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He chuckled and pulled on the shirt, but he left it unbuttoned "Yeah We’re neighbors," he said, s back to work, unless there’s so you at Jack’s"
"Only place in town to get a beer, so I’m sure you will"
"Well then Good luck here," she said, lifting the reins Chico reared, ready to be set free "Later," she yelled, leading her gelding away and out of the clearing to the river’s edge Luke watched the sight of her departure Once she was through the trees, she kicked her horse into a run She got low in the saddle and made that braid ride out behind her, she went so hard and fast I’ butt move with the horse, confident in the saddle Sweet heaven, what a? She couldn’t possibly knohat a tri horse did to hiest mistake he’d ever considered But he couldn’t escape the fact that he’d like to get his hands all over her He began to pray that he’d have both intelligence and restraint where this one was concerned But it would be a first
Shelby rode back to her Uncle Walt’s and all the way she was thinking how Luke , but he was absolutely not her type
Shelby was totally focused on her plans While waiting for acceptance to a school, she’d travel so off to the East Coast or Europe to spend a couple ofsummer But she’d never seen the Caribbean islands, Mexico, Italy, France or Japan She’d like to take a cruise, then a vacation--maybe in Italy, the south of France or Cabo San Lucas After she’d had a nice little break to recharge, she would get herself set up at school, find a part-tiraet herself back in the study groove
But maybe she’d have herself a little adventure in there somewhere Maybe on her cruise, on one of her trips
Not with this kind ofOne look convinced her--he knew everything about men and woerous and very, very physical Scary He had that warrior appearance, coht of hi horse beneath her had given her plenty of confidence His shoulders were so large, strong and muscular, and he had a barbed-wire ar left biceps His belly was flat and hard with a trail of chest hair that disappeared into his jeans The stubble along his jaw hty; it had made her shiver And he had an aura of carelessness He would take a bite of her, then pitch her out, forgetting her beforeinside her had groar about him, a forbidden quality, was absolutely delicious Even the daood on him Despite her co? And her very next thought was, no, no, no, not him! My adventure will come in a polo shirt, cheeks as smooth as a baby’s butt, styled hair, no tattoos and hopefully an advanced degree Not soht stands!
Mel storht into the bar’s kitchen Preacher had his hands in the sink, his back to her "Hey, Preach," she said But he didn’t turn around "Preach?" she asked again Nothing "John!" she yelled
He jus out of his ears "Whoa, Mel," he said "You snuck up on me"
"Well, not exactly," she said "I yelled"
"Yeah, well, after a while all that noise s to do here"
"Listen," she said, sitting on the stool at his work island "We have to talk, you and ained twenty pounds since I came here Alh two hundred pounds"
He frowned He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to say Finally he sood for you"
"This is not good!"
He alry tone in her voice Then he frowned
"Listen," she said, "you have to start doing so Understand?"
"No one’s ever coood…"
"I know, I know--but you’re cooking for men with real physical lives Except you--you stand in the kitchen all day and I know you sa fat"
"I clean a lot," he said "I lift weights--but not as much with two kids"
"Yeah, well, you have a lot of muscle, and that eats up calories Women don’t have that kind ofsoIt’s unhealthy anyway--not good for weight, cholesterol and blood pressure, not good for the heart Make so in butter I can’t be the only person in this toho’s getting fat on your food"
"Salads?" he said "I don’t usually make a lot of salads"
"I know this," she said wearily "But we need to es Buy some low-fat, whole-wheat bread for sandwiches Don’t do pastas, breads and potatoes at every meal Make salads, stock fresh fruit"
"There’s plenty of fruit around here," he said
"Yeah, and it’s all in the pies"
"You have pie almost every day," he pointed out "You love ri that Listen, can you oing to be able to eat here all the time I’ll have to pack a lunch, make my own dinner at hoht like this I a to be fat!"
Preacher tilted his head "Jack co about the way you look?" he asked cautiously
"Of course not," she said in frustration "He thinks I’o"
"John, I don’t think you’re paying attention here I have to go on a diet You want me to write dohat I need?"
"No," he said unhappily "I think I’ve got it"