Free 02 Buck Naked by Desiree Holt

again. “Last night was…”
    “Amazing. Incredible. Unbelievable. I get it. You want to take it slow, right? Me too. So…call me when you can.”
    There. She could get out of the truck with her pride intact. “But let’s take it slow, okay? Just…because.”
    The closed look that she’d seen wash over his features before swept over them again. Then it was gone, and as before, she wondered if she was just imagining things. When she looked at him again, his mouth was turned up in a smile.
    “No problem.” He cupped her chin and turned her face toward him, searching her eyes as if some answer lingered there. “I’ll be pretty busy today. Hired a couple of those kids Matt sent my way, and I expect them about noon. Just in time to help unload the cattle I bought at the auction.” He chuffed a laugh. “Spent the last three days riding fence to make sure it’s all good and none of them can get out. Tomorrow probably won’t be much better. How about if I call you Friday? See what’s up with your weekend.”
    Okay. At least he didn’t just say he’d call sometime.
    “Good. That’s good. I’ll be here working in my office.”
    He gave her hand one last, quick kiss before releasing it. She opened the door of the cab and jumped down. “Better get going before Matt comes out and wants to play Twenty Questions,” she joked.
    She stood on the gravel and watched as he backed and drove away. So many emotions raced through her, she felt as if her insides were in an electric mixer. She wanted to lead with her head, but her heart kept bumping it out of the way.
    Maybe I should just call it quits before it starts.
    But that was impossible. It had already started.
    The door opened as her foot hit the first step to the porch, and Matt leaned against the frame, pointedly staring at his watch.
    “I did away with curfew a long time ago, big brother.”
    She tried to push past him but he caught her arm.
    He grinned. “Just waiting for all the juicy details.”
    She yanked her arm away. “As if.” She sniffed. “For God’s sake.” She reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. “If I get in trouble, I know who to call.”
    “I’m not saying you were in trouble.” He winked. “Just checking on my baby sister.”
    “Who isn’t such a baby anymore.”
    “Matthew Stark, you let your sister in this house right this minute.” Reenie appeared behind him, slapping a dishtowel at him. “Quit being such an asshole to her.”
    Reluctantly, he moved and Amy pushed past him. “Thanks, Reenie. At least someone in this house isn’t looking for gossip.” She spun around to look at her brother.
    “I’m happy you went out with him,” he assured her. “I think Buck’s a great guy, and I’m glad you two finally got together. Just want to be sure you know what you’re doing. That you’re taking it slow.”
    “Well, I do. So bug off.”
    “You’ve had some pretty rough relationships lately,“ he called after her as she clomped down the hall. “I like Buck, and I thought he’d be a good person to help smooth out some of those wrinkles. I never expected you to jump into the deep end right away. Have you forgotten about Cade Hannigan?”
    She stopped, still as a piece of furniture, rage and anger swirling through her. And residual pain. No, she hadn’t forgotten. Not all the warnings to stay away from him. Not the details of how he’d treated the other women he’d been involved with. Not the anger nor the humiliation that still clung to her after the dreadful breakup. He’d been so smooth, so slick, so charming, telling her how he loved her. She’d just turned away from all the gossip. At least that’s what she’d kept telling herself it was.
    Last night had brought it all back, forcing her to again work at burying the humiliating memories.
    “I can’t believe you just said that.”
    “I’m just looking out for your welfare, Amy.”
    “Stop looking.”
    She slammed the door to her bedroom, cursing