Free Loving Lydia (Atlantic Divide) by Diane Saxon Page B

through the dimly lit building. She kept a tight control as her breathing started to escalate. Nerves jittered as it dawned on her that she was alone. She never allowed herself to be alone. There were too many things that could happen to a person when they were on their own.
    One of the horses gently whinnied and stamped its foot, and Lydia’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest. Her heart beat loud in her own ears as she strove for control. She tried to take long, even breaths to calm her erratic pulse as she forced herself to walk toward the doors, desperate to break into a run as her mind screamed out for her to get out, get out quick.
    She saw the cowboy step into the doorway, hat on the back of his head, long legs, and broad chest.
    “Oh, there you are.” She stepped forward as relief coursed through her veins, making her feel foolish.
    The figure in the doorway stepped forward too, stumbled a little as he knocked his own hat off his head, and exposed short, spiky black hair.
    “Well, hello there, baby. You looking for me? You’ve found me.” His words were slurred. “What you gonna do with me?” Lydia felt a strong impulse to step backward, but doing that would take her further into the stables, and she wasn’t easy with that idea.
    As he came closer she could see the leer on his face, and her heart rate kicked in treble time. Her eyes darted around and gave a quick assessment of the inebriated state of the cowboy and her ability to avoid him. She figured the best way to get past him was to walk straight toward him and then feint to the right. That way she’d probably be beyond him before he got his drunken bearings.
    She figured wrong. As she came alongside him, his hand shot out quicker than she could have imagined and grabbed her arm. He stepped her backward against a stable door.
    “I think you’ve made a mistake.” Her voice wobbled slightly, but it was clear enough.
    “No mistake, baby. You’re looking for a man, you’ve found one.” He let go of her arm and leaned in, placed his hands on the door either side of her head, and breathed alcohol fumes into her face. She turned her head to one side, and he put his lips against her temple.
    “Oh, baby, you could be so good to me. Your boyfriend wouldn’t even have to know. We’ll be quick, I promise.”
    Bile rose at the back of her throat, and she thought she was going to be sick on him. She put her hands up and braced them against his chest, trying to keep her face turned away.
    “Let me go right now, or you’ll be in a lot of trouble.” Her voice sounded pathetic even to her own ears as she tried to push him back. He was immovable, strong and wiry, typical of the ranch hands she’d seen around. One hand came down to the front of his trousers and he rubbed himself, giving a lascivious grin as he squinted down at her.
    “No, baby, you’re gonna like what I’m gonna give you, and you won’t say nothing to no one.” His fingers unfastened the top button of his jeans. Her knees turned to water, and she whimpered. Her eyes darted to the left to try to find an escape route.
    “Who’s in here?”
    “Sam.” Her voice was high-pitched and pitiful as she recognized his familiar voice.
    “Lydia?” Sam stepped inside the doorway, turned toward them, eyebrows dipped low as his eyes squinted in the dim light at her and the cowboy.
    The cowboy moved away from her and gave Sam an insolent smile.
    “I got me a woman. Go get your own.”
    Sam stood motionless as though he was gauging the situation, his expression unreadable. His voice sounded amicable enough when he spoke.
    “Buddy, I didn’t know you’d got back.”
    “Sure did, there was nothing going on in town, so I came back and found me a real little sex kitten right here. Who would have known I’d find someone so hot and willing right in my own backyard.”
    “My backyard,” Sam replied, his voice mild and low as he shifted his stance. Lydia took the opportunity to try and sidle around