Page 42 of Taming the Wild Cowboy

“Okay.” Tired of overthinking and guessing, she half turned toward her boss. “You’re acting weird.”

His gaze jerked up. “No, I’m not.”

Maclyn shrugged. “Distracted then.” He’d been that way since the vet arrived.

Trev pulled in a breath. “Wade’s having more issues getting around. I called Jordan and we’re going to double-team him and try to get him to the clinic to see if there’s an issue with his leg.”

“Good luck.” But she didn’t fully believe that was the cause of his preoccupation. “I’m going out tomorrow evening with a friend. Could we arrange the walk-through schedule so that I take the midnight and four o’clock slots?”

“Big night out?”

“Girls’ night. I’m meeting up with someone I knew at Sweet Grass.” She refrained from mentioning the job reference Shay had told her about, which meant that a potential employer was taking her application seriously. Or at least a little bit seriously. Until Trev’s brother returned, he was counting on her and she didn’t want to add to his worries. What with a stubborn uncle and fifty cows yet to calve …

She felt like smacking her forehead. Of course he had reason to be distracted.

“If I get another job, I won’t leave you hanging.”

If Trev was surprised at the off-topic announcement, he gave no sign. “You’ll do what you have to do.”

Maclyn brushed the hair out of her eyes as she studied the angles of his face. “Not if it leaves the ranch in the lurch. You saved my ass. I won’t do that.”

His expression shifted, softened, but when he spoke it wasn’t about her leaving. “I need to get back to work. I finished servicing the New Holland tractor, so you can use that to clean the corrals. Try not to knock anything over, okay?”

Mac pushed his shoulder, and he stumbled sideways before grabbing her hand.

“Careful,” he said, tightening his hold on her fingers. “I don’t want to suffer an industrial accident.”

“I’ve yet to hit anything with that damned tractor bucket.”

He bowed his head in acknowledgment. “True. For now.”

“You’re getting close to having that industrial accident,” she warned. His hold on her fingers loosened, but she tightened her own grip. She wasn’t ready to let go; they had things to settle. And she liked the feel of his warm callused hand in hers.

But before she could speak, he said, “If you get a job offer, you need to take it.”

That was true. She did.

“We got along before you got here,” he reminded her.

“I don’t know how,” she replied with a dismissive sniff.

A slow, sexy smile followed her words. He gave her hand a tug and she stepped forward so that they were chest to chest.

“How are you feeling about that power dynamic?” he murmured, his gaze fixed on her mouth in a way that made her knees go a little wobbly. “Being on the clock and all.”

She feigned punching a time clock. “I’m on break.”

“In that case …” He put a hand on the small of her back, pressing her against him.

The sound of footsteps on gravel brought their heads around, and by the time Wade opened the door at the opposite end of the barn, they were separated by a good three feet of straw-covered dirt.

“How’s the cow?” Wade asked as soon as he closed the door. He started toward them, his painful gait making Mac grimace inwardly.

“Milk fever. Responding well,” Trev said.

“Milk fever? In a beef cow? You sure this guy knew what he was doing?”

“She responded to the calcium shot, so yeah. I think so.”