Free The Rancher's One-Week Wife by Kathie DeNosky

chemistry they’d discovered between them in Las Vegas was just as strong, if not stronger, than it had ever been. As she continued to gaze into the fathomless depths of his eyes, she’d never felt as safe and secure in her entire life as she felt at that moment.
    They both remained silent for several more moments before they started across the pasture toward the trail that led back down to the ranch. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that he would do whatever it took to protect her from any and all dangers.
    Her heart skipped a beat as she thought of how difficult it was becoming to keep him at arm’s length. He’d acted just like the husband she’d always dreamed of, even though she’d presented him with divorce papers to end their union. And it was getting harder and harder to remember why it was the best for both of them to go through with the divorce.
    She sighed when she glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He might be prepared to protect her from the four-legged predators that could hurt her. But who was going to protect her from the force of nature that was Blake Hartwell?

Four
    “I told you riding isn’t as hard as you thought it would be,” Blake said, smiling as he helped Karly dismount the mare.
    “I think I need to join a gym,” she commented as she patted Suede’s neck and moved away from the horse. Karly’s wince and the way she walked told him that she’d spent too much time in the saddle for her first time riding.
    His smile faded. He could have kicked himself for being an inconsiderate jerk. A new rider needed to condition their thigh and back muscles on shorter rides before they attempted long hours in the saddle. Otherwise they risked soreness much like what someone would expect after a strenuous workout. How could he have been so thoughtless?
    He’d been so caught up in showing her the ranch and his way of life, he’d forgotten all about her being new to the experience of being on a horse. Now she was paying the price for his oversight.
    “Why don’t you go on up to the house and try to relax while I take care of the horses?” he suggested.
    “I think I’ll take you up on that offer,” she said, nodding. She smiled. “I may be out of shape, but you’re right about the riding. I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I actually enjoyed myself.”
    As he watched her turn and walk slowly toward the house, he knew what he would do if they were at the main house. He’d make sure she took a nice long soak in the hot tub, then give her a massage with a good soothing liniment. His body tightened at the thought of once again touching her satiny skin as he ran his hands over her thighs and back. Then he would turn her over and sink himself...
    “You’re one sorry son of a bitch, Hartwell,” he muttered as he brushed down the horses. Karly was hurting from his insistence that she ride a horse and his carelessness about the hours she spent in the saddle. They’d both signed divorce papers that she was eager to file. But all he could do was think about what a pleasure it would be to make love to her again. If that didn’t make him a prize jerk, he didn’t know what did.
    Blake took a deep breath to relieve some of his building tension. She obviously didn’t want him touching her that way and if he wanted to preserve what little sanity he had left, he shouldn’t want that, either. But as long as he kept his hands to himself, he could drive her over to the ranch house for some time in the hot tub to ease her discomfort.
    Of course, that would require introducing her to Silas. Blake wasn’t worried about the old guy telling her that Blake was the owner of the Wolf Creek Ranch. He knew that if he asked Silas to keep that information to himself, the old man would take it to his grave before he told a soul. But introducing his soon-to-be ex-wife and then keeping secrets from her was going to add a lot of fuel to the fire of the many lectures Blake would have to endure before