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“If you hate ranching so much, why did you want to coether as she took a healthy bite

“I don’t hate ranching I hated having my choices taken away,” was his reply “And besides, I had a hunch”

“What kind of hunch?” Lou asked

His hand gently cupped her neck and threaded into the air at the back of her neck as he pulled her forward “A hunch you would taste like this” His head tilted and his lips gently touched hers He tasted of warered at herfirmer possession of her lips “Open your ently

She was so surprised by the coht in her throat Her ue slipped inside He traced the line of her teeth and the inside of her lips with gentle circles He gently and tenderly touched his tongue to hers It rose in response The kiss deepened and Lou’s heart began to pound in her chest His hands played in her long dark hair, holding her head still as he assaulted her senses His strong fingers cradled her head, gentle but insistent

Just then, she heard a snort behind theain Lou stiffened and tried to ue still probing her mouth His eyes opened, and he took the half-eaten apple from her hand He did not break the kiss but reached behind her and held out the apple to the mare She ate it from the palm of his hand just like she did with Lou Like before, she ran away after she stole her prize

Brody broke the kiss and placed his forehead against hers, his breath coasps A small smile played across his lips

“You had a hunch, huh?” she asked, her heartbeat returning to normal

“Yep,” was his only reply “I was right You’re not as untouchable as all the hands seem to think”

It took a moment for his words to sink in and then her spine stiffened Her handbehind a red handprint that covered the side of his face

A muscle jumped in his jaw He stepped back and raised a hand to his cheek

“Don’t ever do that again,” he ground out

“Ditto,” she ground back

Chapter Three

The ride back home was completed in silence Lou sat stiff as board in the saddle She ate her cookie without a word and did not offer even the sured his ardor was sufficiently da andas a cactus sitting in front of him