Free Logan's Woman by Avery Duncan

there,” Frank said, the gruff in his voice natural from
old age.
    Logan turned around and saw her. God, would she
never stop taking his breath away? The bright rays from the sun
caught in her hair, making it frame an almost golden halo around
her face.
    Her face lit up the second she saw the horses.
Squealing, almost running to him, she looked between the two men
and the two horses. “Which one do I get to ride,” she demanded,
wide eyed.
    “None,” he teased. “You get to hang on by the
tail and run.”
    Claire waved a hand. “I’ll probably end up
doing that anyways. Seriously, which one!”
    Logan smiled. Her smile was bright and wide and
there weren’t any shadows in her eyes. He wanted to make her look
like that all of the time, he thought, patting the butt of the
mare. “This one is yours. Her name is Berry. Have you ever ridden
before?” he asked, needing to know. He didn’t want her to ride
alone if she was a first time rider...she would have to ride with
him, he thought, not knowing if that was a good thing or a bad
thing.
    “Oh yes, I have,” she said, excitedly looking
at Berry. The horse neighed lightly, shuffling it’s feet. Her head
butted against Claire’s shoulder, and she laughed,
flattered.
    She turned her whole attention to the horse,
cupping the strong jaw and petting, cooing. “You’re such a pretty
girl...yes, you are....” She happily pushed aside the fringe that
hung over the horses face and looked over her shoulder at Logan,
grinning.
    “Can we go now?”
    He nodded dumbly, entranced by the site she
made.
    As she climbed onto the horse like an expert,
he saw that Frank had noticed as well.
    He swallowed roughly and mounted his horse.
Frank made him lean down and he said quietly, “She’s a keeper. Not
at all like Christina.”
    Logan, with a heavy feeling in his chest,
muttered, “Even though she isn’t, doesn’t mean we can keep her.
She’s only going to be here for a month or so.”
    Frank patted his calf, nodding. “That’s enough
time to convince her to stay.”
    He let out a low breath, looking at Claire as
she managed the horse like she had been born on it. She was several
feet away from him, out of hearing distance. “Even if I wanted her
to stay, she wouldn’t. Couldn’t.”
    “We’ll see.” Frank smiled knowingly.
    Logan left him standing there and went to
Claire. “Ready?”
    “More than ever!” she gushed, eyes smiling as
much as her lips were. He forced himself to look away and rode
ahead of her, leading the way.
    Before he knew it, though, Claire was galloping
in front of him, her laugh ringing in the wind, calling to him. Her
hair flew out behind her, caressing the wind. Her body was lithe
and she almost looked like she was one with Berry.
    Right then, Logan knew without a doubt, that he
had to know everything about her. He wanted to know what it took to
make her smile, make her laugh, make her cry, make
her...
    Love.
    He wanted to know what it took to make her
love.
    He might not ever be able to offer
her anything but a bed and a ranch, but he had to know. Needed to know. Logan
didn’t care that he’d only known her for a week. He didn’t care
that being with her seemed impossible yet so easy. He didn’t care
that even though everything in him shouted against it because of
what she was, he had to have her in his bed, wrapped around him,
naked, gasping his name and begging for more.
    Groaning roughly, Logan followed after her.
Only when Berry began to look tired did he stop Claire and make her
follow him to their picnic spot.
    “That was amazing!” she exclaimed, hopping off
of Berry. He saw her wobble and was immediately there to hold her
up. She smiled sheepishly, pulling away from his grasp. “I’m fine,
don’t worry. Just a little strung.”
    What I would do to relax
you... His body hardened and he realized
that it was going to be a very long day.

Chapter 6
     
    Claire watched as Logan walked away from her
stiffly, and went about putting