Tangled in Divine(Divine Creek Ranch 14)(59)

Gwen smiled as she looked the big horse over, marveling that Julián had been able to acquire such a beautiful animal on his ranch hand’s pay. Not that it was any of her business what he made or spent it on. He must have skills with managing his money and had saved for a while. Whatever the case, the animal was an excellent investment. “He must’ve set you back a pretty penny.”

Julián shrugged. “I’d seen him before, and heard through another friend that the owner needed to sell him quickly to pay a debt. I made a reasonable offer and got lucky.” From beneath the shadowed brim of his cowboy hat, he settled his gaze on her and said, “So were you letting Tutti have a run?”

Gwen thought about his question for a second and a smile crossed her face. “I think I was letting us both have a run. It’s only been a week since the last time I was on the back of a horse, but I’m used to being in the saddle daily. I needed it just as much as Tutti did.”

Julián returned her smile, understanding in his eyes. “You looked beautiful…and happy.”

Gwen felt her cheeks warm with heat and pleasure at his words but didn’t know what to say.

“Has Wilbur talked you into moving in yet or will you stay with us until he needs to leave?”

Gwen stroked Tutti’s neck as she considered his question. “It’s my choice. He has a room ready for me now but I’d just as soon stay with you and Chris until it’s time for me to take over for Wilbur on Monday morning.”

His face transformed as he smiled and she’d wondered if he’d worried about that. “Good. We want you to stay with us too. Chris will be happy about that.”

“I hope so. Wilbur said I can have company whenever I want, just no wild parties. And he wants me here at night so that might put a cramp in our love lives.”

“Not necessarily. Our work day begins at dawn but it doesn’t matter where we sleep. You’re right next door and we both have cell phones.”

“I don’t want to get you in trouble with Del.” Because she was friends with them too, Gwen knew that the ranch was Del’s venture, while Lily and Clay owned and ran Clay’s jewelry store in town.

“We won’t let that happen.” His tone said he was sure of himself. “I’ll talk to him about it to make sure, but if he needed us at night, he’d call us on our phones and we’d be available within minutes. The distance between the ranch hand’s house and the ranch house at Grace’s place is greater. There’s even a gate between the Del’s and Wilbur’s ranches to allow for easier access.”

“I’m going to wander around a bit more and then check in with Wilbur. He may have something he wants me to help him with this afternoon. I’ll make arrangements with him for tomorrow morning and then I’ll be back over to your place. Is your work day about done?”

“Chris ran into Divine, to the feed store. After he gets back we’ll unload the truck and then be finished for the day. We wanted to grill steaks tonight. That sound okay?”

Gwen’s stomach chose that moment to growl with glee.

Julián laughed and said, “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“It sounds wonderful,” Gwen agreed, laughing along with him and holding her hand to her stomach, hoping that didn’t happen again. She’d been so focused on visiting with Wilbur she had forgotten to eat any lunch. Now it was closing in on the end of the day and she was starving. That’s okay. I can afford to skip a few meals.

He crooked his finger at her and slowly sidled Mick closer to the pipe fence as she did the same. He placed his hand at her hip as the animals settled for a few seconds and allowed them a lingering, soul-searing kiss. It still ended too fast for Gwen’s tastes but she appreciated the heat in Julián’s eyes as he gazed at her. She felt a corresponding wave of warmth creep through her body, centering in her pussy when his palm slid down her thigh as Mick backed away from the fence.

“Know what I want to do to you?” he asked softly, his voice a deep, husky drawl.

Gwen bit her lower lip and then shook her head as the wave of heat within her stirred into a blaze.

“I want to take you into the shower with me, touch you all over, rub all those muscles that might be sore tomorrow from riding, and then I want to lay you down on our bed and just look at you.”

“Look at me?” Her voice was a breathy whisper. Her pulse pounded as he licked his lower lip and nodded.

“For starters, yes.”

“Then what?”

A devilish grin transformed his sensuous lips. “I’ll show you the rest when I see you this evening.”