Free Cowboy Up by Vicki Lewis Thompson

with the most obvious one being a lack of birth control.
    He gave her a wry smile. “You know, in some ways it would have been easier on me if you’d been a brat.”
    “Sorry to disappoint you.” She’d better get out of here before the chemistry between them took complete control of the situation. “Listen, I’m going to walk to the creek and think about this. I obviously need to have a discussion with my dad, but—”
    “Tomorrow’s his birthday.”
    “Right. I mean, maybe there really is an inheritance, but I tend to think you’re right that he made it up, for whatever reason. Confronting him with this won’t be easy for either him or me.”
    “No, probably not.” His voice was rich with compassion.
    Hearing that compassion was a turn-on. Or maybe hearing him recite the alphabet would be a turn-on. Still, he was the only sounding board she had right now, and listening to his reaction might help her figure out what to do.
    “There’s something else,” she said. “I’ve banked all the money instead of spending it.”
    “All of it?”
    “Yes.” She peered up at him. “Is that so hard to believe?”
    “It shouldn’t be, now that I know you better, but I would have expected you to spend at least part of it.”
    “So will he, and he may be upset that I haven’t. But at eighteen I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life. At twenty-seven, I still don’t know. I wanted to save the money until I had a better chance of spending it wisely, whether it’s for a college degree or to start my own business.”
    “You must have a fair amount tucked away by now.”
    This part of her life she could be proud of. “I seem to have a knack for investing, so I’ve done well with what he’s sent me over the years.” She paused. “But I’m not sure how he’ll take any of this, so can we…can we keep this conversation just between us for now?”
    He nodded. “That’s a given. But don’t you want to set the record straight with everyone at the ranch?”
    “I’d love to, but my dad comes ahead of worrying about what everyone else thinks of me, so I want to proceed with care.”
    “Understood.”
    “All right, then.” She resisted the urge to touch him. Even a small gesture like putting her hand on his arm could ignite the passion smoldering just beneath the surface of their seemingly calm discussion. “Are you sure you don’t need me to stay and help finish up with the rocks?”
    “I’m sure. Take some time alone to think this through.”
    “Okay. See you soon.” She turned and began walking down the widest of the two tire tracks through the meadow.
    “I’ll drive over shortly,” he called after her.
    “Thanks!” She hoped that by the time he did, she’d have some plan for dealing with her father. But she also needed a plan to deal with Clay.
    Now she realized why he’d had that prickly edge to him. He hadn’t liked being attracted to someone he didn’t approve of. Now that he knew she wasn’t taking advantage of Emmett, he had no reason to dislike her. As he’d said, she’d made it tougher for him.
    Tougher for herself, too. Still, they might make it through without giving in to their feelings for each other. As he’d said before, he didn’t want to risk damaging his relationship with Emmett. Besides, she was no psychologist, but she had to believe that, as a former foster kid, Clay would want to avoid anyone who was guaranteed to leave him.
    Those two issues loomed larger the more distance she put between her and the dark-eyed cowboy. Their problems arose when they spent too much time near each other, and the concerns that should keep them apart…didn’t. She couldn’t do much to prevent their close proximity for the next hour or so, but once they’d returned to the ranch, she’d keep out of the danger zone.
    She reached the trees about the time she had that thought, and stepped gratefully into the shade. She caught the flash of a sunlit patch of water through the maze of