Free The Ranger's Rodeo Rebel by Pamela Britton Page B

forcing another smile.
    The moment he closed the trailer door, she leaned her head against a nearby cabinet and groaned. This weekend was not going how she’d planned. She’d meant to keep her cool, to treat him like a big brother, to shove her damn physical attraction to the furthest reaches of her mind, where she’d slap a giant iron bolt across it and never think about it again.
    Ha.
    Carolina took a cold shower. When she finished, she pulled clothes out of her duffel bag. She layered on item after item, partly because she was freezing and partly because it would act as barricade against her own desires. She hoped.
    â€œYour turn,” she said, stepping outside, hair still wet from the shower. She shivered in the cool night air. “I’ll wait out here while you do your thing.”
    Chance frowned. He obviously didn’t like the idea of leaving her alone.
    â€œAnd look,” she said, holding up her Hello Kitty key chain. “I brought protection.” She patted the pocket of her sweats. Well, the first layer of sweats. “And pepper spray. I promise to scream if James makes an appearance.”
    â€œJust the same, I would feel better if you were inside with me.”
    While he took a shower? No, thanks. That was all she needed, to imagine water sluicing over his arms and belly and...other things. While she wondered what it would be like to glide her fingers down—
    She swallowed. “I’ll wait here.”
    He must have realized she wasn’t going to heed his wishes, because he glanced around them once—as if searching the bushes for James—before turning toward the trailer.
    â€œStay by the door,” he ordered.
    â€œYes, sir!” She saluted.
    â€œI’ll be quick.” She waited a full minute before patting her other pocket and then pulling her cell phone out. With a deep breath and a silent prayer, she dialed the familiar number, grateful her number was blocked from caller ID. James answered after the second ring.
    â€œLeave me alone,” was all she said.
    He didn’t say anything, and for a moment she wondered if the call had been dropped, but then she heard James’s quiet laughter, the kind that sent goose bumps up her arms and fear deep into her soul.
    â€œI mean it, James. Leave me alone.”
    â€œWho’s the guy?”
    It took her a moment to figure out what he meant. “My new boss.”
    â€œOh, yeah?”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter who he is. You’re out of my life, remember? Gone. And if you don’t leave me alone, I’m going to call every news station in town and have them do a story about ex-boyfriends who stalk their ex-girlfriends after they beat the crap out of them.”
    Silence.
    She’d never threatened to go public before. She hadn’t even told Colt and Natalie about the abuse until she’d gotten out of the hospital. And she’d downplayed the seriousness of the matter. It wasn’t until James had shown up at the ranch one day that she’d come clean to Colt. In hindsight, it must have been shortly after James’s visit that Colt had thought of the idea of putting his brother in charge.
    James laughed. “If you do that, I’ll sue you for defamation of character.”
    â€œYou could try,” she said. “But your mug shot is online. Kinda hard to call me a liar when the proof of your guilt is on the internet for all to see.” He didn’t respond, and his silence gave her courage. “So unless you want to be this week’s special feature, I suggest you give me a wide berth from here on out, got it?”
    â€œMy, my, my. Someone’s grown some claws. Wonder if it has anything to do with the new man in your life.”
    â€œYou’re right. I do have claws. Hello Kitty claws. And I’ll use them on you if you don’t leave me alone.”
    â€œAre you seeing him?”
    â€œI’m not dating anyone. Not now. Not