The Bad Boy Prince in Love

w in her eyes. It seemed Luke's presence was having the exact opposite

ie said, "and I'll be back before you know

ed. "Why is Luke leaving so soon? I th

his own

tick around for a while, and maybe

ng out paperwork an

g you two could go down to that Thompson r

be in a dream. "You're a

're acting so strange about

immature to make such an import

boyfriend by your side, I'm sure you'l

Hallie resisted. It was too good an offer to pass up. He

y ask Terry or Bill t

" her mother said with a sly smile. "And I'm

ks, m

east because mama actually

tly and went out

owboy was only too happ

drove away from the house. "I'm

owboy stuff," Hallie said, "So I

ed with the main highway as Luke sat back, evidently enjoyi

uch about catt

"What kind of cowboy w

ng, or maybe he was joking. She glanced o

rds you when you enter the pasture. It means they're not l

odding, "But don't you enjo

All that time spent chasing cows and fixing fences is not as fun as

ing a big, stron

ed a glance at him again, trying to see if he

roughbred race horse than a bull, all lean and graceful muscle

ourself killed, we're not

o fun," h

dangerous to ha

bull rider

junkies, and it's better

ust know how

il a bull stomps on you and b

" Luke said, totally unfazed by her warn

, I'm

strange man and

're all that dange

t a shiver up her spine and made her heart race. It was li

d and didn't reply. Luke started playing with

at the Thompson ranch, she had her pulse under control. She could sense L

your ranch," he said just as Hallie turned off the en

iling politely. She wasn't ready to decide how to deal

k and take in a new setting this ranch w

ny surprise that it was the younger daughter this

, greeting her with a hug, "Your m

too, Mr. Thomps

uke next. "Hi,

all me Luke." He gave Mr.

the ranch," Hallie

a friend of mine," said Jake. "Come o

here Hallie could easily see that they had a nice s

fine-looking c

ggested, "I'll be around

turned to Luke and mou

g to use bedroom eyes on her again. He smiled

think, being an

rime cows," Luke said, nodding,

ws that she could find. They all looked beautiful and healthy. She

s so proud of herself making her first independent purchase. Maybe having

apparently didn't remember agreeing to be a pretend b

he had to set

," Hallie said when the truck st

k'?" he asked, grinning

t's not wha

ow what I thin

ing to be easy. He was c

a walk," Hal

t's not omin

ck, walking stiffly at fi

where a few cows roamed. It was the middle of the afternoon, but not qui

she began, "you've b

re intimidated by me. You're pretty young, and you probably haven't had a chance to dat

sness. "You're very full of yourself, but

up off the street because you thought I was homeless... or att

ood-looking and sophisticated, and he was at least pretending to be interested

t going to lead him on either. Hallie didn't want to do t

his arms folded in front of his imposing body, altho

l you the truth." Halli