Free The Reluctant Rancher by Patricia Mason, Joann Baker Page A

inside.
    “ That’s not true. ”   Luke was too decent a man for him to think people only wanted to socialize with him simply because of his wealth.
    “ Isn’t that why you came to the Circle T, because you wanted something? ”
    “ Well, yes, ” she sputtered.   “ But that’s not the same thing.
    One black brow arched . “Really ? ”
    “ I’ve talked to you before and never wanted anything. ”
    “ When? ”  
    “ At the summer camp last year. ”
    “ You didn’t say a word to me, Mary.   You helped with the kids all day if memory serves me right. ”
    “ Well, maybe I didn’t speak to you . ” Mary's heart skipped a beat when she realized Luke had noticed her after all.   And regretted the fact she hadn’t had the courage to talk to him then.   “ But, did you speak to me? ”
    “ Not that I recall. ”   His frowned deepened.
    “ See, you’re just as bad as you think others are.   Wasn’t I pretty enough to garner your attention? ” She held her breath as she waited for his answer.
    Luke stopped and encirc led her arm with one large hand, his hold almost bruising in its force. He jerked her toward him. “ If I didn’t speak to you, it had nothing to do with how you look.   You’re a very attractive woman. ”
    “ Right . ” Mary didn't believe his words.   She knew exactly how she looked beneath her warm winter sweaters. She tried to pull her arm free and walk away.   “ That’s why all those Hollywood directors are knocking down my door with requests for me to star in their next beach movie. ”
    Luke’s green eyes narrowed into tiny slits.   “ Didn’t I notice you in the barn yesterday? ”
    She flushed, heat suffusing her cheeks as she remembered their shared passion. “ Well, y-yes, ” she stammered.   ” But I know it was just the situation.   You are a cowboy after all, Mr. Tanner. ”
    “ Don’t lump me in with a bunch of rough rednecks looking for a good time, ” he growled. He tugged her flush against his big body.   “ I’m a man who noticed a very attractive, very desirable woman.   Maybe you need a little reminder of that fact. ” He lowered his head.
    Mary waited with baited breath for his mouth to touch hers.   Despite her looks and her size, did he find her attractive?   She was almost starting to believe it. Almost. Her heart filled with joy at the thought anyway. She stood on her tiptoes, her head lifted and ready to meet his mouth halfway.
    “ Hi, Miss Carter. ”
    Mary groaned in regret as Eddie Carson, Jr., son of the owner of Eddie’s Garage and its head mechanic, called a greeting from the back of the building, bringing the magic moment to an end.   It did her ego worlds of good to hear Luke curse as he dropped his hands and stepped away.
    “ Your car’s ready, ma’am.   I’ll have one of the boys pull it around front. ”   The mechanic wiped his greasy hands on an even greasier rag . He pull ed a clipboard from the wall and total ed her bill.   “ I don’t mean to be bossy , but you really do need a new set of tires.   With this cold weather threatening snow again and the spring rains coming soon, you can never be too careful. ”
    She sighed as she read the total bill.   There went her plans to use most of the generous salary from the Tanners to play catch up with the outstanding bills and use what remained to make a down payment on a computer system to track the agency’s patients an d billing, a tedious job she hated doing by hand every month.   Then, if Luke did stay true to his word and give her the loan, she would have enough working capital to see her through until next summer.   If she were very, very fugal.
    She wrote a check to cover the cost of the repairs, kissing the computer goodbye.   A car, she desperately needed.   A computer she wanted but could do without for a while longer.
    “ I know, Eddie.   You tell me that every time I bring my car in.   You know I do well to keep that old bucket of bolts