Riding Her Rancher Boss Page 8

  It seemed as if his words echoed the choice Jared had made to stay for him. The distress in Derek’s eyes was obvious, and sadness overcame her for the distance between them. She couldn’t see herself letting anything stand between her family for long. Even after Sharon’s run in with the law, none of them held grudges.

  “Is Jared more welcoming about the renovations?”

  “Well, I’d say he is. But I don’t know what he plans to do once we open.”

  His admission made her wonder what held Jared back. He loved the ranch, whether he was aware of it or not. What happened to cause his reluctance?

  She gave Derek a smile before joining the ranchers for breakfast. Glancing back, she saw his father shuffle down the hallway. She hoped he’d be able to patch things up with Jared before it was too late. Her sudden concern made her smile fade.

  She cared for them. And within days, she’d be out of their lives.

  Moving into a gallop sent fears surging through Cassie’s mind yet easing it was as simple as focusing on the cowboys riding with her. It was comforting to be out in the open air with people she’d grown to trust.

  The thought of leaving with only photos to remember Mountainbrook by brought a stab of regret. Cassie thought she’d seen all of Sandpoint, enough to feel overly familiar and jaded by the quiet life, but the ranch had shown her a side of it she didn’t consider - that maybe the serenity and alpine wilderness was all she needed. Her monthly visits to Spokane left her energized, and she’d thrived on the rush of the city and how a shopping spree with Sharon lasted a whole afternoon. Comparing the two left her conflicted. It seemed clear before to choose a life in Washington. She shook her head. The upcoming interview would prove it was the life for her, after all, she’d prepared for it.

  Jared pulled back on the reins. “I’ll move ahead. You two replace the salt lick on the fence.”

  He rode off down the perimeter, leaving her alone with Warren who dismounted and retrieved a pink salt lick from his bag. Cassie remained on Caramel, knowing that dismounting would intensify all the stiff pain between her thighs. Watching Jared take Honor over the sloping hill, she couldn’t help mulling over his solitary behavior.

  “He’s very dedicated to his job.”

  Warren grinned. “We all say he’s too involved. His father can handle what he needs to, but no, Jared’s stubborn that way. Has to take on the bulk of the work.”

  Interesting. The other ranchers noticed his workaholic tendencies. She got the feeling they’d tried to coax him out of it before without success.

  “He told me he’s here for his father,” she admitted.

  “Wish I shared that kind of devotion with my parents. Jared’s changed with you being here and all. More subdued than usual. Having a woman around gets him distracted, like Heidi.”

  A name she hadn’t heard before. An ex? Was he still nursing a broken heart? It explained his disinclination to get close.

  “He’s never mentioned her.”

  Warren’s smile faded. “He doesn’t talk to anyone about what happened. One week he’d planned to propose to her, the next it was all over. She’s the reason he’s sworn off relationships.”

  Completely? She couldn’t imagine abandoning the concept of love entirely. Even after her heartbreak with Aaron, she hoped to find love in the future. It took her parents multiple failed marriages before they found their enduring happiness together.

  Before she could delve further, Jared rode within earshot. “Cassie, you up for roping?”

  Her eyes widened. With the salt lick attached, Warren stood, astonishment visible on his face. She hid her own and nodded. The breaks of silence between them were foreign, not like the open banter she had with the other ranchers. Part of that was due to the simmering tension between them, a desire that hadn’t been sated.

  Cassie couldn’t read the look in his eyes, but perceived it as a test. One he knew she’d take. He seemed to be provoking her constantly, from overcoming her fear of riding to now attempting to rope a calf and she thrived on the opportunity. Now free of any reservations, it was liberating.

  “What do I need to do?”

  “We’ve got a calf that’s unsteady, looks like it injured its leg. We’ll need to guide it away from its mother. Follow me.” He turned the reins. “Warren, replace the lick for unit three.”

  “Sure you don’t need help?” he asked.

  Cassie glanced between them, acknowledging that they were cautious of her. She didn’t know how to rope but was determined to show them. It wasn’t like her to abandon a challenge, not after all her parents had instilled in her to pursue them.

