This Cowboy's a Keeper by Kimberly Krey

Author:Kimberly Krey [Krey, Kimberly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gelato Publishing LLC
Published: 2018-06-05T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 17

When Luke had agreed to help prepare the old barn for the harvest party, he should’ve known he’d be doing the grunt work. Of course, as he shoveled stale straw out of dusty corners of the cement floor and hauled wheelbarrows full from the barn, he realized he probably wasn’t good for much more. At least not yet.

Once it was time to move in furniture and hang lights, he and Jason could help out with that as well. In the meantime, he hadn’t minded listening to Payton and Mom as they brainstormed ideas for the place. He hadn’t minded catching glimpses of the temptress as he went about his work either. Dressed once again in a pair of ripped jeans, tall boots, and a plaid shirt tied at the waist, Payton had given him side-glances and sly grins. They were sharing a tasty secret, and Luke couldn’t help but enjoy it.

He and Payton had spent time cozying up by the fire the last three nights in a row. Luke could honestly say he was becoming addicted to the taste of her kiss, the feel of her warm body close to his.

He might be getting in over his head, but Luke couldn’t get himself to care. Upon waking up this morning, he recalled movies he’d seen depicting characters fresh off a breakup. The smart ones had all sorts of discipline. “No, I can’t get involved with him. He’s on the rebound.” Or perhaps it was the other way around. “I could see myself falling for her one day, but I don’t want to hit her up while I’m on the rebound.”

And then there were the comical ones where the characters jumped into some rebound relationship and disaster struck, just like everyone expected.

Though Luke’s shoulders were high and tight with the load he carted out of the barn, his posture dropped. His family would think he was crazy to dream of a woman who’d barely broken off an engagement. Heck, anyone would. But then, who cared about what others thought? If he and Payton wanted to explore the chemistry between them, they could. They were full-grown adults.

“Hey, Luke and Jason?” Mom hollered from someplace inside the barn. “Let’s talk about our next move, guys.”

Luke dumped the pile of straw onto the heap and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. Thank heavens it was overcast today. He might be slaving away like a workhorse, but he didn’t need to go smelling like one. Still, to prevent that very thing, Luke had removed his shirt and tossed it onto a lone beam in the barn. Jason had done the same.

“Guess we ought to get in there and find out what happens next,” Jason said, coming up behind him.

“Yep,” Luke agreed.

With the debris removed and the floors swept clean—something that had taken three full days—the massive barn looked like a list of possibilities. He couldn’t wait to see what the women had come up with to get the place fit for entertaining.

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