Free Learnin' The Ropes by Shanna Hatfield Page B

the south I came from with my funny twang. It didn’t take long for me to never say the word ‘wash’ and to learn to speak so people wouldn’t think I was a redneck.”
    Ty studied her, realizing how hard it would be for a girl who grew up in such a tiny little community to move to Portland on her own. He would be willing to bet overcoming a few language issues was the least of her worries.
    “I’ll let you in on a little secret, though,” Lexi said, leaning near him and dropping her voice.
    “What’s that?” Ty moved close enough to her he could see golden flecks swimming in her mossy green eyes.
    “As hard as I tried to get it to go away, my neck is always going to be just a little bit red.” Lexi grinned.
    “Are you sure?” Ty scooted closer to her, keeping a serious look on his face. “Maybe I better look and see.”
    Lexi turned around and held her ponytail up, exposing the flawless expanse of her long neck. “Look close, I’ll bet you see some red.”
    “Nope, I don’t see a thing.” Ty edged even closer. Lexi’s enticing scent captivated his senses and he breathed deeply.  “Oh, wait… right there it is.”
    Refusing to think about what he was doing, Ty pressed a warm kiss to her skin, watching red flush up her neck.
    Lexi dropped her ponytail and spun around, unable to think let alone speak. Tingles of pure delight raced through her and she shoved her hands under her legs to keep from burying them into the temptation of Ty’s thick hair.
    “You, Mr. Lewis, are a tease,” she finally said, trying to keep the conversation light.
    “Guilty as charged,” Ty said, deciding he better leave before he did something to get himself fired.
    After all, he’d not even been on the ranch two full weeks and here he was shamelessly flirting with the boss. What was wrong with him?  Quickly getting to his feet, he held out a hand to Lexi. Reluctantly, she took it and walked him back to the kitchen, stopping at the door.
    “Thank you for the meal,” Ty said, not wanting to leave. “It was one of the best I’ve had in a very long time.”
    “You’re welcome. Thanks for keeping me company. The house gets kind of quiet sometimes.” Lexi stared at the floor, uncertain she could keep from kissing Ty if she looked into those gorgeous blue eyes again. “And thanks again for helping pull the calf. I’m really glad you were here.”
    “Me, too,” Ty said honestly. He could witness the miracle of birth a hundred more times and still be in awe. “If I can ever help, just let me know.”
    “I will. Good night,” Lexi said, raising her face to look into his as he opened the door. Despite the cold air seeping in, she felt thoroughly warmed by his intense gaze.
    “Night, Lexi.” He stepped outside and closed the door behind him.
    Lexi sighed as she sank down on a kitchen chair. He called her Lexi. Not Lex Jr. not Lex, not boss.
    Lexi.
    On the ranch, it helped keep the men focused on her being the person in charge and not a young single female to have them call her Lex or boss. But for reasons she didn’t want to examine, her heart fluttered in response to Ty calling her Lexi.
    As she turned off the gas fireplace in the family room, she could still feel the light brush of his lips heating the skin of her neck.
    Mercy, she didn’t know what she’d do when he got caught up on the mechanic work and it was time to teach him about ranching. As good as he looked in his grease monkey attire, Ty would be positively lethal to her system in boots and Wranglers.
     
     

Lesson Four
    Good Manners Aren’t Optional
     
    “Thet’s yes ma’am, no sir, please and thank ya.
    There’s jes no excusin’ bad manners.”
     
    Settled into his routine on the ranch, Ty prepared to work on a plow. He only knew it was a plow because that is what Swede called it when they moved it into the shop. There was a whole shed full of farm equipment he was slowly learning the names of one piece at a time.
    Three days after his dinner