The Cattleman by Angi Morgan Page B

voice sent tingly shivers throughout her body, teasing the cells that remembered his light but firm touch under the stars.
    “Yeah.” She gulped air through her mouth, trying not to smell his intoxicating musk and get turned on even more.
    Another move had his rock-hard back pressed against her breasts. Her in a workout tank and him in a sleeveless undershirt only stirred the memory of when no cotton cloth had separated them. She had a stranglehold around his neck, his hand was behind her head, fingers twisted in her hair. She wasn’t threatened, only proud when his free hand followed through and she was forced to release him.
    The daily encounters of physical contact with Nick were probably the only things keeping Beth sane on the ranch. She was in charge, the expert. She could hear her parents drilling the phrase “knowledge is power” into her brain. They’d forced her to learn constantly. It had driven her at school, at college and at work. Not any longer.
    Book smarts couldn’t make up for experience.
    Constantly learning about riding and horses kept her busy, but also made her feel inadequate. Where her parents were concerned, she’d never be the smartest person in the room. And here at the ranch she was once again the student. She’d never enjoyed that position. It made her feel totally vulnerable.
    More so than having Nick’s hands casually touch her during a lesson or when he was pretending to be her fiancé.
    Nick didn’t hold back while they were working out, so neither could she. He was an avid student, forcing her to teach defensive moves she’d learned from instructors years ago. They trained in a silent barn before everyone awoke. At a horrible hour before anyone should be awake.
    “Your elbow should catch them a little higher.” Her soft voice was to hide their secret workout. She wished she could protect herself from his knowing eyes as easily. He could tell when she was close to breaking their agreement about no sex.
    He could tell and he would tease her mercilessly.
    Nick raised her exhausted arms, bringing them back around his neck for another try. More pressure, a tighter hold, slick skin, more effort. A breath across her ear made her lose focus. He chuckled. She wanted this one as a win. Forearms, elbows, she pushed the exercise out of her mind and dealt with the threat.
    He spread his feet. That was her opportunity and with a determination she’d thought she’d forgotten, Nick went down.
    “Damn, woman.” He moaned a second or two with his eyes closed. “When are you teaching me that move?” He stuck his hand blindly in the air, expecting her to help him stand as she’d done each time before.
    “You didn’t angle your feet.” Touching him was difficult, but she did. They clasped forearms and he stood.
    Face-to-face, his chest only inches away from hers. Closer than she felt comfortable allowing others. Not close enough to satisfy the desire building inside either of them. She could see his rapid pulse, caught the slight jerk when they touched and witnessed the heat in his eyes.
    “Sun’s coming up,” she whispered, breathless and sounding wanton. “You ready for a shower?”
    For a long second, she saw the invitation in his eyes. The one he purposely had teased her with all week in front of every person on the ranch. The same suggestive invite that he stealthily secured then hid behind a blank look and a shrug.
    She reached for the towel she’d brought from the house, and then her feet flew over her head. Flat on her back in a pile of hay, Nick towered over her, laughing.
    “My feet?”
    “Spread not staggered.” He winked.
    Beth stayed put, waiting for the right moment to bring Nick to her side on the ground. Gone was the desire to share an intimate moment. The adrenaline pumping through her veins was about winning, about the teacher not being outshined by her pupil. “Oh, man, I don’t think I can move again.”
    He took a step closer, lowered his hand ready to help