Free Unbroken: Country Fever, Book 3 by Em Petrova Page B

or react, he kicked the ground harder and shoved his hands deep into his pockets. “Let’s go get a chili dog, all right?”
    At least six inches of pure fat on a bun didn’t come with heartache.
    “Okay.”
    He led her to his truck and opened the door for her. She slid onto the vinyl seat, too aware of his closeness. He came around the front of the vehicle and hopped in the driver’s side.
    She’d sat beside him a number of times while shuttling around the Langley Ranch, but this felt more formal.
    She didn’t know Christian, yet she knew how his face looked when he climaxed. Knew how he tasted and how gentle he was with the animals. And how desperately he was hurting from Tucker’s loss too.
    He started the engine and top forty radio blared into the cab. Giving her a sheepish smile, he turned the music down.
    “Where’s the best place to grab a chili dog?”
    “The Quickie Mart, of course.” Shooting her a crooked grin, he braced a hand on the seat near her shoulder and twisted in order to back up.
    She dug out her cell and texted her friend to let her know she wouldn’t be at The Hellion as planned. As she flipped through contacts, she paused on Tucker’s name. For an excruciating moment, she considered texting him.
    Miss u.
    Why did u go?
    Chris and I are getting too close.
    None of those seemed appropriate, so she stuffed her phone in her purse.
    “You wouldn’t believe the work it took to make this road surface so perfect.” Christian’s low voice slid over her senses, a caress she didn’t want.
    Playing along, she asked, “Like what?”
    “Ten twelve-hour days for a crew of twenty men. Up here, we had to hand dig the ditch, because the space was too tight for the machinery.” He glanced at her. “It’s strange. You can drive this stretch of road a hundred times and never really know it until you’ve touched it.”
    She could look at Christian as a handsome man who made her body hum, but since that night she’d come against his mouth and on his fingers, she’d never think of him the same way.
    After a while, he asked, “You were meeting friends at The Hellion again?”
    “Yes, we have a standing date.”
    “Who do you have in your life besides friends?”
    “My aunt.”
    “Brothers or sisters?”
    “No, just a dad who drives truck. I don’t see him very often. My aunt has taken care of me forever.”
    His lips tightened, causing a bracket to form around the corner. “I have a sister, Moira, who lives about two hours away with her family. She has four kids and one on the way.” He shook his head. “I don’t know when she became a brood mare, but—”
    Claire smacked his biceps hard, and he hunched around the steering wheel in laughter.
    “Thank God it’s not foal season. I can’t possibly be expected to know how to pull a foal on the ranch.”
    “Yeah, that’s beyond my scope too.”
    The weight of their new responsibilities crashed over them. Tucker had told Christian that he’d be gone for a few days. Two had passed without word from him. When would he come back? What happened when the animals ran out of food? On a waitress’s income, there was no way Claire could buy food. And she was sure Christian’s income wouldn’t get them much further than a couple of chili dogs scarfed down in the parking lot of the Quickie Mart.
    They bumped into the parking lot. She gripped the “holy shit” handle to brace herself.
    Christian pulled into a parking spot and sat there for a minute.
    “What’s up?” she asked.
    “Umm. I forgot about my wet jeans.”
    Laughter bubbled from her. Too easily she recalled his shocked expression when the cold liquid hit his man parts.
    He dug into his back pocket and produced a battered leather wallet. He peeled off a couple of bills, but her gaze was locked to the small ring where a condom obviously was tucked. “Here, get what you want and two dogs for me.”
    She accepted the bills, careful not to touch his fingers. “Drink?”
    “Biggest