disposition, not his name. He’s twenty-two, and both Gabe and Nick learned to ride on him. He’s as close to a pet as any horse on the ranch.”

“Who named him Destiny?”

“I did, but don’t hold that against me. I was ten and into dramatic names.”

“Okay.” She should know better than to assign sentimental motives to a guy like Jack. “What’s your horse’s name?” She couldn’t believe she didn’t know after all the time she’d spent with him.

“Bandit.”

At the sound of his name, the horse turned his head and displayed the reason for his name. The pattern of black and white on his face made him look as if he wore a mask.

“I see,” Josie said. “What a perfect horse for a gunslinger. Thanks for wearing my favorite black shirt, by the way.”

“It happened to be clean.”

She didn’t believe that for a minute. “I’m sure that’s true, Jack. Heaven forbid you’d wear a certain shirt because you know I like it.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” But there was a definite smile in his voice. “Okay, what do you say we get this party started?”

“Fine with me.” She gazed up at the saddle that seemed fairly high above the ground. “How do I get on?”

“From the left. Put your left foot in the stirrup, grab the saddle horn, and swing your right leg over.”

Josie did as she was told and found herself astride a horse for the first time in her life. She was reminded of her first time on a chair lift at a ski resort — beginning something new was both scary and exhilarating.

“Take your feet out of the stirrups for a minute. They’re a couple of inches too long.”

Holding tight to the leather saddle horn, she glanced down at Jack as she slipped her feet out of the stirrups.