Cowgirl Up and Ride (Rough Riders #3)(92)

“I bought it for Marla right after we moved back here.”


“That’s why it still looks new?”


Cord grinned. “Uh-huh. Might be a little stiff.”


“I like stiff. I can work with stiff.”


Surely she hadn’t meant…he glanced over at her to see a big ol’ smile on her not-so-innocent face. “And I used to think you were so sweet.”


“Used to think?”


“Now I know under that sweetness is a wickedly naughty streak.”


“Complainin’?” she mimicked.


“God no.”


She returned to Nickel’s left side, unhooked the halter and let it dangle while she slipped on the bridle. Damndest thing. Nickel, who didn’t allow just anyone to slip a bit in his mouth, opened right up. She talked to him, slipped the bridle over his ears, undid the quick release knot on the leadrope and draped both over the hook on the fence.


“You gonna get the gate?”


He’d been so engrossed with her horsewomanship that he hadn’t readied his own mount. Cord followed AJ into the pasture. She’d climbed on while he’d closed the gate.


Damn. He’d wanted to see that very fine ass of hers in the air as she threw her long leg over the saddle.


Cord mounted up. “I thought we’d ride to the butte.”


“Okay. Fast or slow?”


Soon as fast made it out of his mouth, AJ took off. She handled Nickel like a pro, giving him his head but staying in total control.


He caught her, but he suspected she’d let him catch her.


AJ faced him and her smile rivaled the radiance of the sun. “These horseshoes seem to be fine.”


“Smarty.”


They ambled along through the sagebrush and rocks. Letting the horses lead them around scrub cedar and stunted pines.


She sighed. “I love how every time I ride through the fields some new wildflower has popped up.” She pointed. “See? That one wasn’t out two weeks ago.”


“Guess I hadn’t noticed.”


She reined her horse to a stop.


“What?”


“Cord McKay. How can you be out here all the time and not notice the flowers?


Can’t you see the daisies? The wild roses? The tiny purple starflowers? The yarrow? The lavender heads on the milkweed?”



“I see weeds. You see all that?”


She nodded. “Nothing on earth is as pretty as Wyoming wildflowers.”


“Oh, I’d beg to disagree, baby doll.”


AJ looked up and saw him staring at her. “You know what I meant.”


“And you know what I meant. You’re beautiful, AJ. Wild and free on the back of that horse. The wind in your hair, the sun glowin’ on your face, miles of blue sky behind you. Wish I had a camera.” To show her how stunning she looked because he didn’t need tangible proof. The image of her would be burned into his brain forever.


Those sharp gray eyes narrowed. “Did you hit your head in the last couple days?”


“What do ya mean?”


“First an apology? Then a horseback ride? Now you’re tossing me compliments like poetry? You gonna whip out a guitar and serenade me with cowboy love songs next?”


“No. Next, I’m gonna…” He spurred Jester in the sides and yelled over his shoulder,