The Cowgirl's Chosen Love - Vivian Arend Page 0,50

home to. No denying that.

Saturday morning, though, when she stumbled back to the cabin after a heavier number of callouts than usual, she discovered Zach waiting for her.

“Hey. You headed out?” She barely covered her mouth before blasting a yawn in his face.

He chuckled. “Nope. Day off.”

“Me too. After I sleep. Shower. Shower first.” She sniffed then groaned. “Don’t come near. Mr. Heller decided to walk off the edge of his hayloft.”

“Sounds exciting. And dangerous.”

“Luckily, he landed in the manure pile he’s been building right outside the barn.” Zach had taken her coat off and…her shoes? “Unfortunately, he landed in the manure pile. Not the nicest place to sit with a broken leg.”

“It’ll make a great story,” Zach assured her.

They were standing in the bathroom. When had that happened? “Shower.”

She tugged off her shirt, focused on getting clean enough to collapse onto her bed.

A soft groan echoed in the space, but the water was pouring down, calling her name. She shoved off her pants and undies, ditched her bra, and eased under the heavenly downpour.

Julia woke six hours later with no memory of leaving the shower, just the dire need to pee like a racehorse and her stomach growling as if she’d fasted for days instead of hours.

She finished her business as soon as possible then made a beeline for food.

Inside the fridge was a covered plate and a note.

I made lasagna last night. Saved you a piece. Remember we're at Rough Cut tonight for our wedding party. Should be a blast.

Julia had the lasagna in the microwave in three seconds flat, the scent as it warmed making her drool.

The party tonight was going to be something, although blast wasn’t necessarily her choice of words. Still, it was another nail in the rumour coffin, and it wasn’t going to hurt to enjoy some dancing and time with her sisters.

A valid excuse to be in Zach’s arms won’t suck, either. The damn devil on her shoulder got the words out before vanishing.

Yeah. There were far too many good reasons to stick with the status quo, but the temptation to open that side door continued to grow. Julia dug into the food with a determined focus, because at least while she was eating, she wouldn’t be planning big mistakes.

The rest of the hours stretching forward would be enough trouble to manage.

12

Zach pulled into an open space outside Rough Cut and turned to Julia with a smile. “It’s party time. Ready?”

She glared momentarily. “You don’t have to sound so happy.”

“What?” he demanded, slightly confused. “We're going to dance and have a few drinks and raise a little for the food bank. Plenty to be happy about.”

Her nose wrinkled. “I guess. Only, no tequila, agreed?”

Zach solemnly drew an X over his heart.

Julia’s concerned expression wavered. “You’re impossible,” she complained. “I’m trying to be borderline serious before we head in there, and you’re still all fluff and nonsense.”

He shrugged. “No use in pretending this is more than it is. People are probably hoping we tie one on too hard again and give up some juicy details. I figure the best response to that is to smile lots and baffle them with bullshit.”

After the damn yoga session that had sent him into cold-shower mode, and the innocent striptease Julia had given him that morning, Zach had been one step away from simply reaching for what he wanted.

Yet the absolute trust she’d shown while ninety percent out of it wasn’t a gift he could bear to throw away.

He’d given the question every bit of his waking hours, deliberating until coming to the conclusion there was only one way to win her over.

Make her ask for more.

This had to be all about her choices. While he could roll in and make demands as boldly as the next guy, she needed a delicate touch.

Which meant he’d say yes to absolutely everything she wanted from him. He’d back off and give her all the room she claimed to need. Instead of pushing, he’d do yoga, and take her on trail rides, and whatever else she requested, because spending time together would allow him to put part two of his plan in place.

The chemistry between them was combustible. Given enough time, the banked heat would flare, and she’d demand he—

“Kiss me.”

Zach blinked, turning to Julia. Was his subconscious talking out loud now?

“Too slow,” she complained. She crawled into his lap, curled a hand around his neck, and brought their lips together.

His brain was still catching up, but instinct kicked in. Zach