Free Almost a Cowboy by Em Petrova Page A

myriad of pinks and purples like some fruity drink had exploded among the clouds.
    “You need some money toward gas? I have plenty.”
    He glanced at her, brows knitted. “I have enough.”
    “Okay, I just thought…” She shut up before she blurted out that she believed him to be broke. Though his truck seemed to be in decent driving condition, it was old and had a lot of miles on it. His clothes were good enough, but worn and faded.
    He switched on the headlights as they fell into the shadow of a mountain. “You thought because of the way I live that I don’t have money.”
    “Well…yeah.” She stared at his profile. His straight nose was something she’d want to pass on to a son, if she ever had one.
    Wait—she’d agreed to find his siblings with him, not bear his children. Although that unprotected sex against the wall might take care of your personal wants.
    They hadn’t spoken about that instance even once. She suspected he’d be knocking his spurs together with happiness if she ended up pregnant.
    A warm coal slid into her stomach at the thought too.
    “I don’t spend money on things like computer tablets.” He gestured to her bag nestled on the floor by her feet.
    “Or electricity?” Rumors had it that he lived a real primitive life—in all ways.
    “That’s true. Where I live, no electric lines exist. But I do run lights and such off propane I haul in. I only use lights when it gets dark, though. I’m outside most of the day.”
    “Even in winter?”
    He nodded. “Even then. I’m out checking trap lines and hunting.” He patted the dash. “The money I just spent to fill up the truck came from last winter’s fur haul.”
    She assessed him. While she was a country girl at heart, she’d spent a lot of time in the city. If she told her coworkers that her lover was a fur trapper, they’d tar and feather her. But to her it was a trade—an honest one for a hardworking man, and she didn’t care what people thought.
    She wanted to tell him she had a bank account full of money but refrained. His pride would take a hit, and she had no desire to throw punches.
    The whir of the tires against pavement lulled her. As night closed in around them, the day’s events weighed on her. She felt as if she’d lived a lifetime since Utah’s return. Last night they’d barely slept. She had no idea how his internal engine was still running.
    Her head bounced on her neck, and she opened her eyes. Utah’s laugh greeted her ears. “You fell asleep, baby.”
    She blinked and tried to focus on her location. They were stopped in what appeared to be a field. Tall grasses surrounded the truck. The headlights illuminated the pale brown stems.
    “What are we doing?” she asked.
    His eyes glowed in the dash lights. “For hours, you’ve been tormenting me with those shorty shorts. And your calves in those cowgirl boots? Mmmm.”
    His hum inflamed her. Bolts of need struck her pussy. She squirmed on the seat.
    He offered her a crooked grin and a fleeting glimpse of his chin dimple before popping the door open. She watched him stride through the beams of the headlights as he circled to the passenger door.
    When he opened it, she slipped into his arms. He didn’t even pause—he just kissed her. The strong aroma of mint clung to him. She parted her lips, and he shoved the peppermint he was sucking into her mouth. She moaned around it and shifted it to her cheek.
    The action caused bittersweet memories to jump into her mind. This was something they’d done while dating, shared mints and gum between classes. He’d trap her against a locker and use his tongue to poke a mint into her mouth—part of him to take to the next class.
    He curled his hands into her hips and hauled her into his steely body. Arousal flooded her panties. Her breasts ached for his touch.
    Swooping an arm behind her legs, he yanked her off her feet. She threw her head back and stared at the stars witnessing this interlude. Every nerve in her body