Free Cowboy Not Included: The Boot Knockers Ranch, Book 6 by Em Petrova Page A

clouds hanging above them.
    Wet hands encircled his ankles and he felt his entire body sinking into the perfect water. When he popped up, she was hooting with laughter.
    He lunged for her but his jeans seemed to weigh fifty pounds. “You’re lucky I didn’t have my boots on.”
    “Wouldn’t be the first time they took a soaking.”
    They both sobered, and he drowned in memories of stealing through the dark streets to the apartment complex down the street from their house. Tiptoeing through the gate and leaping fully clothed into a pool.
    “That was the hottest night I remember.” Was it him or were her words a bit breathy?
    “It was a hundred and five that night.”
    She shivered as if she were fevered in the cool water.
    When he started unbuttoning his shirt, she watched, lips parted. He took pleasure in stripping out of his soaked shirt and revealing his muscles.
    She gasped. “What the hell is that?”
    He looked down, expecting to see a scorpion floating on the water. “What?”
    “That!” She thrashed up to him and jabbed a finger at his chest.
    “It’s a tattoo.”
    “You didn’t have that on the website.”
    “I got it after the photo was taken.”
    “But…” Her gaze licked over the puzzle pieces inked on his flesh. Her brow crinkled.
    “Look, don’t give me shit about it, okay? You have a nose piercing. I have a tattoo. We’ve both changed.”
    She shook her head. “I wasn’t going to say that.”
    “Good.” He cupped his hands and shoved the water. A wave struck her full in the face, and she screamed. Splashing ensued. He was much better at splash wars. With his big hands, he could create a tsunami.
    She dived beneath the surface and popped out clear across the pool. He gave her a dark look and cut toward her.
    “No,” she cried and went under again. He watched her shadow and sharked the perimeter to intercept her.
    When she burst from the water, she was within grabbing distance.
    He didn’t hesitate.
    His arms locked around her. She fought but it only brought her closer. The glide of her soft skin over his ignited him.
    “Fuck. Let me go, Booker.”
    “You have a dirtier mouth than you used to. I hope you don’t cuss like a trucker in front of our daughter.”
    A funny look crossed her features. She placed her hands on his chest and pushed.
    He wouldn’t release her. Her full lips were inches away. Would one taste hurt anything?
    His head said no. His body screamed for him to do it. But his heart said he’d worked too hard to distance himself to jeopardize his emotions.
    Then she kicked. Her knee jabbed him dangerously close to the nuts, and he released her. She took five long strokes before turning to look at him again. Face flushed, eyes a little wild. Oh he remembered that look very well.
    He glided toward her.
    “You can’t act on what you’re thinking,” she warned.
    More water flowed past him. “You don’t know what I’m thinking.” That was always the case. She jumped to conclusions about him.
    Her back hit the wall and she twisted. Scrabbled onto the edge. Her chest heaved as she watched him come at her.
    When he gripped her ankles and yanked, she fought like hell. He dragged her into the water. Locking her to his body, cradling her head, he looked into her eyes.
    She fell still, gaze warning him, daring him.
    He dipped his head.
    With a violent shove, she dunked him. Water flooded his nose and ears. It filled his open mouth and he choked.
    He came up sputtering while she hauled ass out of the pool. His chest burned from the gulp of water he’d taken but seeing her cute little behind as she leaped out of the pool was all worth it.
    She stood at the side, arms folded, glaring.
    “You didn’t have to drown me.” He coughed hard and shook his head to rid his ears of water. When he flashed her a smile, she gave a loud humph and turned on her heel.
    By the time he scrambled out of the pool, grabbed his boots and caught up to her, she was surrounded by cowboys.