  “Thanks, but we’ll manage,” Jared said.

  Warren mounted his horse and set off along the fence line. Now alone with Jared, Cassie faced him, Caramel snorting beneath her. She stroked his side, her hands warming beneath the sun. Within a few days, she’d found herself getting attached to the horse, but Jared?

  She tilted her head back to meet his vigilant gaze. He looked powerful, all six feet of cowboy muscle atop his horse, his Stetson shrouding those piercing eyes. Sky blue eyes that stirred her desires to life.

  He faced her, the sunlight showcasing his deliciously rugged jaw line and a twinkle in his eyes. “I assure you, I do this often. Roping ain’t as difficult as separating the cattle.”

  She smiled, touched that he was attempting to alleviate her discomfort. “I don’t doubt you.”

  “I noticed. You’re eager to get out of your comfort zone. It’s stimulating.”

  She couldn’t help but think of what else was stimulating…Shoving that aside, she focused on work. “I can say the same about your dedication to the ranch.”

  He shrugged. “Not many people confront their fears willingly. You continue to.”

  “It felt like the right time to get over it. How could I say no to you?”

  His smile came slow and seductive. “You’ve done it before, as I recall.”

  “Right. Multiple times.”

  The sexual allusion lingered between them. His gaze swept over her body, and her skin responded, burning for his touch. Although she wouldn’t let her libido rule her actions. She’d gone through that stage, and this was about maintaining professionalism.

  Something that was easy to forget when he looked at her like that.

  Honor pawed the ground, tearing Jared’s attention away. After telling Cassie to stay close, he set off. She urged Caramel into a gallop and followed, the saddle shaking wildly beneath her. Glancing down, she saw it sliding loosely from side to side, threatening to fall apart completely.

  No! She attempted to pull at the reins, but everything moved in slow motion. Fear held her still in its recognizable, tightening grasp as she swung to the left, unable to stop the momentum of the saddle. With her feet caught in the stirrups, she couldn’t break free.

  She fell, her left shoulder crashing onto the ground. She cried out in shock, but with her hands still grasping the reins, Caramel jerked violently to a stop. Now she hung over the side, her left arm propping her upright and her right leg caught on the stirrup at an elevated, uncomfortable angle. Her heart pounded, thudding wildly in her ears, drowning out the sound of Jared’s approach.

  “Cassie? Damn it!”

  He dismounted and ran to her, scooping her into his arms. With him to lean on, she ignored the intimacy between them and pulled her leg free. She checked over her camera which was attached to the side that hadn’t taken the brunt of impact. With that distraction over, she turned, her head pressing against his chest. Close enough to hear the pounding of his heart matching her own.

  Jared’s eyes raked over her and the heat of his hands burned through the fabric of her shirt to lightly tease her skin. Only inches higher and he’d be touching her breasts.

  She gathered a breath. “The saddle—”

  “Are you hurt?”

  Fortuitously, she only felt the subtle stings of bruising. “Nothing major.”

  “These kind of accidents h
appen often. You’re lucky to be relatively unharmed.”

  Cassie swallowed, her mouth dry. It felt like her luck had run out. She’d fallen, almost injuring herself badly again but most of all, she’d lost her pride. It felt ridiculous forcing herself to be a cowgirl, something she’d never wanted but endured for the sake of obligation.

  What am I doing here? I should’ve accepted the charges.

  She closed her eyes, shutting out the serene view. Falling had only confirmed her niggling uncertainties - attempting to rope, to get closer to Jared, a man who obviously wasn’t ready for intimacy. She wanted to be in Spokane, taking photos and involving herself in low key, predictable activities; akin to how her father had abandoned flying after the accident. She understood his decision unambiguously now.

  “I’m not riding back.”

  “I don’t blame you.” Releasing her, he strode over to Caramel and checked over the horse. “Saddle was loose, the girdle wasn’t tightened properly. It happens. Mistakes happen and it’s not worth beating yourself up over.”

