OLIVER: WESTERN CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE (Blackwater Canyon Ranch Book 2) by Cindy Stark Page A
Authors: Cindy Stark
Ads: Link
wager going, doesn’t it, Rachel?” Caleb said with a laugh.
“It sure does. But it’s true, Daisy. You’ve been here a week, and you haven’t seen the river or gotten a close look at all the beauty around us.” Rachel’s smile had returned, bringing relief to Daisy.
“I’m willing to take that bet.” Oliver leaned back in his seat and regarded Daisy with a look that set her on edge. The man could certainly inspire heated thoughts when he wanted. “You let me show you the beauty of this place and then tell me you don’t like it.”
Oh, no. He wouldn’t back her into that corner. “Only if you’ll do something more refined with me. An opera or a symphony, perhaps.” That ought to scare him off her tail.
“Deal.”
His quick agreement surprised her. “Really?”
He captured her gaze and held it. “Why not? I’m not opposed to a little culture here and there.”
“This is going to be fun.” Rachel lifted her wineglass. “Here’s to multi-cultural education.”
Daisy rolled her eyes, but lifted her glass and toasted it with the rest. “You can’t back out,” she warned Oliver.
“Neither can you.” He smiled that devastating smile, and she wondered what he had in store for her.
Whatever it was, she’d need to make sure she trumped him.
Chapter Nine
As Daisy passed a west-facing window in the house, a brilliant sunset caught her eye, and she stopped to soak up the image. The sun intended to make a glorious exit that evening, splashing bright hues of oranges and reds across the sky. As she gazed outside, she caught sight of Oliver crossing the yard to where a beautiful buckskin colt trotted around the edge of a small paddock.
She indulged in the secret opportunity to admire him from the safety of the house. Truth be told, he was a hard man to resist watching. He’d buried his dark hair beneath an old ball cap. He couldn’t have looked more attractive in his tight blue t-shirt and old jeans. Though it was a totally sexist thing to do, she took a moment to imagine how fine he’d look without that shirt. How fine it would be to take the hem of that t-shirt and slide it up his chest.
Oliver usually headed home long before now, so she was surprised to see him still hanging around. Despite his apology and his insistence that he educate her in the finer traits of living on a ranch near the Absaroka mountains, Daisy had seen very little of him over the past week.
An unsatisfied sigh slipped from her lips. She couldn’t see his mesmerizing eyes from this distance, but she knew exactly what they did to her each time their gazes met. He shouldn’t have that effect on her. Not with the friction that constantly popped up between them, but there was something about him.
She could admit that to herself, in the privacy of her mind. She could also admit it was possible to be attracted to a man’s looks and not his attitude.
The cheerful daisies he’d given her still waited on her nightstand to greet her each morning when she opened her eyes. That had been a nice gesture on his part, but she still believed he’d done it to appease her sister.
Over the past few days, Daisy had caught Oliver watching her several times when they’d both been outside in the warm sunshine. They hadn’t been close enough to speak, and she’d purposefully avoided him in an effort to maintain her peace and sanity.
Until now.
She’d bet he’d reconsidered the idea of a cultured evening out and had changed his mind. Probably hoped she’d forget the whole thing. She smiled. Nope. He’d agreed, and, after he’d made her clean the stalls, she owed him an uncomfortable evening.
She turned from the window and headed for the stairs.
Warm summer air caressed her as she stepped outside, and she inhaled the sweet smell of grass. She’d miss both of those when she left Moose Meadows and knew she wouldn’t be finding much fresh air and green grass in a big city.
Ahead of her, Oliver moved slowly toward the colt
“It sure does. But it’s true, Daisy. You’ve been here a week, and you haven’t seen the river or gotten a close look at all the beauty around us.” Rachel’s smile had returned, bringing relief to Daisy.
“I’m willing to take that bet.” Oliver leaned back in his seat and regarded Daisy with a look that set her on edge. The man could certainly inspire heated thoughts when he wanted. “You let me show you the beauty of this place and then tell me you don’t like it.”
Oh, no. He wouldn’t back her into that corner. “Only if you’ll do something more refined with me. An opera or a symphony, perhaps.” That ought to scare him off her tail.
“Deal.”
His quick agreement surprised her. “Really?”
He captured her gaze and held it. “Why not? I’m not opposed to a little culture here and there.”
“This is going to be fun.” Rachel lifted her wineglass. “Here’s to multi-cultural education.”
Daisy rolled her eyes, but lifted her glass and toasted it with the rest. “You can’t back out,” she warned Oliver.
“Neither can you.” He smiled that devastating smile, and she wondered what he had in store for her.
Whatever it was, she’d need to make sure she trumped him.
Chapter Nine
As Daisy passed a west-facing window in the house, a brilliant sunset caught her eye, and she stopped to soak up the image. The sun intended to make a glorious exit that evening, splashing bright hues of oranges and reds across the sky. As she gazed outside, she caught sight of Oliver crossing the yard to where a beautiful buckskin colt trotted around the edge of a small paddock.
She indulged in the secret opportunity to admire him from the safety of the house. Truth be told, he was a hard man to resist watching. He’d buried his dark hair beneath an old ball cap. He couldn’t have looked more attractive in his tight blue t-shirt and old jeans. Though it was a totally sexist thing to do, she took a moment to imagine how fine he’d look without that shirt. How fine it would be to take the hem of that t-shirt and slide it up his chest.
Oliver usually headed home long before now, so she was surprised to see him still hanging around. Despite his apology and his insistence that he educate her in the finer traits of living on a ranch near the Absaroka mountains, Daisy had seen very little of him over the past week.
An unsatisfied sigh slipped from her lips. She couldn’t see his mesmerizing eyes from this distance, but she knew exactly what they did to her each time their gazes met. He shouldn’t have that effect on her. Not with the friction that constantly popped up between them, but there was something about him.
She could admit that to herself, in the privacy of her mind. She could also admit it was possible to be attracted to a man’s looks and not his attitude.
The cheerful daisies he’d given her still waited on her nightstand to greet her each morning when she opened her eyes. That had been a nice gesture on his part, but she still believed he’d done it to appease her sister.
Over the past few days, Daisy had caught Oliver watching her several times when they’d both been outside in the warm sunshine. They hadn’t been close enough to speak, and she’d purposefully avoided him in an effort to maintain her peace and sanity.
Until now.
She’d bet he’d reconsidered the idea of a cultured evening out and had changed his mind. Probably hoped she’d forget the whole thing. She smiled. Nope. He’d agreed, and, after he’d made her clean the stalls, she owed him an uncomfortable evening.
She turned from the window and headed for the stairs.
Warm summer air caressed her as she stepped outside, and she inhaled the sweet smell of grass. She’d miss both of those when she left Moose Meadows and knew she wouldn’t be finding much fresh air and green grass in a big city.
Ahead of her, Oliver moved slowly toward the colt
Similar Books
