who behaves like a large child. You can’t have what you want, so you keep acting out until you get it. I also find your actions to be inconsistent with the behavior of a gentleman…not that you ever claimed to be much of one,” I said, using his words against him.
Cowboy blinked and the smile fell from his face. “No, no. Don’t hold back or anything.”
I shrugged. “You asked.”
“Well, at least admit that you enjoyed the kiss.”
It was true that I’d found the lip-locking frustratingly hot and…well, if I were being honest, downright exciting. But I shook my head in denial. “Doesn’t matter. It won’t happen again.”
Cowboy flicked a glance down my white dress and back up to the denim jacket I’d borrowed from Bobbie Jo. Then he grinned, as if he could tell my nipples were straining against the thin cotton beneath the denim. “Yeah, that’s what you thought last week, too.”
Chapter Ten
“Jake, don’t be stupid! Let Cowboy break the dumb horse before you injure yourself,” Emily yelled with frustration.
“Sweetheart, I’m not going to get hurt,” he replied calmly.
Emily rolled her eyes and kissed the tiny baby girl in her arms on the forehead. “Say bye-bye to Daddy, Lily,” Emily said sweetly. “Because after that horse kicks him in the head, Mommy’s going to kill him.” She took Lily’s small hand and waved at Jake with it.
I chuckled at the stern look Jake gave her as he walked out into the pasture where Cowboy stood, holding onto the white palomino colt’s halter. “I’m sure he’ll be fine,” I said, hoping to put her at ease. “Jake’s never been one to take uncalculated risks casually.”
But Emily chewed on her bottom lip with worry, and I had to force myself to keep from doing the same. Even for a colt, the handsome horse was tall, had a stocky build, and looked as fully mature as the stallion I could see grazing in the back pasture. It didn’t help that I’d heard stories from Bobbie Jo about just how wild and unruly this animal could be. According to her, there wasn’t a stall or gate in the barn that he hadn’t already destroyed, earning him the name Ruckus.
Hank left the sidelines and approached Jake as he reached Cowboy and the colt. “You sure you want to do this, son?” Hank grinned wide. “A smart man doesn’t step in the same pile of shit twice.”
“Have to earn back my money somehow, right?” Jake held up a fifty dollar bill.
His uncle wasted no time in snatching the money from his hand, but sighed warily. “And here I pegged you smarter than this.”
Jake grinned at the challenge. “We’ll see, old man. You just be sure to cough up my dough, and yours, when I win this bet.”
Hank shook his head as he returned to his seat in the green plastic chair. “I’ve told that boy a hundred times,” he muttered as he sat down, “the fastest way to double your money is to fold it and shove it back in your wallet. He just don’t listen.” Then he grinned smugly. “The dipshit.”
I grinned, mostly because I agreed with him, but didn’t say anything. That Hank was a smart man.
“Okay,” Cowboy said, addressing all the boys. “The rules are simple. One shot, no redos.”
Jake didn’t waste any time. He stepped into the stirrup and swung his leg over, mounting the horse. The animal tossed his head and side-stepped a little, but Cowboy held tight to his halter until Jake readied himself in the saddle. At his nod, Cowboy let go and stepped out of the way while Jake braced himself.
But the horse just stood there.
“Give him a little kick,” Hank said, grinning.
Jake did, but the colt still didn’t move. “What the hell’s wrong with this dumbass horse? Why’s he just standing here?”
“Must be those superb handling skills you claim to have.” Cowboy gave him a teasing grin. “Almost makes me wonder why you have so many problems controlling your woman.”
“Controlling his woman?” Emily passed Lily carefully to Floss and headed for the pasture. “Is that what you’ve been telling them, Jake? That you’re trying to control me?”
Jake glared at Cowboy. “Of course I didn’t say that. You misunderstood what he meant.”
Emily stopped a few yards away from the fence and crossed her arms. “Is that what you were ‘kidding around with the guys’ about in the barn? Because if so, I don’t think it’s very funny!”
“Damn it, Emily, stop yelling before you spook the—”
Suddenly Ruckus came