Protecting the Colton Bride. Elle James
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Megan’s arms slipped around his waist.
“I don’t expect you to take on my problems. You’re my boss, not my fairy godmother.”
Daniel chuckled. “Yeah, I’d look pretty silly in a dress carrying a fairy wand, and I’m not such a great boss at that.”
“Why do you say that?” She looked up at him through watery green eyes. “You’re great.”
“Because a good boss doesn’t go around kissing his employees.” He stared down at her damp cheeks, his belly flipping. “Right now, I want to be a very bad boss.”
Her eyes flared with desire. “How so?”
“I want to kiss you. Again.”
She sucked in a breath and bit down on that lip before saying, “I told you, I quit. That means you’re not my boss.”
He leaned his forehead against hers and sighed. God, he wanted to kiss her. “I’m not accepting your resignation.”
“You don’t have a choice,” she said, her lips so close.
* * *
Be sure to check out the next books in this series.
The Coltons of Oklahoma: Family secrets always find a way to resurface…
Protecting the
Colton Bride
Elle James
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author ELLE JAMES is a former IT professional and retired army and air force reservist. She writes romantic suspense, mysteries and paranormal romances that keep her readers on the edge of their seats to the very end of every book. When she’s not at her computer, she’s traveling to exotic and wonderful places, snow-skiing, boating or riding her four-wheeler, dreaming up new stories. Learn more about Elle James at www.ellejames.com.
This book is dedicated to my father, who left his home in Arkansas to join the US Air Force and gave twenty years of his life to his country. He ultimately followed his heart all the way back home, where he lives today and is happy to stay there. Home was where his heart was, and his heart was in Arkansas. I love you, Dad!
Contents
Daniel Colton swept the brush over Rider’s black coat, comforted by the scent of animal hide, manure and fresh-cut Bermuda. With every swish of the horse’s full black tail, hay dust sparkled in the air, reflecting the afternoon sunlight streaming through the open door of the Lucky C breeding barn.
This was home and there was nowhere else Daniel would rather be.
“Are you about done brushing Rider? Halo’s practically champing at the bit to get outside for her afternoon run.”
Daniel lifted his head and stared over the black quarter horse stud’s back at the woman on the other side. She was brushing the beautiful palomino mare, one of Daniel’s many successes in his quarter-horse-breeding program at the Lucky C Ranch.
His chest tightened and his breath caught. It wasn’t the horse he couldn’t take his gaze off. It was the halo effect the sun gave Megan Talbot’s strawberry blond hair. The palomino’s registered name was Angel’s Golden Halo, but the woman deserved the moniker more than the animal. For the first time in the four months since Megan had come to work for him, she’d worn her hair loose. Normally those long, curly locks were twisted into a braid, pulled back from a face sprinkled lightly with freckles. Some would call them flaws in her pale complexion, but Daniel found each freckle adorable and hard to resist.
A light breeze blew through the door, lifting Megan’s hair, making it dance in the sunshine. The horse shifted nervously and Megan patted her backside. “Shh. We’ll leave soon.” She turned and smiled at Daniel with her bright green eyes. “Ready to saddle up? I don’t know if Halo can wait any longer. She’s more hyper than usual.”
Daniel jerked his attention back to his horse, reminding himself that he was the boss, Megan worked for him and he had no business staring at her hair or any other part of her perfectly shaped face or lithe, athletic body.
“Let’s saddle these two.” He was ready to get out of the barn and gallop across the pastures of his father’s ranch. Working around the animals, training,