  She flinched. She’d refused his aid with the saddle due to the desire to avoid their attraction – an attraction that had proven to jeopardize their working relationship.

  “All of this is a mistake.”

  He frowned. “You believe that?”

  The visible hurt on his face made her vacillate. “Yes. I’m a photographer, not a cowgirl. You’re welcome to press charges, I deserve it. I don’t need to be here.”

  “Then why are you? You only need tell me and I’ll let you go.”

  Shock claimed her. He’d given her an option to leave which she’d desired from the beginning. And now that she had it, she cursed herself for not wanting to take it and flee. Being at the ranch was enjoyable, but…no, she knew this was completely because of Jared, and the guilt she still harbored over trespassing. Not that she’d allow him privy to her true feelings.

  I hope I won’t regret this.

  She settled on an excuse that held some truth. “I need the money.”

  “If money was an issue, you wouldn’t be pursuing photography.”

  Her hands fell to her hips. “Do you know what it’s like to have passion for something? Something you never want to let go of? Why are you still here, working out of obligation for your father?”

  His jaw tightened. “I had passion before this.”

  Finally, she was getting to him and breaking that stony exterior. “Then follow it. It’s what your father wants.”

  Something unreadable flared in his eyes. “You shouldn’t be getting into my personal business.”

  “Sorry, it’s long past that.”

  “Damn it, you’re frustrating.”

  “No, I’m just exposing the truth you seem intent on avoiding. You allowed me to face my fear. When will you confront yours?”

  Jared ran a hand through his tousled brown hair, a dubious glimmer in his eyes. “Maybe I should let you walk back.”

  She boldly raised her chin. This seemed to be his way to deal with obstacles, turning away instead of facing them. Well, she wouldn’t tolerate it or the way he acted differently around her, according to Warren. “Such a gentleman.”

  “Should I be? Hell, you trespassed on my ranch. I don’t know what you’re capable of, or what you’ll say next. You get involved with things you shouldn’t be interested in. You’re here to work. You’re not a girlfriend.”

  There it was. Jared thought poorly of her. Imprudently, she’d harbored the notion she’d win him over, that his lack of animosity proved he liked her.

  “And I wouldn’t want to be,” she retorted, but her voice had lost its strength.

  His gaze passed over her. “Wise choice.”

  “I never had one.”

  She stood without his help. Her teeth clenched together, irritation surging through her. Jared incensed her like no one else and she wanted to be away from him. Her words had been an attempt to distance herself from this tension, a raging need that almost consumed her every thought. These feelings had thrown everything out of perspective, made her forget what she needed to focus on. And it wasn’t Jared.

  Watching him tighten Caramel’s saddle, something about his dismissal eased a little of her irritation. Only time would help him deal with his reservations, and it wasn’t her business, as he’d pointed out.

  He glanced at her briefly, his blue eyes a mirror of cool steel. It didn’t take long for Warren to arrive and Cassie stepped forward, intent on going with him back to the stables. She didn’t have the heart to try riding again, not with it still racing a million miles an hour.

  Still, the thought of leaving Mountainbrook behind, never to see it again, evoked an unexpected pain. She’d grown fond of the horses but the fall, and Jared’s reaction, had diminished her conviction. The line of professionalism had broken and they were both struggling to stay afloat.

  “Boss, what do you need me to do?” Warren asked, his concerned gaze passing between them.

  “Rope Caramel and lead him back. We’ll discuss this at the ranch.”

  Cassie blinked. “Are you serious about making me walk?”

  “Of course not. I’m not heartless.”

  After fixing the rope to Caramel, Warren set off without another word. Cassie watched in disbelief as Jared mounted Honor and gestured for her to climb up. “Come on. I’ll take care of you.”

  With a sigh, she relented and climbed onto the horse, easing into the saddle with her back to Jared. She swallowed, feeling the heat of his body, the unrestrained strength of him so close. At least this way she wasn’t facing him and couldn’t read the look in his eyes.

