Nothing like a Cowboy by Donna Alward

Author:Donna Alward
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Romance;Western Romance;Online Dating;Second Chances;novella
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Published: 2015-06-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Brett was still angry days later. Even the grueling branding weekend hadn’t eased the knot in his chest.

He ran the brush over Charley’s hide, putting lots of energy into it. The old horse loved every stroke, closed his eyes lazily, his skin shuddering from time to time. Brett sighed and dropped his forehead to Charley’s smooth neck, just for a moment.

“Women,” he breathed, then straightened and rolled his shoulders. “You’re smart to steer clear, Chuck.” Charley’s eyes stayed closed, but he flickered his ears at the sound of Brett’s voice. “I didn’t even want to go on that date. And then I ended up liking her. Damn, I liked her a lot. And then she hit me right in my pride.”

Charley’s lashes fluttered. Brett gave another long stroke of the brush.

“I mean, I understand her being surprised. And even upset. But she insulted my character. My ethics. My manhood.”

“What about your manhood?”

Manda was standing at the stall door, one shoulder resting on the frame.

His sister was not the person he wanted to see right now. “This is all your fault,” he said, pointing the brush at her. “So don’t bat your eyes like you’re innocent and give me that wounded-girl look. That hasn’t worked since we were kids.”

No batting of eyes. She raised one eyebrow. “What the hell did I do now?”

“You set me up on that website, that’s what.” He tossed the brush into a bucket. “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world…”

“What are you muttering about?”

“Melissa, that’s what.” He gave Charley an absent pat, picked up the bucket and headed out of the stall, passing his pregnant sister with as much indignation as he could muster. He hated that he had a soft spot where she was concerned. “Shut the door.”

“What about Melissa? I thought you went out again.”

He wheeled on her as she was latching the door. “The ranch I bid on? Turns out it’s her parents’. And she’s pissed.”

Manda’s eyes widened. “That’s a crazy coincidence.”

“Yeah. Except she doesn’t think it is a coincidence. She thinks I engineered the whole thing.”

“That hardly seems likely.” Manda frowned.

“That’s what I said.” And he realized that Melissa had spoken in the heat of the moment. But it had been over a week now, and there hadn’t been one single text, let alone a phone call.

It wasn’t just the accusation he couldn’t forget. It was the hurt look in her eyes. That he even had the power to hurt her was surprising. They hadn’t known each other that long. Long enough to sleep together, he reminded himself.

“So what’s the status on the bid now?” Manda’s question brought him back to the present.

“There was a counter offer. I’m upping my bid.”

“How long before you top out?”

His smile felt grim. “I can’t go any higher,” he said. “I’ve thought about just letting it go. But that’s hardly logical, is it? I mean, someone’s going to buy the place if I don’t. And it’s perfect for what I want.

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