Her Bareback Cowboys by Ylette Pearson Page A

reasons.”
    Wade stood up from the chair he’d occupied since they’d returned from Adrian’s room and joined him in front of the fireplace, his usual frown firmly in place. “Don’t you think your ego is dictating that something must be wrong because she ignored you?”
    Was it? He didn’t think so. “There’s only one way to find out. Let’s go talk to her.” He strode from the room, but Wade stayed put. “You coming?”
    Wade shook his head and Maverick shrugged. He might be wrong, but his gut told him something wasn’t sitting right with their chef. When he opened the kitchen door and Marie quickly averted her eyes, the feeling intensified.
    She mumbled a greeting to mirror his own but kept her gaze on the dish she stirred. “Dinner will be ready in half an hour.”
    Maverick stepped closer to the woman and she angled her back toward him, moving the bowl in front of her.
    “I just thought we could get better acquainted. You look familiar. Have we met before?”
    She shook her head and continued stirring with more vigor. “Sorry, I don’t fraternize with the guests.”
    Maverick took a step back. “Guests? I thought the company sent you here?”
    Marie nodded. “They did, but I’m just the help, you’re the guests.” She walked to the sink and rinsed her hands. “You have to excuse me. I still have a lot to do until dinner.”
    He regarded her for a few seconds before returning to the lounge. The woman was definitely hiding something. Maybe he should phone his father’s friend. Surely the owner of the company would have information on the chef they’d hired. He voiced his concerns to Wade as soon as he entered the lounge.
    “What if she isn’t hiding something? What if your inquiry makes the company think we’re a bunch of incompetent fools?” Wade sighed. “Let it go. We’re having sex with Adrian, not the chef.”
    Wade was right, as usual. This was just sex. So why couldn’t he shake the feeling that finding out what Marie was hiding was important to both Adrian and the assignment? Touching Adrian was explosive, but he’d had situations in the past where he couldn’t keep his hands off a woman.
    “You’re right. Blame it on the jet lag.” He poured himself another drink and reclined in the chair he’d occupied before.
    After a lengthy silence, Wade shifted in his chair and Maverick grinned. “You wish we’d had more time just now, don’t you?”
    Wade grumbled something indecipherable and settled in the chair once more. The silence stretched as Maverick stared into the flames. He wanted to make this trip memorable for Adrian. Hell, whom was he kidding? He wanted her to compare all her lovers afterwards to him and find them lacking.
    “Let’s plan something special for tomorrow. I saw a couple of saddlebags in the tack room and if we could smuggle out a blanket or two and some wine…”
    Wade glanced at him and grinned. “I like it. At least we will be out of the house and have no danger of Marie walking in on us.”
    They discussed the finer details until they heard Adrian’s door open. When she walked into the room looking like a lily waiting to be picked, both men stood. To Maverick, tomorrow seemed impossibly far off when all he wanted to do was gather her in his arms and make love to her until she didn’t know her own name.
     
    Bathed and dressed in casual slacks and a bright pink sweater, Adrian joined the men in the lounge. With no lights on, the fire illuminated the room, casting eerie shadows against the walls. Before she could pour herself another drink, Marie announced that dinner was ready and they moved to the dining room. The table was set with three plates next to one another. Wade pulled out the chair in the middle and Adrian sat, trying to ignore the zing of his touch on her shoulder.
    Although conversation flowed naturally, by the time they finished dinner, both men were struggling to hide the fatigue plaguing their bodies. She pushed her empty plate