Free Stick in the Mud Meets Spontaneity (Meet Your Match, book 3) by Rachael Anderson Page B

once-over and raised a brow at her cut-off denim shorts, old U of C t-shirt, and sneakers. “You’re not exactly dressed for riding lessons.”
    “Yeah. My body could use one more recovery day, if that’s okay. And I have something better in mind for today.” Sam lifted the trunk of her car and gestured inside. “Take a look at some of the most powerful and effective cleaning supplies ever made.”
    “Some?” Colton’s eyes widened at the two boxes filled with everything from cleaning rags, baking soda, and glass cleaner to bleach, bug killer, and air freshener. “What do you plan to do with all that stuff?”
    Sam pushed her trunk closed. “Clean The Shack, of course. I wasn’t kidding about helping out. It’ll be my way of paying you back for my lessons. But I do need you to come down there with me and use those strong muscles of yours”—she tapped his upper arm—“to get me in. My shoulders aren’t quite up to bashing in doors just yet.”
    Colton was already shaking his head. “I don’t expect you to pay for riding lessons with hard labor.”
    “Cleaning isn’t hard.”
    “You haven’t tried scrubbing that bathtub yet.”
    Sam didn’t understand why he was arguing. Didn’t he say only yesterday that he’d love her help? She folded her arms across her chest and cocked her head at him. “I thought cowboys were supposed to be trustworthy. Yesterday, you said I could help and now I can’t?”
    “I said you could help , not do it all for me. I’m not about to ‘bash in the door’ and leave you to it. But—”
    “Of course you are,” she said. “You have a wild and temperamental mustang to train and I’m sure a bunch of other ranching stuff to do. I wouldn’t have told you I’m here to clean, but I really do need your shoulder to get me inside.”
    Colton shifted his weight and stared down the lane, looking like he wasn’t quite sure if he should accept her offer or not.
    “Pretty please?” Sam said. “Otherwise I can’t, in good conscience, let you give me any more lessons.”
    “I thought you weren’t a fan of my teaching methods.”
    “I have faith in you that they’ll go a little better next time.”
    He snickered. “They can’t be much worse, can they?”
    “Nope. Now about The Shack. Think of the satisfaction I’ll get from making it shine.”
    He let out a breath and scratched the back of his neck, still not looking overly happy about it.
    “Oh, and if there are any dead mice lying around, I’m also going to need you to get rid of them,” she added.
    “I bet you’re going to want the water turned on too.”
    Her eyes widened, and she laughed. “Yes, I’m definitely going to want water. And power, if that’s not asking too much.”
    His lips pulled into a smile. “You drive a hard bargain.”
    “I drive a yellow Bug too. Want a ride? I promise that Sunshine is very well behaved and won’t jump any fences or throw you out.”
    “I would only expect that from white Bugs named Herbie.”
    They both got in the car, and she started the engine. As they drove down the lane, Colton said, “Dare I ask if there’s a Sunshine, the first?”
    “Yes. It was an old, rust-colored Datsun that used to belong to Emma Grantham before she married Kevin. I loved the name so much that I decided to name my car the same thing even though they’re nothing alike.”
    “Except good for nothing,” Colton said under his breath.
    Sam pulled to a stop in front of the small cabin and leveled him a look. “I’m sorry. Did you just say my car was good for nothing?”
    “No, of course not.” He let himself out of the car, and Sam had to jog to catch up to him.
    “You did too,” she accused.
    He shouldered open the door then leaned against the door frame. “I would never say that about a Volkswagen Beetle. I mean, think of all the worthwhile things that car can do. Like look pretty… ish on the road or brighten up the road or… um…”
    “Get great gas mileage, turn corners on