Free Last of the Red-Hot Cowboys by Tina Leonard Page A

fizzled, she understood why Cameron might want something to show for it.
    â€œWe’ll all go,” Ava said. “It’s no big deal. One night out of our schedule.” Besides, it would give her a chance to see Trace—not that that should matter a bit.
    â€œThanks,” Cameron said gratefully. “If this adventure doesn’t pan out, I really don’t want to go back home to six siblings and babysitting duties without finding out what a guy who pretty much reminds me of James Dean in
Rebel Without a Cause
kisses like. I get shivers just thinking about it.”
    Ava wished she didn’t understand exactly what Cameron was talking about. She’d had her fair share of shivers from the moment Trace had turned their team down.
    Once he’d kissed her, the shivers had turned to desire. Longing.
    It was hard to go back once that first kiss changed your life.
    * * *
    â€œYou’re late!” Trace bawled at the team when they finally flounced into his training center five minutes past the agreed-upon time. “If you can’t get saddled up and in the ring when I say, I don’t have time to train you.” He glared at the three women.
    â€œJudy called a meeting,” Ava said.
    â€œThat’s Judy’s problem, not mine.” Trace glared at Ava for good measure. He couldn’t get soft around her just because he wanted to get into bed with her. That was a dishonorable thought, but it was true. The night he’d rescued his truck keys from her, landing himself on her to teach her about messing with a man and his truck had been a dumb idea.
    Really dumb. He’d had a hard-on for the past week that wouldn’t quit.
    â€œWe’re here now.”
    â€œAll right then,” he said gruffly. “Warm up. Around the ring, nice and gentle. You know the drill. The horses need time to get used to working out here. No fancy stuff.”
    He really did sound like a drill sergeant. Ava shook her head, but she was used to tough instructors and went through the paces. She could feel him watching her, testing her, picking at her form with a testy eye.
    â€œYou ladies have had some decent training, but not enough,” Trace said as they went by. “I can’t imagine what makes you three think you want to be bullfighters. A decent seat on a pony doesn’t make you tough enough or strong enough to be a bullfighter—even if you were males, which you clearly aren’t.”
    Ava let that pass for the moment, gritting her teeth as she cantered. Trace getting under her skin wasn’t a recipe for success. He was every bit as cantankerous as Miss Judy was airy-fairy, and of the two, only Trace could get them where they wanted to go.
    â€œSo what was this all-important meeting about?” Trace demanded after he’d waved them to the middle of the ring.
    â€œCameron has a date with Jake the—Jake Masters,” Ava said.
    Trace glanced at the beautiful redhead with the big eyes and the mysterious expression. Sexy, but not his type—he had to go for the spunky, dark-haired one with the sassy, loud mouth. “How the hell is that my problem? Dumb idea, by the way,” he said to Cameron.
    â€œIt’s not your problem, Trace. We won’t be late again,” Ava said.
    â€œIt is your problem,” Harper said, “because you’re going with us.”
    Ava’s gaze met Trace’s, and he felt sparks run all over him, snapping and hot.
    â€œWhy in holy hell would I give up two seconds of my time to babysit a dumb redhead doing a dumb thing?”
    â€œTrace,” Ava said, “Judy thinks it’s a good idea if you go.”
    â€œI’m not a nursemaid.” Recognizing the mayor trump card being played on him, Trace glared at all of them. “If you ladies are just in Hell to find men, then there’s not a chance that you’re serious about being a team.”
    â€œGet a grip, Trace,” Ava