Her Bareback Cowboys Read Online Free Page B

seemed familiar, but she would’ve remembered meeting someone as bright and sunny as Marie. She ignored the puzzlement. The stress of the past year must be playing tricks on her. “So you don’t reside on the farm?”
    “Heavens no. I’ll die if I have to stay in this place permanently. Did you hear how quiet it is?” She tipped her long black hair over her shoulder and shuddered. “It’s creepy when the only sound you hear at night is your own breathing. I slept here the first night and decided it wasn’t for me. Now I’m staying at the main house with the farmer, his family and the ranch hands. If I had to stay here so far away from everyone, I’d be a nervous wreck when this was over.”
    Adrian couldn’t remember the last time she’d met someone who could talk so much so fast. At least she wouldn’t be the only female on the premises. Despite envying the woman’s perfect body and face, Adrian couldn’t help liking her.
    “Well, I’m glad for some female company. How about if I make us a cup of coffee? That way you won’t feel so alone in the kitchen.”
    Marie towered over Adrian and for a moment Adrian feared she’d committed a mortal sin by offering to do something in the kitchen, but then Marie smiled and slipped her arm through Adrian’s. “You know, I think we’re going to get along just fine. Anyone willing to spend some time in the kitchen with me is a cut above the rest in my book.”
    Adrian smiled at Marie. The woman seemed sincere enough, but why would she try to stay at the farmhouse when she clearly knew the solitude wasn’t for her? Maybe the company employed her as more than merely a cook? What if her employer decided Adrian needed a chaperone? Adrian stumbled on some unseen mount on the floor.
    “You okay, Adrian?”
    Adrian nodded and continued to walk toward the kitchen.
    Should she laugh or cry? Maybe she should just be thankful the company was giving her the opportunity to redeem herself and not be angry at their lack of trust. Still, it stung that her employer might have thought she needed a babysitter. Her professional self-confidence took another nosedive, but she mentally squared her shoulders. She’d show them just how professional she could be. She was good at what she did—hell, she was excellent at what she did. If she kept her hands off Wade and Maverick, nobody would be able to complain.
    “So, how about that coffee?” Adrian asked.
    Half an hour later, Adrian grabbed a camera, stumbled outside and squinted at the brightness of the late afternoon sun. Her ears still rang with the incessant chatter of Marie’s voice. Once her eyes had adjusted to the glare, she promptly forgot about the tall woman stirring and whipping up concoctions in the kitchen.
    A short distance away from the house, the wooden barn and plastered stables nestled against a backdrop of bright blue winter sky. The fence of the attached corral glimmered like silvery fish under the rays of the sun. Yellowed grass contrasted with the few African Daisies adorning the walls, and inside the enclosure, a white mare shook her mane and protested her entrapment.
    Although not part of her mandate, Adrian couldn’t resist depressing the shutter of her camera. She could always use these pictures to adorn her office. Moving closer to the barn, she heard the clap of hooves and frowned. The men wouldn’t ride the horses inside the barn, would they? Upon rounding the corner of the building, she found another larger enclosure where Wade and Maverick were busy putting two stallions through their paces. She retreated and peeked around the corner, ensuring the men couldn’t see her.
    Muscles rippled in Wade’s thighs as he leaned forward, rubbed the horse’s neck and whispered something in his ear. Adrian stifled a giggle when the black stallion shook his head in disgust and started forward.
    “Whoa there, boy. No need to get frisky on me.” He tugged at the reins and glanced at Maverick. “You would think