Free Sweet and Wild by Cerian Hebert Page B

a snit yesterday.”
    “I got sidetracked,” he replied evenly.
    The kiss. That had diverted
him. Nice way to circle the topic back.
    “Why did he leave in such a huff?”
    “Because I told him I was going to buy
my ranch back, no matter what.”
    Quinn looked at him, eyes wide. “You’re
kidding.”
    “No ma’am. I wouldn’t kid about that.
He’s nearly destroyed it. It made me sick. I want to rescue it, and those
animals of his, from complete ruin.”
    “I can’t imagine your offer thrilled
him. If nothing else, the man has pride.”
    “No, he wasn’t thrilled. I don’t think
he liked the words I used to describe my feelings. I get the impression money
will motivate him in the end. With a man like that, cash always seems to win
out.”
    Quinn hoped he was right. What Ted had
done to the Lynch’s place could only be described as criminal. There were
ranchers around these parts who would be happy to string a man up for
destroying property, treating animals in a way that bordered cruelty. But how
would Craig run two spreads?
    “Good for you. I wouldn’t be too sad to
see the last of him. Although I worry about his wife and son.”
    Craig nodded and continued to stare at
her. “It was a good thing you did for her.”
    Quinn shrugged. “Every woman deserves a
little pampering.”
    Too much intensity blazed in his blue
gaze. She looked away toward Shelby and Marisol. Marisol stroked the mare’s
neck but listened to what Shelby had to say.
    “Are we not going to talk about what
happened yesterday?”
    Damn. Quinn stared at her booted toe,
scuffing it in the dirt. “What’s to talk about?” He’d apologized for scaring
her. She glanced at him and noted his furrowed brows. “Listen, I don’t know
what was going through my head. I’m sorry to make you uncomfortable.”
    Craig’s troubled frown turned into a
frustrated grimace.
    “You don’t have to apologize, Quinn. I
kissed you, not the other way around. There’s nothing to apologize for.”
    Quinn sighed. She’d all but invited the
kiss. On the dance floor, in his arms she couldn’t keep her senses in any kind
of order. The kiss came as naturally as a breeze off the prairie, sweet and
pure with the possibility of turning into something a lot more dangerous.
    Now she knew what kissing Craig felt
like. It didn’t have to happen again, as much as she wanted more.
    She didn’t know what was worse. Not
knowing, or knowing what she’d miss if he never kissed her again.
    With a forced smile, she looked at him,
straightening. “Yeah, okay. It’s not like it’s going to happen again, right? If
I’m here working with your daughter, well, it might be for the best.”
    Craig’s mouth opened as if to reply, but
he didn’t say anything. His blue gaze regarded her. Trouble lurked in those
eyes, she could see it as plain as day, mirroring her own, but she refused to
back down.
    He closed his mouth and nodded. “Guess
you’re right.”
    Quinn hated putting a wall up between
them but it had to be done if she wanted to hold onto the self-control she had
left. She hoped he’d prove stronger than she.
    Shelby, Marisol and Sunny joined them at
the rail and Quinn took the opportunity to put some distance between herself
and Craig, offering to help lug the tack to the barn while the Lynches
concluded their business with Shelby. While in the tack room she heard Shelby’s
truck pull away. Now was good a time to make her break and head for home. She
had a busy day, and getting away from Craig would be a good thing.
    Without talking to Craig directly, Quinn
said goodbye, mounted Piper and headed to her ranch.
    ***
    Quinn tucked her heartache away. She had
scheduled a barrel racing lesson with a housewife from Des Moines and a fifth
grade teacher from Vermont. Then she had a yearling who needed her attention.
That was the meat and potatoes of her life. She didn’t need her head in the
clouds to distract her from her duties.
    Toward the end of the lesson, Quinn