Free Christmas With the Billionaire Rancher by Mandy Baxter Page A

loosen by small degrees and the tension that had strung his body taut for over a year was completely gone. He could almost picture a regular life in her presence. One where he smiled. Relaxed. Hell, laughed every once in a while.
    He loved this sweet, caring side to her personality. She giggled as the calf nudged her face, his long tongue lapping out at her cheek. Seeing her like this made his heart feel as though it floated around in his chest. As though he could float away right along with it.
    There was a flip side to her lightheartedness, though. A passionate intensity and a hunger that rivaled Nate’s own. She wasn’t ashamed to want him. To want satisfaction. He couldn’t get enough of her fierce kisses, loud moans, and hoarse cries. The thought of her hands on him was enough to make him hard. Shit, he’d take her right here in the corral if she’d let him. Anywhere. Anytime. Nate couldn’t imagine ever not wanting Chloe.
    â€œHand me that syringe, darlin’.”
    Chloe looked up and smiled. “Darlin’, huh?”
    Nate’s breath stalled as though he’d been gut punched. The endearment had rolled of his tongue with ease. He hadn’t even given it a second thought. He took the syringe from Chloe’s outstretched hand and loaded it with the correct dosage of the vaccination. “Would you prefer I call you cheeseburger, too?”
    Chloe soothed the calf with long strokes of her hand while Nate administered the vaccination. “I don’t mind being called darlin’,” she said without meeting his eyes. “But I think you’d better reconsider cheeseburger.”
    Nate sent the calf back out to the corral and urged the next one up into the chute. Chloe reached through the wood fence and stroked its red muzzle. The nervous animal calmed under her touch. Nate knew just how he felt.
    â€œHave you thought any more about what we talked about the other day?”
    Nate paused as he loaded the syringe and studied Chloe. “What do you mean?”
    â€œAbout keeping the money,” she replied.
    â€œNo.” Nate tamped down his rising temper. Why did she insist on bringing the subject up again and again? What did it matter if he kept the money or not?
    â€œOh.” Chloe scratched behind the calf’s ear as Nate administered the vaccination. “Because I was thinking—”
    â€œThere’s nothing to think about.” The icy words left Nate’s mouth before he could think better of it. “Stop trying to convince me to keep the money, Chloe. I’m getting rid of it. Why does it matter to you, anyway?”
    She stopped petting the calf and straightened on the fence. Hurt cut through her expression as she hopped down to the ground below. Nate cursed under his breath. He hadn’t meant to snap at her. But damn it, why did it matter to her? This was exactly one of the reasons Nate wanted that money gone. He didn’t want to have to wonder if the people who wound up in his life were there for him or for the goddamned money in his bank account.
    â€œIt doesn’t matter to me,” she spat. Nate sensed the storm brewing but he did nothing to calm her. “In fact, piss it all away if that’s what you want. I’m sure it would make your father proud.”
    â€œYou know dick about my father, Chloe!” His own temper was a tempest. It wouldn’t be long before it raged out of control. “So do me a favor and don’t tell me what would or wouldn’t make him proud.”
    He’d been through this before and the thought that Chloe might be another gold digger out to get her hands on his family’s money caused an acidic burn to scald its way up his throat. He wanted her to want him for him, damn it. And the fact that she kept pressing the matter of money tore open wounds that Nate had spent years trying to heal. He couldn’t stop his temper from rising. The subject of his