She thought about the way his denim blue eyes had watched her all afternoon and the sensual curve of his smile. He’d made her feel sexy and beautiful in a way no man had ever made her feel before.
Thoughts of her ex-husband intruded, darkening everything. He’d taught her that a man wasn’t always what he appeared to be on the surface. He’d made it clear she wasn’t desirable to him any longer and it had made her wonder if she could be desirable to any man.
She frowned at her turn of thoughts. Bart Wilder had hurt her in ways no one ever had before. She wasn’t going to let him take away the happiness she’d experienced today and the possibility that a man could find her attractive just the way she was.
A car passed by and light chased shadows on her walls. For too long she’d let Bart control her life and joy. That wasn’t going to happen anymore.
She let her thoughts drift back to Ryan. She remembered his boyish grin when he’d won the gorilla and had presented her with it. Was she fooling herself by being so certain that Ryan was exactly who he said he was? She was sure he wasn’t pretending to be someone he wasn’t. She’d seen it in the way he’d interacted with children and adults alike, and by how popular he clearly was.
He seemed genuine and down to earth and a real man’s man. He’d be tough when he needed to be or gentle when the situation called for it.
Was it possible he was thinking of her now, just as she was thinking about him?
She closed her eyes and gradually drifted off to sleep, dreaming of cowboys, gorillas, and banana peels.
Chapter 5
The sun was rising as Ryan went about his morning chores. The morning was clear, the sky a crystal blue, the cool air still.
He whistled to Ossie, his Australian shepherd, as he thought about the sexy brunette he’d spent the afternoon with yesterday. She had wide glass-green eyes framed with dark lashes and a smile that made something twist deep in his gut. He loved how her cute ass looked in her jeans. He wanted to run his hands along every one of her curves and to feel her warm, soft body against his.
She had a beautiful smile and a glow about her that told him she enjoyed life. Yet there was the hint of sadness in her eyes that made him want to protect her, to take whatever pain she’d felt and make it vanish with the wind. The thought that anyone could have hurt her made him grit his teeth. He barely knew Megan, but he’d be happy to knock the shit out of any man who tried to hurt her. Or who had already hurt her.
Ryan shook his head. Damn but he had it bad for the woman. Real bad.
Ossie answered his whistle, bolting toward him, coming from the direction of the corral.
He rubbed behind the dog’s ears as she looked up at him with her clear blue eyes. She was a blue merle with a mottled black, white, and gray coat.
Ryan patted her head before straightening. “What have you been up to?”
Ossie stepped back and gave a single bark in answer.
“Ah, you’ve been up to no good.” Ryan clicked his tongue. “Come on, girl. We have work to do.”
She moved to his right, a step behind him. Ryan headed for the barn where one of his two part-time ranch hands was mucking out a stall. The young man usually smiled and hummed as he worked, but today he was quiet, his expression serious.
Ryan pushed up the brim of his Stetson as he came up beside Bill. “How’s your mama? Is she out of the hospital yet?”
The usually upbeat young man faced Ryan and leaned on his shovel. “She’s out of the hospital but she’s not doing so good.” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “The doctor said Mama’s got cancer and she doesn’t have any insurance. I’m trying to get enough money together to help her buy groceries and pay her bills since she hasn’t been able to work.”
“Damn.” Ryan felt like he’d taken a kick to his gut as he rested his hand on Bill’s shoulder. He’d known Mary Jane Dow from the time they were kids. She’d gotten pregnant with Bill not long after they graduated from high school, some eighteen years ago, and had raised the boy on her own. “How much does she need?”
Bill took off his green John Deere cap, his blond hair damp from perspiration. He wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “I’ve got part of it, but I need to make at least another thousand. I just don’t know how I’m going to get everything she needs.” He glanced at the ground then looked at Ryan again. “I need a second job to keep up with the bills.”
Ryan nodded. “I’ll ask around, see if anyone needs an extra hand.”
“Thank you, sir.” Bill’s expression showed some relief. “I appreciate that.”