Free Samantha’s Cowboy by Marin Thomas Page B

slay her dragons, right her wrongs—basically make an ass of himself around her.
    He knew one thing for sure—he’d never have a shot at being her hero if he didn’t recover her money.
     
    W HAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON ?
    Since Wade wouldn’t receive copies of the company security tapes until next week he’d decided to skip work Friday and head out to the Peterson homestead, hoping to make progress on the well-digging before Samantha showed up tomorrow morning. He hadn’t expected to find a dozen half-naked cowboys strutting around the place.
    Wade slowed his car to a stop and stared at the assortment of pickups parked near the farmhouse. Where was Samantha? He spotted her writing in her trusty notebook while a cowboy—a tall, muscular, no-eye-glasses kind of cowboy—talked her ear off.
    The guy’s words must have tickled her funny bone, because Samantha’s head fell back and she laughed. Her full-blown smile caught Wade in the gut, stealing his breath. What he wouldn’t give to make her laugh that hard.
    Feeling like a misfit among a gathering of Marlboro men, Wade shoved his glasses up his nose and got out of the car. He made a beeline for the barn, hoping his presence would go unnoticed. Fat chance.
    Each cowboy Wade strolled by stopped. Turned. Stared. Twenty steps later Samantha’s voice smacked him in the back of the head.
    “Wade!”
    Crap. He waited for her to catch up with him, hoping she wouldn’t make a big deal of his presence in front of the work crew. Face smudged with dirt and her braid unraveling, she’d never looked sexier.
    “What are you doing here? Weren’t we supposed to meet tomorrow morning?”
    “Things were slow at work this week so I decided to take today off and put in a few hours digging the well.” He knew how badly she wanted the project finished by Sunday night. There wasn’t a chance in hell of making that deadline, but he was determined to give it his best shot.
    Instead of appearing pleased, she scowled. “You should have called me.”
    He nodded toward the others. “If you’re worried I’ll get in the way—”
    “I would have told you not to bother showing up today. Or any other day.”
    “Why?”
    “The guys offered to finish digging the well.” She motioned to the milling cowboys.
    Wade stared at the throng of sweaty musclemen and clenched his jaw. The walls were closing in on him and damned if he could find an escape route.
    “I appreciate that you’re trying to save me money, Wade, but there’s no reason to wear yourself out—”
    Was she implying that he was a wuss?
    “—when I have the funds to pay professionals to dig a well.”
    “And these cowboys are professional well-diggers?”
    “No. They’re my brother’s rodeo friends. But most of them have grown up on ranches and have construction experience.”
    Wade’s gaze took in the workmen and he conceded that they did indeed appear qualified to dig wells and install fences. “How are you paying for supplies?” He motioned to the wooden posts the cowboys were unloading from the pickups.
    “I charged the materials to my account at Barney’s Ranch Supply.”
    Wade swallowed the knot in his throat. “How much did you spend?”
    “Aside from the fencing, I ordered two water tanks, feeding bins and a few other items. Came to a little over six thousand dollars.”
    “What are you paying these guys to help out?”
    “Nothing. Juanita, my father’s housekeeper, is making her famous barbecue pork sandwiches for the men. You’re welcome to join us when we finish for the day.”
    He’d stand out like a sore thumb among the ropers.“Thanks for the invite, but Luke’s mother is dropping him off at my condo tonight.” He hated asking but his bruised male ego lashed out. “Do all these guys live around here?”
    “No. The rodeo’s in town this weekend.” She chuckled. “Cowboys will do anything for a home-cooked meal.”
    A home-cooked meal and a beautiful woman. “When do we owe Barney’s