Never Let You Go. Judy Christenberry

She beamed at him and he held his breath. “I know. We’ll tell him I’m your girlfriend!”

      Jed thought he was going to choke to death. He coughed several times to regain his breath, and Beth beat him on the back.

      “Are you all right? What’s wrong?” she asked, her eyes wide with concern.

      “Damn, woman! That’s the craziest idea I’ve ever heard.” He backed up a couple of more steps. This time she came after him.

      “Why?”

      “Joe would never believe it.”

      “You think I’m not pretty enough?”

      Jed slumped against the opposite stable door, defeat filling him. He couldn’t lie to her. “You’re too pretty. Joe wouldn’t believe anyone like you would be interested in someone like me.”

      Her eyelids lowered and she stepped to his side, one hand sliding up his chest. “Sure he would, sugar. I’m a good actress.” She was using the drawl that had fooled him this morning when she’d mentioned that blasted manicure.

      He had to do something to get her away from him before he wrapped his arms around her and looked for the nearest pile of hay. “Okay, you can go. Ask Miss Abby if she needs us after lunch.”

      Excitement filled her. But before she raced to the house to do as he said, she stretched herself against him and kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Jed.”

      Then she was gone.

      “Lord have mercy, what have I gotten myself into?” he asked the horses in the barn.

      None of them answered.

      Already realizing Jed preferred silence to conversation, Beth tried to contain herself on the ride into Oklahoma and not ask any questions. That resolve lasted for almost half an hour. Then her excitement took over.

      “How’d you learn about this horse?”

      “I trained him.”

      “For barrel racing?”

      “No, as a cutting horse.”

      He stared straight ahead at the road, never looking at her.

      “How do you know he’ll make a good racer?”

      “He’s fast.”

      “Did you—”

      “Do you ever stop asking questions?” He turned to glance at her, irritation on his face.

      She grinned, refusing to be offended. “Nope.”

      “Listen, he’s got strong haunches, he’s low to the ground, but he’s got a long stride, and he’s very intelligent.”

      “Why didn’t you buy him? He sounds perfect. Was he too pricey?”

      “Nope. He’s too small for a man my size. That’s why I think Joe will sell him. Joe’s a big man, too.”

      She let her gaze wander his length, from the Stetson, past his broad shoulders to his long, hard thighs, down to his dusty boots. She drew a deep breath. She didn’t know how much more testosterone she could handle.

      “He doesn’t have a wife to ride her?”

      “Nope. He’s a widower, no children. He breeds quarter horses. Shorty doesn’t fit the mold, so Joe didn’t want him for breeding stock. He’s a gelding.”

      She thought about what he said. “Then we ought to get him cheap.”

      “He’s got good bloodlines.”

      “But—”

      “We’ll pay a good price, but it will be a fair one. Just don’t give away that you’re the real buyer.”

      His clipped order wasn’t anything new, but it made Beth want to have him experience some of the discomfort she felt at his curt tone. Abby had pointed out to her more than once that her responses weren’t always wise ones.

      “Then I’d better practice being your girlfriend,” she said as she undid her seat belt. Then she slid across the bench seat until her body was pressed against his right side.

      He jerked the wheel in shock. “What the hell are you doing?” he snarled when he had the truck under control. “Get back to your side of the truck!”

      “You’re not being very friendly, Jed,” she teased, glad to see he was capable of losing his iron control. “I won’t be able to convince Joe unless I’m used to touching you.” She lifted her left hand and settled it on his tense shoulder.

      Apparently she’d gone too far. Jed yanked the wheel to the right as he stood on the brakes. Before Beth even realized his intent, he’d stopped on the side of the road.

      Slamming the truck into Park, he reached for her without warning. His lips came down on hers, hard and demanding. Hot, controlling.

      Beth, pressed against his chest, her breasts flattened, her eyes closed, resented his attempt to conquer. She knew that was all he intended. She even realized he wasn’t going to hurt her. Just conquer her.

      But she was made of sterner stuff than Jed Davis realized. And she gave as good as she got. Her hands slid up his chest to riffle through his dark hair. Her mouth moved under his.

      And the kiss changed.

      Suddenly they were equally involved in the touching, the demanding…the sizzle. So much so that Beth thought she was going to faint. But she was going to enjoy every second of it until then. Jed Davis was some kisser.

      He almost threw her away from him only seconds later, staring at her as if she’d been a rattlesnake he’d found in his bed.

      “Lady, you’re crazy!” he snapped, but she noted that his breathing was no more even than hers.

      “Me? I’m not the one who grabbed—who started this.”

      “You should’ve kept your seat belt on. Put it on now!” he ordered as he faced the front of the truck again, refusing to look at her.

      This time she accepted his order. Sliding back across the bench seat, she snapped the seat belt and faced forward. If she looked at him, she was afraid she might beg for another kiss.

      Jed breathed a sigh of relief when they reached Joseph Lander’s ranch. He’d made a big mistake letting Beth come with him. In fact, he’d made a big mistake taking her on as a pupil.

      He didn’t mix business and pleasure. In fact, he didn’t indulge in much pleasure. His goals were too important. And he never stayed in one place too long. He had learned early in life that if you stayed in one place too long, you began to care. And then it was just that much easier to get hurt when you were forced to move to a new foster home.

      He wouldn’t be staying long at the Circle K, that was for sure. Because the lady beside him had already shown him enough pleasure to scare the daylights out of him.

      Not bothering to tell her to stay in the truck, because he knew she wouldn’t, he got out and headed for the barn. He figured Joe wouldn’t be in the house in the middle of the afternoon.

      Before he got to the barn, however, the man he was looking for strode out to meet him. “Jed Davis! Good to see you, boy. How have you been?”

      Jed shook his hand and returned the greeting. Before he’d finished, Joe’s gaze went over his shoulder.

      “Well, hello, there, little lady. You with this scalawag?” Joe asked with a grin.

      Jed tried not to stiffen as Beth stepped to his side, sliding her arm through his. “Yes, I am,” she said clearly, that beaming smile on her face.

      “You’re steppin’ up in the world, Jed,” Joe said with an approving nod.

      “Thanks.” Jed spent several more minutes passing the time of day with the rancher. Certain