Chapter Four
Colby
Kissing River Thurston was completely inappropriate, wildly unprofessional, and borderline stupid, and now I can’t stop thinking about it.
Her lips, her hands, the way she melted into me like butter on a hot biscuit.
Hell, I’ve been distracted all morning, and Tango nearly walked me straight into a fencepost because I was too busy replaying the damn thing in my head.
It was just a kiss. It meant nothing. I keep telling myself those things, but it doesn’t seem to be sinking in.
What the hell was I thinking? She’s not some random woman I can pick up and discard. She’s not a barfly or a one-night stand. She’s my employee, and that means hands-off. No matter how tempting she is, or how bad I want to sink myself into her and forget the rest of the world exists.
Worst yet, she’s my good friend’s daughter, and if he knew about what happened, he’d have my balls in a sling. I have no doubt about that.
And yet, despite all of these perfectly logical reasons, none of them seem to matter.
I’m drawn to her, like a horse to an open pasture.
I know, without a doubt, that if River asked me to jump, I’d do it without question.
But I have to be smarter than that. If our interaction yesterday tells me anything, it’s that she’s sorting through her own demons, and the last thing she needs is another man making demands on her.
So, for now, I’ll stay away. I’ll give her space. But the truth is, River Thurston isn’t the kind of woman you can ignore. Not even for a second.
It’s mid-afternoon by the time I get a chance to breathe, and my first instinct is to go and find her. To see what she’s up to, and if she’s doing all right. I just need to figure out how to do that without sending the wrong message.
As it happens, it’s not hard to find her. The stars must be aligned just right, because when I bring Tango into the barn to brush him down, River’s right there, mucking out the stalls.
She looks like something straight out of a Western calendar.
She’s got her hair tied up in a loose ponytail and a red bandana wrapped around her forehead, and she’s wearing a pair of cut-off jean shorts that show off the bottom curve of her ass.
I’m not proud of it, but my eyes are glued to that spot, and a dozen dirty fantasies are already dancing through my mind.
But she’s not alone. Lewis is leaning against the stall door, talking to her in that low voice I’ve heard him use with women before.
When she bends over to scoop up a pile of fresh hay, his eyes drop to her ass, and a hot wave of anger blooms in my chest. Jealousy.
But why? I’ve got no claim to River. I can’t even claim to know her that well, and yet, the idea of him ogling her like that makes me want to knock him upside the head.
Never in a million years did I think my foreman would enjoy having a woman on the ranch, especially not one who could best him at his job.
But the longer River is here, the more of my men seem to enjoy her company.
Even the older hands have taken a liking to her.
They say it’s because she’s so willing to help out, but I know better.
They’re all a bunch of horny bastards. Every single one of them. And if I don’t put a stop to it, one of them is bound to try something stupid.
At least, that’s what I tell myself as I tie Tango’s reins to the stall door and march over to where Lewis is standing.
“Hey, Lewis. Need to have a word with you.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
“In private.”
River glances up but doesn’t say a word. She just nods and moves to the next stall, picking up her pitchfork and getting back to work. Lewis and I head outside, and once we’re out of earshot, I stop and turn to face him.
“You got a problem, Burke?”
“I sure do. What the hell were you thinking, Lewis? You know better than to harass a woman while she’s working.”
“Harass? Whoa, there, boss. Hold up a minute. I was just talking to her. There’s no law against that, is there?”
“Not yet, but I might be inclined to change the rules. She’s not here to flirt. She’s here to work, and if I catch you or any of the other guys bothering her, you’ll be out on your ass.”
“What, are you serious? All I was doing was shooting the shit, boss. I wasn’t asking her out on a date. Besides, you know damn well she wouldn’t give me the time of day. She’s got eyes for you. Anyone can see that.”
My Adam’s apple bobs as I gulp. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Come on, Burke. It’s written all over her face. She’s into you. And if I had to guess, I’d say you’re into her too. Am I right?”
“That’s none of your damn business, Lewis. This isn’t a conversation we’re gonna have.”
“Fair enough. But let me tell you something, boss. I’ve been working for you for over a decade, and in all that time, I’ve never seen you act like this.
Not over a woman, anyway. Now, whatever is happening between you two, and I ain’t saying anything is, but if it is, you better tread carefully.
You and I both know her dad would have your head if he knew what was going on.
“And just so we’re clear, I don’t give a damn.
It’s your business. You can do what you want.
But you can’t expect a ranch full of rowdy cowboys to keep their eyes off a pretty woman.
Especially not one who looks like River.
She’s young, and she’s beautiful, and it’s only nature.
You can’t go picking a fight with every man on the ranch because they’re looking at the same piece of tail you are. ”
“That’s enough, Lewis. I’ll handle this. You can get back to work.”
He holds up his hands in mock surrender and heads off to the corral where the other ranch hands are working.
I watch him go, fuming. But deep down, I know he’s right. The other guys aren’t doing anything wrong, and neither is River. They’re all just living their lives, going about their business. I’m the one who can’t seem to control himself, and I’m the one who can’t stop thinking about her.
River. River Thurston. A woman with more fire in her veins than I’ve ever seen. She’s fearless and strong and smart. And she’s sexy as hell.
Damn.
I scrub a hand over my face and take a deep breath. If I’m going to be a decent boss and an even better friend, I need to keep my hands off her. That much is clear.
“So, what now, Burke?” I mutter to myself.
Tango snorts and shakes his head, sending his black mane flying. I pat his neck and offer him an apple from the bin by the door.
“Yeah, buddy. I hear ya. I’m a damn fool.”
I head back toward the barn, determined to let the conversation with Lewis roll off my back, but the second I step inside, I hear it. A laugh. Her laugh. Light, musical, and entirely too dangerous.
I stop in my tracks and grip the edge of the doorway like it’s the only thing keeping me from buckling at the knees like a damn newborn calf.
River’s still in that same stall, only now, she’s standing just a little too close to Jackson, the youngest ranch hand we’ve got.
She’s leaning on her pitchfork with her head tipped back as she laughs at something he said, and I hate it. I hate everything about it.
Jackson isn’t a bad kid, but he is a cocky bastard. And River is exactly his type. He likes his women feisty and a little bit wild. She checks both boxes, and the idea of her and him together makes me want to tear the place apart.
But then I remember what my foreman said just a few minutes ago. I can’t keep acting like this. If I can’t control my own feelings, how can I expect my ranch hands to do the same?
She’s just talking. Just laughing. She’s not doing anything wrong. But watching her smile like that, with him feels like a kick to the ribs.
I rake a hand through my hair and mutter, “Screw it.” There’s no fighting this. No pretending it’s not happening. River Thurston is under my skin, and no amount of distance or good intentions is going to change that.