  The crystalline blue sky lay above them blemished by clouds, the cold mountain air easing the heat caressing her skin. With Jared in control, his strong hand grasping the reins, she wondered how it would feel for him to touch her, his hands trailing down her body, claiming her in the way she’d fantasized about. Strong. Intensely.

  And unlike their first ride together, she’d experienced a hint of Jared’s sensuality.

  They rode for several miles in silence, giving her time to contemplate their argument. Something occurred to her. “During your little outburst, you said this is your ranch.”

  He hesitated so long, she wondered if he’d heard her. “Technically, it is during the renovations. I arranged them and will be overseeing the work. Implying something?”

  She smiled. Getting overprotective of his land and job? He was passionate about Mountainbrook and it warmed her to see that, although he lived in denial. If anything, she wanted to show him otherwise. Once he cooled down.

  She feigned innocence. “No. Nothing.”

  “Good.”

  The clipped tone to his voice had eased, and she glanced back at him, the wind pummeling her hat, causing her to grasp it. “If I’m that much trouble to you, I can leave today.”

  “You mean that?”

  She’d grown to care for him, and his lack of protest felt like a blow to her stomach. “I do. If it’s what you want, I won’t question it.”

  They reached the stables and Jared guided Honor in. Away from the sun and sheltered from the biting wind, she allowed herself to relax, not that it was easy feeling Jared against her. She’d sat rigid in the saddle trying to avoid touching him and the tension felt so brittle as if it would snap with a single caress.

  Cassie swung off and hit the ground, absentmindedly brushing dirt from her jeans. Well, at least she looked like a cowgirl now, complete with the riding experience and dirt as an accessory. But after talking with Jared, she felt more like an inconvenience. He’d requested her to be there for unknown reasons instead of merely pressing charges. Reasons he wouldn’t divulge.

  Jared dismounted smoothly and stepped in close, adjusting the brim of his black Stetson to look into her eyes. “I won’t argue with your decision. I don’t want to get in the way of your intentions in Spokane.”

  “Well, I’m obviously in the way of you.”

  He flinched. “I don
’t mean to be harsh. I haven’t always been this reserved.”

  She saw it. A glimpse of diffidence, but where it came from, she didn’t understand. She wondered what he’d been like before Heidi. Compassionate, warm with the occasional flirtation she’d seen. There were so many sides to him she wanted to uncover - the main one being what he looked like beneath the rancher outfit outlining his muscular body.

  She needed to divert her thoughts. Quickly. “Warren mentioned you’ve changed after my arrival.”

  “Because I’m frustrated. You get me so distracted I can’t focus. Enough with this teasing.” He leaned in close. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you for days. To bury myself inside you, make you cry my name.”

  His breath caressed her skin, and her own caught in her throat. His admission left her speechless. She had no idea he’d been that captivated by her and tormented over their attraction. It explained his mood and the mixed signals, at least.

  She bit her lip, torn between the need to understand him and the need to surrender. “Then what’s stopping you?”

  “I can’t promise anything.”

  “I know. Neither can I.”

  “Good,” he muttered. “Because I can’t stand going any longer without tasting you.”

  His lips crashed onto hers, firm, decadently soft. She melted against him, delving into the kiss without hesitation, her arms wrapping around his neck to hold him close. With her breasts crushed against his solid chest, she ached to tilt her hips against him, to feel how hard he was.

  His hands slid down her back, leaving tingling sensations of pleasure that made her weaken. She moaned against his mouth, encouraging him to take more. To go further.

  And then his tongue prompted her to succumb deeper, sweeping against her. She parted her lips, letting him in, and he took her eagerly. His wet heat plundered her open mouth, caressing her deeply and igniting a long-buried hunger. She tightened her arms around him, not wanting to break free.

  It was Jared who finally tore away, his breathing ragged.

  She looked up into his eyes, liking the warmth in them. The heat of his hands were still on her, holding her close, providing a sense of undeniable seclusion. Neither of them made a move to separate. And without that kiss stealing her thoughts away, she felt the solid, thick length of him against her stomach. He was that hard already.