“Get to work!” I barked at the men. Like fuck was I going to let these dickheads get an eyeful of Lina.
“Who’s that?” Marshall asked, appreciation in his voice.
“The boss’s daughter and none of your fucking business,” I said a little too harshly, but I hoped each word sounded like gravel in their ears. “Now get to work.”
I whipped off my gloves, slapping them on the fence post. What in the hell did she think she was doing?
I stormed toward her, hoping my broad back cast enough of a shadow to shield her from their prying eyes.
She skipped over a large rock, holding tightly onto the bottle, her fringe and wavy, brown hair swaying in the breeze. Did she walk all the way out here?
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I seethed through gritted teeth. I could feel my body tightening up, preparing for the tongue-lashing she was bound to give me, and my inevitable, rock-hard cock that would ache for hours until I could take care of it.Fucking shit!I was in for one painful night now.
“Coming to talk to you,” she said matter-of-factly. Her golden-brown eyes narrowed, telling me that this wasn’t going to be a pleasant chat. But it was never a pleasant chat with her.
My eyebrows raised all the same. She had avoided me for months, barely exchanging a few words here and there, and now she was seeking me out.
“Inthat?” My eyes trailed along her exposed skin until I felt my dick twitch, causing my eyes to flick right back to hers.Lock that fucking eye contact, I told myself. Otherwise, my dick was going to start leaking at just the sight of her.
She glowered at me, her hand going to her hip. She was all fucking sass, and as much as she raised my blood pressure, she made my heart pound even harder.
“Yes, inthis, asshole. It’s ninety fucking degrees out, and I’m doing the one thing that helps me de-stress after being on the road. Why should you care what I wear to do it?”
“I care if you’re distracting my ranch hands.”
“At least I’m wearing a jacket. You’re welcome.” She peered over my shoulder, giving a little wave hello, and I followed her gaze. Marshall and Jace were both gawking at her despite the sun in their eyes.
“Fucking shit. See what I mean. I don’t have time for this. We have fences to repair and a long night ahead of us.”
I turned back to look at her. Her mouth curved in a flirty smile, fluttering her fingers at those two fucking bastards.
“Lina.” Her name came out rough and scalding, like a cattle brand being plunged straight down my throat. Shit! Why did her name have to feel so fucking good and painful all at the same time?
The brat rolled her eyes at me. “Fine. Come with me.”
She turned away then, which was a big fucking mistake. Her bare ass cheeks flexed and bounced as she walked. I swallowedthe thick lump in my throat and quickly adjusted myself in my pants before following her.
Lina walked over to the stock tank beside the fence line. The tank was bone dry thanks to the arid weather. Setting her bottle down on the ground and throwing her towel over the fence, she turned on the spigot to the well line. Air sputtered and thumped through the pipes before water spewed from the faucet into the tank.
Without even looking at me, she toed off her boots, her bright-purple toenails digging into the dirt.Fuck.Even her toes were tan and sexy. I was not a foot guy, but Lina could convert me. I was still very much an ass man, though, and she still hadn’t turned around to look at me as she shrugged off her jacket and draped it over her boots.
I hated that I wanted her to look at me. Toreallylook at me. I wanted her eyes, her words—anything. The last few months were torture … watching her come and go, dart the other way whenever I entered the stables, or see her hopping into some douchebag’s truck when she went out.
Growing impatient, I cleared my throat. “What’s this about, Lina?”
She turned around then, her warm, brown eyes watching me. She arched her back, her perky tits straining against the nylon. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep myself from groaning.
Pointing her toes, she stepped into the water, submerging her body into the tank as it continued to fill. She sighed in relief as soon as she touched the cool water.
My eyes flicked to hers. She had one eyebrow cocked in amusement, continuing to stare at me while she picked up the bottle of Jack, twisting off the cap and bringing it to her full lips. She took a swig before setting it back down beside the tank.
“Jude just told me about the cut lines,” she said. “By the sounds of it, it’s been happening for a while.”
My own eyebrows rose at that. I didn’t even think she’d be concerned about the fence lines while she was away from the ranch. “Chuck didn’t tell you?”
She scoffed, picking up the whiskey again and taking another pull, this time keeping it in her grasp while she rested it against the lip of the tank.
“Dad doesn’t want me to worry, so he tends to keep things from me. How long has this been happening?”
