Free Roping His Heart by Angela Fattig Page A

ran the cattle and horses. That had always been the plan.
    Shaking her head again, she stepped closer. So close I could smell her; a mix of vanilla and her own sweet scent. I always knew she was around by her smell. I had been with plenty of women and knew none of them had smelled like her.
    I had only been with those women because I had heard she was seen with plenty of men while I was away. I need a distraction. Something that would help me move on from her and I failed.
    “I was going to call you Dean,” she said, “The men you ran off wanted to sell us some more land, land that is connected to what we already own. My father told me they had talked of expanding but because of the accident they had to postpone it.”
    The accident. Her parents and mine had driven into town a couple weeks ago to celebrate a big sale. On the way home, a drunk driver hit them. No one was killed, but all had been hurt. They were hurt bad enough to require home nurses. My father and hers weren’t able to work the land. I had to hire more help and recruit my younger brothers and her older brothers.
    I slowly nodded. “Ok,” I said, “Fair enough. But why not call me so I could sit in on the meeting?” I was hurt she hadn’t included me.
    “Dean,” she huffed, “Quit acting like a baby. Hell you’re thirty years old, act your age.”
    I laughed. I couldn’t help it. Here she was five years younger and I was the one acting like a baby.
    “Katy you amaze me,” I said shaking my head.
    “What are you doing here Dean?” she questioned.
    “I was sent to fetch you,” I answered, “The parents want you home for dinner.” She nodded as she collected her things. I waited and watched.
    Years ago, the parents as we like to call them decided that it would save money to share the larger house. They built on, adding more room to house four adults and six kids. My parents had my two younger brothers and me. Katy’s parents had her and two older sons.
    It seemed like a good idea until I realized that Katy would stay there when she came back. I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle living under the same roof and not touch her. To my surprise, when she came back she moved into her own place.
    A few days ago, the parents convinced her to move back in. They argued that it would be so much easier to run the ranch if she lived there. She agreed. I became sick when I found out that she would be sleeping in the room next to mine.
    “Ok rodeo man,” she said smiling, “Are you ready?” I nodded and led her through the bar.
    She liked teasing me about being a rodeo man. Since I was a kid, I loved riding a bull. When I graduated and came home, I entered each year the fair was in town. Over the last four years I have won three. I found out she had come back and would watch me ride. She never admitted to it, but mom and dad confirmed it.
    I placed my hand on her lower back and she stiffened a bit. I smiled behind her knowing that I was still able to affect her.
    “Did you drive?” I asked. She shook her head. So I led her to my truck and opened the door for her.
    She stepped up and her foot slipped. I reached out and grabbed her holding her close. She muttered a ‘thank you’ as I lifted her into the cab and shut the door. Smiling as I rounded the truck, I knew that I was going to have fun with her. I slipped behind the wheel and started the engine.
    The drive was quiet as I was lost in thought. Katy sure had grown up just as I thought she would. She was always beautiful but now she wasn’t just beautiful, she was fucking sexy. Her brown wavy hair was longer, just past her shoulder blades. Her eyes were still as brown as chocolate. Her lips, breast, and hips were fuller, lusher. ‘Yes, Katy had turned into a sex goddess,’ I thought.
    My thoughts turned serious. I just hoped she still loved me. I knew the stories. I knew she had been with other men and it made me jealous as hell. However, I was the one who pushed her away. What did I expect? I