BOYD POV Sweat runs down my back as Jasmine and I corner yet another calf not following its mother through the gate to the sale pen.Jasmine turns back and forth on a dime for about thirty seconds before the little one gets the idea to finally follow its mother.I sigh as the gate closes. I pat Jasmine's sweaty neck and look behind me at the waiting cattle. The bidding only started an hour ago and I am already tired of it. I want to be sitting out in the audience possibly flirting with a certain blonde who kissed me senseless last night. I glance through the slit that gives me a clear view of the audience and smile. Missy looks beautiful and refreshed this morning. There isn't a single sign on her glowing skin that she got so hammered last night she felt me up without any hesitation. As I continue to admire her lack of hangover a big cowboy with blue eyes sits down next to her. He holds his hand out and she shakes it with a smile. He smiles and says something that makes her laugh
BOYD POV I am glad my body is used to little to no sleep. I am awake and Missy isn't. I have the perfect chance of slipping out of here. I slide my jeans on and run a hand through my hair before grabbing my boots. I want to get out of here before Larry and Hank return. My smell has saturated the sheets on their bed so they will know I was here even if I am gone when they arrive, but at least I won't have to face them. I mainly want to leave so I can avoid the awkwardness of "the morning after" with Missy, but explaining to her packmates why I am sharing the room with her isn't ideal either. I tiptoe out of the hotel room while carrying my boots and exhale as soon as the door latches behind me. Missy didn't even move the entire time I was awake, and with luck, she won't remember a thing from the night before. I get down to my truck and drive the five minutes back to my rented round pen all while trying not to think about the blonde I left sleeping all alone. I get the horses take
BOYD POV She stumbles again and I tighten my grip around her waist before pressing the button for her floor. "We did it. We are going to be business partners," she slurs, and I nod while sending the human male watching her an intimidating glare. His eyes have been on her body since we walked up to the elevator to wait with him and it is pissing me off. "Stan knows a good deal when he sees one," I say trying to keep her from disclosing too much with a human this close to us. She nods and leans into me. She runs her hand across my chest, which sends a bolt of excitement straight through me that pushes the annoying male to the back of my mind in an instant. "You are so strong," she whispers and I beam down at her. "Ranching builds the muscles whether I want it to or not," I say nonchalantly trying to hide how happy I am she is complimenting my chest. She nods and continues to slide her hand all over my upper torso. The elevator door dings and slides open. I try to
MELISSA POV I blush as I watch Boyd order me a beer from the pretty bartender. I didn't have the courage to go order it myself and he had prevented me from embarrassing myself by volunteering. The second we stepped into this loud room, I felt small and out of place. I had practically wilted into his side like we were on a date. He had acted like a gentleman, though, and didn't make a big deal out of my closeness. Instead, he had led me to a table, told me to have a seat, and asked me what I wanted from the bar. Now I am sitting at the table chewing my bottom lip and trying not to seem too awkward or embarrassed. As Boyd begins to head back with my drink, I force myself to discreetly look around, and I am shocked to see that Boyd was right, the place is packed with ranchers from today's sale. Most of whom seem merry and engrossed in conversation with each other, but a few are sitting alone, drinking, looking beaten down. They are probably the ones who were outbid and are rethinking
BOYD POV I silently help load the five yearlings into the cattle trailer while trying to discreetly watch Missy. She is trying to act as if she is looking over the heifers' papers while standing next to the holding pen, but her cheeks are red so I know she is aware of my glances. Besides, the way Hank described it she should know all the words on those papers by now. Hank locks the back and sends Missy a wave bye that she acknowledges with a nod. Larry jumps into the passenger seat without a backward glance and I step back so they can pull away. After they round the corner, I look over toward her again, and her flawless skin makes me want to run my fingers gently down her cheek. She is a beautiful woman and I shouldn't have made myself look like a jackass earlier. I shove my hands in my pockets and walk toward her. I know getting her to agree to sit down and talk is going to be hard. She has been avoiding me since this morning, but I have to try and make amends. "Now that the ca
MELISSA POV Who the hell does he think he is? Acting like I was trying to flirt with him to get what I want, as if. Yes, he is a good-looking guy, but he is a shifter. Shifters have mates. They are off limits. Besides I am not interested. My focus is on our herd. I huff as I stomp into the women's bathroom to splash water on my heated face. I have no idea why my cheeks are so warm, but I can't focus because of it. I splash two handfuls of cold water on my face before looking into the mirror above the sink to stare at myself. The wheels in my head are turning faster than I like and I don't know how to slow them down. This has never happened to me. I have met rude condescending cowboys before, but Boyd is getting to me. His cocky smile and chiseled jaw have me off my game and I can't let that happen. This is my first auction. These next three days will determine whether or not our calving season will be lucrative or not and Boyd is messing with my head. I just met the irritating