Hang Tough(27)

Whew yeah. Tobin Hale on horseback? The epitome of sexy. A prime example of rugged beauty. A powerhouse of raw masculinity. A glorious vision of virility.

The man made her thighs quiver and her mouth water. Or, more accurately, he made the insides of her thighs wet and her mouth ache to know the feel of his lips on hers.

And she might actually burst into spontaneous orgasm if she saw him wearing a pair of those fringed leather pant-things and heard the ching ching ching of his spurs as he ambled toward her with that intense look in his eyes and that wicked smile.

Jade watched him working the cattle for about thirty minutes until the corral was mostly empty. When she saw him dismount, providing her with a very nice view of his buns, she knew it was time to go before he caught her gawking at him.

After Tobin handed the horse’s reins to a smaller guy, he crossed the road and headed straight toward her.

No, he’s heading to the barn. He doesn’t know you’re here creeping on him . . . fantasizing about climbing on and riding him.

And yet, Tobin did mosey over, dust kicking up with his every boot fall. His head tipped down, his hat putting his face in shadow so she couldn’t see his eyes.

But Jade wasn’t looking at his eyes; she was still drinking in everything about him. The closer he got, the more she noticed the marks of his hard work: fine dust covering his hat, brown and green smears on his shirt, hay stuck to the clumps of mud on the frayed hem of his jeans. She’d never seen a man embody a stereotype and yet, transcend it.

So that’s probably why she’d frozen completely when Tobin crouched beside her car and signaled for her to roll down her window.

Please don’t let me be totally tongue-tied.

But she was so flustered she hit the wrong window control buttons.

Twice.

She finally got the right one. As soon as the window opened, the barnyard scent floated past Tobin on a hot breeze, along with the clean cotton scent that lingered in the bathroom after he showered.

Those aquamarine eyes connected with hers and she sort of melted.

“You lost?” he asked in that deep, shiver-evoking voice.

Jade had to clear her throat before answering. “Yes, actually, I am.”

“I figured. No one ever parks on this side of the barn.”

“Am I breaking some kind of rule? Because I didn’t mean to park here; I was looking for a place to turn around. Then I saw you in the middle of all those cows and I got sucked in to watching you do your cowboy thing.”

Tobin smiled. A wide, happy smile that she hadn’t seen before. “‘Cowboy thing.’ Rancher thing is more like it.”

“I’m not well versed in the differences.”

“Well versed.” He laughed softly. “No, bein’ from New York City I don’t suppose you are. But, tiger, I aim to change that.” He pointed to where several pickups were parked in a line. “Park down there and I’ll give you a tour.”

“Really? Because I don’t want to be a bother and interrupt you.”

“It’s a quiet morning. Just me, Ted and Renner. And I don’t gotta worry about introducing you to either of them, bein’s one is married and the other is jailbait.”

Weird comment. “Okay. I’m moving.” She chugged over the deep ruts in the road, but it still jostled her around. As soon as she parked and killed the engine, Tobin opened the driver’s-side door, offering to help her out. “Thanks.”

He didn’t let go of her hand. “I’m happy to see you out and about.”

“I thought I’d take your advice and see the countryside.”

“And you like what you see?”

When she locked her gaze to his and said, “Very much,” they both were aware she wasn’t referring to the scenery.

Tobin squeezed her hand. “Glad to hear that. We’ll start in the small barn.”

“You won’t have me milk a cow or something?”

“Nope. We’re not a dairy, so no milking machines.”

She followed him to the door. Before they walked inside, Jade stepped in front of him. “I’ll probably have a million questions, so please be patient with me.”

“I’m a patient man.” Tobin’s gaze zeroed in on her mouth. “Until I’m not.”

Do not bite your lip.

Then those hypnotic eyes were on hers again, as if he knew exactly what she’d been thinking. He said, “This way,” and rested his hand on her lower back to guide her inside.

The barn had a musty smell. “What’s in here?”

“This time of year? Livestock we’re doctoring. It’s out of season for births. Although if we do end up with a cow or two that calve in the fall instead of the spring, we’ll keep her in here until she delivers.”