Her Bareback Cowboys Read Online Free Page A

his need for privacy. After all, she wouldn’t want to share the last three years of her life with virtual strangers.
    “Besides marketing the saddles and equipment, the company wants photos of sexy cowboys to convince the ladies the ride is worth their while.”
    Maverick leaned forward and draped his arm across her seat. “So you think we’re sexy?”
    Adrian smiled. “It doesn’t matter what I think. What matters is that I make you look sexy in the photos.”
    Wade chuckled. “Nicely dodged.”
    The road surface was atrocious and Adrian had to slow their progress along it to a virtual crawl. For the next hour and a half, they continued their good-natured banter until they reached the farmhouse, and Adrian parked the car under a carport. They all alighted and the men spotted the horses and rushed to the corral. At least she’d have a few minutes to herself to regroup.
    The farmhouse resembled a luxury five-star lodge with eight en-suite bedrooms, a lounge equipped with a fireplace and a dining room that could seat sixteen people. The kitchen was a study in modern technology while the family room had a flat screen television, pool table, dartboard and quality stereo system.
    She chose a room overlooking the horse corral and carried her luggage and equipment inside. When she dragged her suitcase from the car, a large hand closed over hers.
    “Let me get this.”
    Wade’s touch scorched through her body and she withdrew her hand. “Thanks.”
    “No problem.” He hauled the luggage inside and waited for her to show him her room, where he deposited the suitcase on a bench.
    They walked into the kitchen and Adrian stopped at the fridge. “Are you hungry? We can check if the cook left something in the fridge for us.”
    Wade shook his head. “I’ll wait until dinner. We found the saddles and equipment in the barn and the ranch hand said we could take a couple of horses out this afternoon.”
    “And you’d rather be riding up the hills than be stuck inside the house planning the rest of the week.” She planted her fists in her sides and pretended to be angry. “I suppose the horses are being saddled as we speak?”
    Clearly not fooled by her stance, he closed the distance between them, hugged her and planted a kiss on her cheek. “I knew you’d understand.”
    The screen door banged shut behind him, leaving her alone inside the big house. She stood for a few moments, palming her cheek and catching her breath. While the men were outside, she might as well set up her equipment and go over the prerequisites the Groundhog Saddle Company had set—anything to avoid reminiscing about the effect of Wade’s touch. She walked down the passage to her room.
    Two hours later, a knock at her door shattered the absolute silence she’d been working in. The flash she’d been inspecting slid from her fingers and bounced on the bed. With her heart beating in her throat, she looked at the door. A tall, lanky woman stood in the doorway, resting a perfectly manicured hand on the knob.
    “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” The woman smiled, stepped into the room and held out her hand to Adrian. “I’m Marie.” At Adrian’s puzzled stare, she continued. “The chef?”
    “Goodness, I never heard you come in.” She took the proffered hand. “I’m Adrian, the photographer.”
    Marie’s smile didn’t waver as her gaze swept over the chaos reigning inside the room. “I know. I’ve been an admirer of your work since I could remember.”
    Adrian felt herself aging at Marie’s words, although she couldn’t be more than a couple of years older than the other woman.
    Apparently oblivious to the effect her words had on Adrian, Marie spoke again. “When the company asked if I would be the chef on this assignment and I heard you were going to be the photographer, I couldn’t refuse. I just had to meet the woman who made those advertisements come alive.”
    Recognition niggled at the back of Adrian’s mind. Marie