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Chapter 63
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Cattenach Ranch Chapter 64
"He never kissed me."Amy's gaze jerked to Olivia's."Never kissed me, but he did kiss you." Olivia's brows rose. "That says something."Yeah, it said the woman he wanted was permanently out of reach, so he went after the next best thing. Amy had no doubt Nakos was attracted to her. That much was evident. But, like she'd told him, it was a physical response. Lust faded, given time. Speaking of... "I find the timing awfully convenient." Heck, for all Amy knew, this was boredom or desperation on his part."Emotions don't flip that quick, Amy. He wouldn't have made a move on you twenty-four hours after I said 'I do' if it was me on his mind. And he doesn't play games." When Amy said nothing, Olivia plowed on. "What happened afterward? You mentioned some tension."Amy puffed a laugh. There was tension and then there was t-e-n-s-i-o-n. "He walked away after the longest oh crap, what have I done in the history of mankind. Later, he tried talking to me about it, but I shut it down. Tol
Cattenach Ranch Chapter 65
Nakos had under thirty minutes to shower before meeting everyone at the tavern. Why he'd agreed to go, he hadn't a clue. The very thought of sitting across a table from Amy with her silent treatment and wounded eyes on the menu was not his ideal Saturday evening. Then again, another night in his house, sleeping in the room right next to hers, wasn't his version of a great time, either. They couldn't go on like this. He was this close to imploding.At his wit's end, he planned on forcing her to talk to him when they were alone tomorrow and both off work. He rolled his head to stretch his neck as he climbed the stairs in his cabin. As if anyone could force Amy Woods to do anything. Especially him, considering she got him tongue-tied and made his head dizzier than a carousel on heroine just standing in front of him.At least there would be alcohol involved tonight.He turned the knob on his bathroom door and halted dead over the threshold. His lungs seized, despite the perfume-scente
Cattenach Ranch Chapter 66
"Whatever." She hopped off her chair and dug her vibrating cell from her back pocket. "I don't..." Eyes on the screen, her face paled several shades and she went rigid.Olivia frowned. "What's up?""My Uncle Clint is coming for a visit." Her hand trembled as her throat worked a swallow. "Blech. When?" Olivia peered at the phone."I don't know. Kyle just texted." Amy's thumbs went to work in reply. Nakos's gut bottomed out as her complexion slipped from an insipid shade of white to green. "I don't remember you mentioning him before." More over, why would the uncle elicit this kind of reaction from her?"My mother's brother. He lives in Texas." Her voice shook almost as badly as her hands. "He doesn't come up very often. A couple times when we were kids and once when Chris and I were married. That was the only time my ex proved useful. He told my parents we wouldn't be around, that we were camping. Since Chris hates familial things, it worked for him."Olivia shuddered. "Total c
Cattenach Ranch Chapter 67
Still rattled over learning her uncle was coming for a visit, Amy hopped out of Nakos's truck and waited for him to unlock the front door to his cabin. Ever since she'd gotten the text from her brother, her stomach had been a twisted, nauseous mess. Memories she'd worked hard to overcome kept shoving to the surface. The smell of cigar breath and Old Spice. Rough hands leaving punishing bruises. Her screams muted by a palm over her mouth. The pain. The tears. The shame.She had to get herself under control before Nakos figured out something was wrong. She strode ahead of him and into the house, making a beeline for the stairs. She got over it once, she'd do it again. If she had to remind herself a million times she wasn't a weak, scared little girl anymore, then that's what she'd do. She was stronger than anything life had to dish out, proven by the fact she was still standing.Dang, but she felt like crumbling."Ames." Nakos's feet shuffled behind her and she paused on the b
Cattenach Ranch Chapter 68
"Ames, I" Whirling, she grabbed the pint from him and strode inside.He cursed and followed. "What did you mean by the ice cream would go to your...ass? What's wrong with it the way it is?"As if she'd discuss her weight problem. He of the abs and gluts and biceps wouldn't understand. Mortification knew no bounds.Keeping herself busy, she rinsed the spoon and set it in the sink, then capped the mint chip and put it in the freezer. Hands on his hips, he watched her every move. The sanctity of her bedroom in mind, she walked out of the kitchen on shaking legs and was determined to get to the stairs before he leveled her again. The footsteps trailing her said he wasn't near done with this discussion."You were right, anim."Damn it, damn it, damn it. Again, she halted on the bottom stair. Sighed. Struggled for guidance. She settled for turning to face him."This shift between us is physical. My body wants yours, and the magnetism is only getting stronger the longer we pretend
Cattenach Ranch Chapter 69
A tray balanced on his forearm, Nakos paused outside Amy's bedroom. Unless she was changing, she always left the door open, even while sleeping. He would've thought living with a man, despite having known him all her life, would make her uncomfortable not having a measure of privacy. Yet every time he passed by, it remained open. He wondered if it had something to do with her attack, if enclosed places scared her.He stared at her, asleep in bed under a mound of blankets. Only her face was uncovered, and early morning light bathed her profile. She had one hand tucked beneath her head and her dark lashes fanned her cheeks. At least when she slept the strain he often found in her expression finally eased. Peaceful, almost.A shake of his head, and he stepped deeper into the room. He'd been in the habit of calling her angel lately. The word had flown out of his mouth the first time, unbidden, as if by no control of his own. It was accurate, though. She was a take-no-prisoners, hear-me-r
Cattenach Ranch Chapter 70
She nodded and headed for the door, but he called her name to stop her."Have you never had breakfast in bed before?" Three years of marriage, and not once on their anniversary? What about as a kid when she'd been sick or something?"Let me shower. Give me thirty minutes and I'll be ready." She turned again, totally avoiding him."Amy, leave the tray." When she paused but didn't comply, he stood and met her in the doorway. He took the damn thing from her and placed it on the dresser, then tucked his finger under her chin to force her to look at him. "I'm allowed to do nice gestures, am I not?"She blinked up at him like he'd spoken Vulcan and the word "nice" didn't compute.Hihcebe. It really was a foreign concept for her. He didn't know whether to be pissed off or gutted. Either way, he had the strongest urge to drive to the prison where the Antichrist was spending the next fifteen to twenty and relocate the bastard's teeth. Then again, her parents weren't exactly pleasant peop
Cattenach Ranch Chapter 71
The drive to Casper took just under ninety minutes. While Nakos spent quite a few hours with the prospective horse and talking to the breeders, Amy wandered around, snapping pictures. She'd gotten some great shots by the time Nakos was ready to head out."There's a family restaurant right up the road." He glanced at her from behind the wheel, then back to the two-lane highway. "We can do an early dinner. I'd rather take you somewhere nicer for our first date, but I've been stomping around a farm all day."Date? There he went again. First, breakfast in bed, followed by the beautiful comment and flowers. Now, dinner out. She couldn't hack it, not this take charge side of him, nor the consideration. It was one thing when they were friends and the occasional slips could be chalked up to placating. Dating was entirely different.Unsure how to respond, she glanced out the passenger window as trees and hills whizzed by in a blur. Dating led to sex. She'd been with other men before Chris, b
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