Page 222 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to marry her,”Codysaid.

After the scene just now, he’d be surprised if she wanted to spend another second with him. Which was just as well. He wasn’t ready to get married. He liked the freedom of getting up every day and doing whatever he wanted, wherever he wanted, and with whomever hewanted.

Well, within reason. He still had to do his chores around the ranch, but other than mucking stalls, he had a nice, simple life. He’d seen the chaos new relationships had brought into his brothers’ lives. Sure, they were happy now, but getting there had been a rollercoaster in every case. He wasn’t going to commit to someone for a lifetime until he was damn good and ready tosettledown.

Chapter3

Abby yawnedand rolled to the other side of her bed in an attempt to get away from the window. Bright rays of sunshine bounced off the glittering snow to blast her with too much light. Last night, she’d slept better than she had in months. She didn’t want to lose that feeling, so she pulled the covers over her head and snuggled against thesoftbed.

Besides, the more she could prolong facing Cody, the better. She couldn’t stop thinking about his sultry kisses and sensual hands. Who knows what would have happened had Hank and Carol not shown up when they did? Clearly, Abby had lost her mind. In a moment of desperation, she’d fallen into his arms, completely ignoring proper behavior. Her mother would bemortified.

A grin spread across her face. Damn, he was a good kisser. Better than that boring contract lawyer her mom had set her up with. That man couldn’t kiss at all. It was like making out with a wet noodle.Notsexy.

Cody, on the other hand, had known exactly where to nibble to set her body on fire. On the way back from the spa, she’d half-expected the snow to melt in the wake of the heat rolling off her skin. Too bad she only planned on staying for a week. Hooking up with a hot cowboy right now would only lead to heartbreak. She couldn’t run from her life forever. At some point, she’d have to return home and face her parents’ disappointment. She was six months away from turning thirty, but they still treated her like a child in somerespects.

Bells chimed from across the room. It was her mom’s ringtone. She jumped out of bed and searched through the pile of clothes on the floor. After locating the phone in her jacket pocket, she clicked the button toanswer.

“Hello, Mom,”Abbysaid.

“Where are you?” her mom demanded. “Your father and I are worried sick. We received a call from someone in the DA’s office who wanted to let us know that you’d been fired. Why haven’t youcalledme?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you, but I needed togetaway.”

“Away? What are you talking about? Whereareyou?”

“West Yellowstone, Montana,” Abbyreplied.

“What? Where on earthisthat?”

“Near the Wyoming-Montana border. The west entrance to Yellowstone National Park is just outsideoftown.”

“Yellowstone? That place with the geysers? What are you doing upthere?”

“I couldn’t get past the reporters to get home,” Abby said, realizing how lame itsounded.

“So you drove to the other side of the US?” her mom’s voice jumped another notch on the hysteriascale.

“It’s not the other side. It only took a couple of days togethere.”

“You need to come home immediately and demand that you get your job back. Your father is looking into ways to get DA Browning removed from office. He can’t just fire you. You didn’t lose that case. You should be back there right now looking for a way to retry it,” her momhuffed.

“Even if I could get my job back, I can’t retry the case. Double jeopardy applies,”Abbysaid.

“So a murderer just gets to walk free? I don’tthinkso.”

“I need time to figure things out.” Abby sighed. Trying to reason with her mother was a lostcause.

“Figure what out? You’re a lawyer. It’s what you do. Your father and I didn’t pay good money to send you to Yale to have you give up after losing your first case. How many others have you won?” her momasked.

“I don’t know, somewhere between fifty and a hundred,” Abbyguessed.

“See, you’re good at your job,” her mom said, sounding somewhat calmer. “They’ll take you back. Now get on a flight andcomehome.”

“I drove my car,”Abbysaid.

“Whatever. Just get yourself home as soon aspossible.”

“No,” Abbyblurted.