Free The Trouble With Cowboys by Melissa Cutler Page A

man to believe sex can ever be casual to a woman.” Something in her tone spoke of her personal experience in such matters.
    “Look, Rachel. There’s no hurt to be had. Amy and I have an understanding. Neither of us wants a relationship. We’re just having fun.”
    Her gaze, knifelike in its resolve, finally met his. “All the same, see that you stay away from her in the future so you don’t hurt her. Or, more to the point, so you don’t encourage her to hurt herself, jumping headfirst into shallow water, as it may be.”
    Ouch.
    Rachel pushed to her feet with a sigh and handed Kellan her empty bottle. “Amy’s been damaged enough. If you lead her into more hurt, you’ll answer to me. And that’s a promise you can take to the bank.”
    He stood, nodding. “Yes, ma’am.”
    “I’m glad we understand each other.” She offered him her hand to shake, which he took. Her grip was firm, her palm and fingers calloused. Rachel Sorentino was one tough lady.
    “I’ve got something for Amy in the kitchen, if you wouldn’t mind passing it along.”
    She snorted. “What did I tell you?”
    “It’s produce, Rachel. Relax.”
    He held the door open, then followed her in and rustled through the fridge for the bag of produce he’d selected from his greenhouse that morning. “I was going to deliver these tomorrow, but since you’re here, she might as well use them while they’re at their freshest.”
    Rachel felt the bag. “Vegetables?”
    “Cabbage, garlic, and two bunches of celery. In case she runs low before the stores open tomorrow,” he added with a wink.
    Rachel nodded solemnly. “Guess you know her better than I gave you credit for.”
    “You want to stay for dinner? I was fixing to barbecue some Slipping Rock steaks when you showed up. We’ve got plenty of food to go around.” He knew she wouldn’t, but found himself interested in gauging her reaction.
    She cast a wary look toward the living room, mashing her lips into a straight line. Kellan followed her gaze to the sofa. Chris and Lisa smiled encouragingly. Vaughn stared at the television, his expression blank. “Thanks anyway, but I’m expected home for dinner.”
    Kellan closed the door behind her. Vaughn wandered to the window, watching Rachel’s truck disappear over the hill.
    “What was that about?” Lisa asked.
    Kellan rubbed his neck. “She wanted to be sure I understood that if I hurt Amy, there’ll be a reckoning.”
    “Gotta admire her,” Chris said. “Rachel takes care of her own. Always has. We were in the same grade, kindergarten through high school graduation. All those years, no one bullied Amy or Jenna more than once, I can tell you that.”
    Kellan walked to Vaughn and slugged him in the arm. “You all right?”
    A muscle in Vaughn’s jaw twitched; his eyes remained fixed on the horizon. “That woman sucks the air out of a room. I can’t believe you invited her to stay for dinner.”
    Kellan hadn’t seen Vaughn so off his game in a while. “Did something happen with you and Rachel? Some kind of bad blood?”
    Vaughn wiped his palms on his jeans. “I need a cigarette.”
    “No, you don’t,” Kellan said. “You quit smoking in January. You’re almost at your one-year anniversary. How about another beer instead?”
    That earned him a wry huff. “Isn’t that like fighting one vice with another?”
    “I suppose. But beer won’t give you lung cancer.” He was already headed toward the refrigerator.
    Chris wagged a finger in Vaughn’s direction. “You said you logged a lot of hours at the Sorentino farm, so you must’ve spent a fair amount of time around Rachel. Why don’t you like her?”
    Vaughn ignored the question and motioned to the snack spread on the coffee table, a plastic-looking smile glued to his lips. “What’s the deal, Kellan? It’s half-time and I’m starving. You want me to fix the steaks myself? A man can’t live on cheese alone.”
    After a split-second consideration, Kellan decided to