LITMIR.BIZ

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from head to toe. He, on the other hand, looked wonderful. His faded blue denim jeans outlined his powerful legs and trim backside. Perspiration molded his white cotton shirt to his broad chest, delineating every well-defined muscle. The only dirt he’d collected was a fine layer of dust on his scuffed cowboy boots and a tiny smudge of mud on the side of his jaw.

      She was staring again. When he looked up and caught her gaze, something hot and sweet uncoiled inside her. She liked his mouth and found herself wondering how it would feel against hers. If he kissed her, the dark whiskers shading his jaw would scrape against her skin. She swallowed at the imagined sensation.

      “How about some water?” he asked, his voice slightly husky.

      She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. When he brought her the jug, she took a long drink of the icy water.

      “The sun’s hot today,” he said, removing his cowboy hat and wiping his forearm over his brow.

      Not quite as hot as her employer, Mimi thought, handing over the jug. Then she turned her attention to the fence, where she inadvertently snagged her thumb on another razor-sharp barb. “Ouch!”

      Garrett lowered the jug from his mouth, moisture glistening on his lower lip. “Our deal didn’t include you acting like a martyr. Go put those gloves on.”

      “Don’t worry about me, Garrett.” She looked away from him, wiping her thumb on the back of her jeans. From now on she needed to pay more attention to her work and less to her boss. “I may be a city girl, but I’m tougher than I look.”

      He shook his head, then surveyed the length of fence. “Looks as if we’re done here for today, anyway.”

      With an inward sigh of relief, Mimi walked toward the pickup truck, trying her best not to limp. She climbed into the cab, every joint in her body protesting the movement. All she wanted now was a long, hot bubble bath, followed by a warm, soft bed.

      Garrett opened the driver’s door, and Hubert jumped in ahead of him. The little dog pranced across the bench seat, then lay down with his head on Mimi’s thigh.

      She lightly petted the dog with her sore fingers. “Where did you find Hubert?”

      “Actually, he found me,” Garrett said as the pickup roared to life. “Someone decided they didn’t want him anymore and dumped him off in the country. He was skinny as a hickory stick by the time he finally wandered onto the ranch.”

      “But he’s such a sweet dog. I can’t believe anyone would dump him on purpose.”

      “Believe it,” he said. “Some people seem to labor under the stupid illusion that just because he’s an animal, a dog can survive in the wild. They don’t realize that he’s never learned to hunt for food and water. Or that there are predators out here, like coyotes, just waiting for an easy kill.”

      “So you saved him?”

      Garrett kept his eyes on the gravel road. “I fed him, and he decided to stick around. He’s not the best cow dog in Texas, but he tries hard.”

      Hubert closed his eyes in canine bliss as Mimi scratched behind his ears. “How did you ever come up with the name Hubert?”

      “That was the name on his fancy rhinestone collar. When he showed up on my doorstep, he still had it on, along with a frayed pink bow and pink toenails.”

      “I still can’t believe someone could just dump him, then take off.” She shook her head. “How could anyone be so cruel?”

      A muscle twitched in Garrett’s jaw. “Happens all the time. And not just to animals.”

      Before she could ask him to explain, a loud horn sounded behind them.

      “Damn.”

      “What’s the problem?”

      “It’s not a what, it’s a who.” He steered the pickup truck to the edge of the road, then rolled down his window as another pickup pulled up beside them.

      The petite brunette in the driver’s seat smiled at him. “Hey, Garrett. I see you’ve got a tagalong today.”

      “Venna Schwab, this is Mimi Banyon. She just hired on for calving season.”

      Mimi was surprised to hear him sound so cheerful about it. Especially since he’d been silent and surly most of the afternoon.

      Venna rested her elbow on the truck door, her gaze flicking over Mimi. “Really?”

      Mimi leaned forward in the seat and waved. “Nice to meet you.”

      Venna wrinkled her nose. “You’re a mess, honey.”

      Mimi forced a smile. “Nothing a little hot water can’t cure.”

      Venna shrugged, then turned her attention to Garrett. “I hope having an extra hand around means you won’t have to work so hard. I’ve hardly seen you lately.”

      “It’s almost calving season, Venna. You’re probably as busy as I am at the Triple C.”

      She laughed. “True. But I can always make time for a little fun.”

      Mimi definitely felt like a third wheel. She thought about hopping out of the cab and walking the rest of the way to the house, just barely visible in the distance, but her aching body protested that idea.

      Venna leaned a little further out the window. “Speaking of fun, are you going to Connor and Lacy O’Hara’s barbecue on Saturday night?”

      Garrett nodded. “I planned on it.”

      “Good. Do you need a date?”

      Mimi wondered when she’d become invisible. Venna sure wasn’t letting the presence of Garrett’s hired help put a damper on her outrageous flirting.

      “Actually, I’m taking Mimi to the barbecue.”

      “You are?” Mimi exclaimed, realizing a second too late that it was the wrong thing to say.

      Garrett turned to her. “Yes. I am.”

      “Oh.”

      Venna looked between the two of them, confusion wrinkling her brow. “You’re taking your ranch hand on a date?”

      Garrett cleared his throat. “I wouldn’t exactly call it a date.”

      “What would you call it?” Venna asked, her gaze fixed on Mimi. Perhaps she finally saw some competition behind all the dirt and manure.

      Mimi leaned forward. “I’m sure Garrett’s just being polite. I might not even be here on Saturday, so he may be free after all.”

      “Thanks a lot,” Garrett growled under his breath.

      “I’ll be sure and give you a call, Garrett.” Venna waved as she drove away, leaving a cloud of dust lingering in the hazy twilight.

      “She seems nice,” Mimi said as Garrett pulled the pickup onto the road.

      “Nice enough.”

      “Pretty, too.”

      He glanced at her. “Pretty enough to snag two husbands.”

      She waited for him to elaborate, but he kept his gaze focused on the road. She’d heard about the strong, silent type, but this was ridiculous. At least now she understood why he was avoiding Venna. She tried to ignore the tiny glimmer of satisfaction it gave her. Garrett’s love life, or lack of one, shouldn’t matter to her one bit.

      Leaning back against seat, she gazed at the sun hovering on the horizon, awed by the beautiful palette of colors arcing across the sky. Was there any place more beautiful than this?

      Garrett pulled the pickup truck into the driveway, then cut the engine. “We need to talk.”

      Now, there was a novel idea. “What about?”

      “About where you’re going to sleep

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