Page 95 of Tempting Wyatt

“Guess I should’ve figured that with as much as you talk. Words seem to be your thing.” He winks. Damn that backward hat. I can’t even be annoyed at his honesty.

I scowl at him. “You saying I talk too much?”

Wouldn’t be the first time someone said this. My mother. Malcolm. It shouldn’t sting, but it does.

Wyatt watches me closely. “Not saying that at all. Just that you’re good with words. Me, not so much.”

“Most people just tune me out after a while.”

“Don’t think I could tune you out if I tried.” His brow dips inward. “I’ve listened to every word you’ve said since you got here.”His eyes stay on mine, and I know he means it. Wyatt Logan doesn’t say things he doesn’t mean.

“You keep being so sweet, a girl might get the wrong idea.”

He stands up a bit straighter. “How’s that?”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you have a crush on me, rancher,” I tease.

“That right? Finally figured me out, have you?”

I tilt my face upward to his. “It’s like with Jasper. You pretend we bug you, but secretly, you look forward to spending time with us.”

His mouth twitches as if he’s fighting a smile. “You and Jasper both have some mighty high opinions of yourselves.”

“I think he’s my spirit animal.”

He lets out a snort like a horse. “The stubborn jackass is your spirit animal? No wait, that tracks.”

“Hey,” I cry, launching myself at him.

He catches me easily, spins us in a circle and then backs me up to the wall of the barn.

“What are your plans tonight?”

This close to him, I nearly lose the ability to form complete thoughts.

“Um, no plans.”

“I’ve got to ride the property with Isaac. Looks like some bulls might’ve gotten loose. Shouldn’t take long, but I’ll miss dinner. Go up to the main house and eat an actual dinner. Please.”

“Okay. Since you commanded me so nicely,” I tease. A pang of worry strikes me unexpectedly in the chest. “Be careful.”

He nods. “Speaking of being careful, let’s carefully get you out of this barn before you meet Ricco.”

“Who’s Ricco?”

“Snake that likes to hang out in here occasionally.”

I cling tighter to his arms. He wraps them around me with a chuckle.

“Please tell me you’re joking.”

He grins. “He’s friendly. But riles the animals up from time to time.”

There are no such thing as friendly snakes in my book. “Smart animals. I think I’m ready to go.”

“Thought that might do it.”

I glance at my things, wanting to retrieve them, but I’m deathly afraid of snakes.