Free Marriage at the Cowboy's Command by Ann Major

When he continued talking, curiosity got the best of her. Hobbling over to her window, she lifted the drape. She gasped at the sight of Luke leaning against a porch post with his phone pressed against his ear. He’d found the exact spot where the signal was best.
    Who had he called after he’d left her? She strained to hear, but his deep voice was so low she couldn’t catch a single word.
    Pulling her robe over her thin nightgown, she laboriously swung herself down the hall. She opened the front door and soundlessly let herself outside.
    â€œHi, there,” she called out, shivering in the chill breeze.
    He whirled. Quickly he bit out a goodbye, saying words something to the effect of, “Gotta go, call you later.” Then he slid his phone into his pocket.
    â€œTalking to your girlfriend?” she asked, feeling a little put out at the thought of his beautiful countess. Not that his love life was any of her business, she reminded herself.
    He neither confirmed nor denied who he had called as he walked toward her, which made her crankier. “It’s 9:00 a.m. in London. I couldn’t get a signal in the house, so I came outside.”
    â€œI’ll take that as a yes.”
    â€œThink what you like.”
    He’d showered since she’d last seen him. Vaguely she remembered falling asleep to the sound of the water running while he’d sung a bawdy Western ballad off-key.
    He smelled sexily of minty cologne and soap.
    â€œDid you even go to bed?” she asked.
    â€œCouldn’t sleep. Jet lag. Problems with one of my newly acquired companies. I worked on my laptop awhile. What’s your excuse?”
    His white shirt was open at the throat, revealing tanned skin. His jeans molded to his muscular thighs. But it was the intensity of his dark, hooded gaze that challenged her and sent a trill of sensation up her spine. Suddenly it was very difficult to breathe.
    You are the reason I can’t sleep, she thought, praying he was unaware of her powerful reaction to him. How was she supposed to doze with such a virile hunk showering right down the hall, especially if he was the very man who triggered all the erotic memories and hot longings she’d fought for years?
    How could he have left her back then, without even saying goodbye?
    For a second longer his eyes remained as turbulent as her own wayward emotions and then he seemed to master some beast inside himself. Turning away, he picked up a glass from the railing, swirled it and drained it.
    Did he have regrets, too?
    With a sigh, she moistened her lip with her tongue.
    He groaned and looked up at the sky. “Pretty night,” he said. “I’ve missed stars.” Then he turned and studied her. “Apparently, I’ve missed a lot of things I didn’t know I missed.” His heated gaze left her mouth andran up and down her length, lingering in such a way as to stir her.
    â€œMy ankle hurt.” She hoped her tone was matter-of-fact even though she felt a little breathless.
    â€œTake more pain medication.”
    â€œI heard you out here. I was curious.”
    He leaned closer. “You know what they say? Curiosity leads little girls into big trouble. Especially if it involves a man.”
    She tossed her head back. “I can take care of myself.”
    â€œThat being the case, I’d offer you a drink,” he said smoothly, “but whiskey doesn’t mix with those pain pills you’re on.”
    He lifted a bottle of Robert’s best whiskey off the floor and poured himself a second drink. “Hope you don’t mind me raiding your liquor closet. I’ll replace it.”
    â€œDrink all you want. It was Robert’s. Just remember alcohol’s not good for jet leg,” she said rather primly. “You should be drinking water instead.”
    â€œOh, really?” He chuckled, his green eyes flashing teasingly in the moonlight. “I remember a time when you